Research Scientist II (GIS)

Rutgers University•New Brunswick, NJ

About The Position

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Research Scientist II ( GIS ) within the Office of the Director/Cancer Epidemiology Services/NJ State Cancer Registry at the Rutgers Cancer Institute. The primary role of the Research Scientist II (RS II) under direction of the Supervising Research Scientist, Deputy Director, or Director is to assist with the design and conduct of research studies on cancers and assists in the analysis of cancer surveillance data using the New Jersey State Cancer Registry ( NJSCR ). The RS II will also provide advanced expertise in health geography, Geographic Information Science (GIScience), epidemiology, geospatial analysis, and population health and lead analytic and geospatial initiatives at the New Jersey State Cancer Registry ( NJSCR ) designed to improve understanding of cancer patterns, disparities, and neighborhood influences on cancer outcomes; integrate cancer registry data with census, environmental, and other relevant contextual datasets; and producing mapping and visualization tools that support surveillance, research, and public health action.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in Geography or a related science preferred.
Experience in cancer epidemiology, surveillance research, cancer registry data, developing web-based visualizations, project management, and Python programming language preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as CES Team Lead/Project Lead on geospatial cancer research studies, assisting the NJSCR principal investigator, deputy director, and Supervising Research Scientists ( SRS ) with the development and implementation of epidemiologic and geographic cancer research studies, using state-of-the-art geographic information systems ( GIS ) tools and methodologies.
Provides subject-matter expertise on GIS methods, neighborhood measures, contextual effects, and population health data integration.
Manages geocoded cancer datasets and oversee linkages with census, environmental, demographic, and neighborhood contextual data (e.g., socioeconomic indices, segregation measures, redlining, rurality).
Conducts geospatial and epidemiologic analyses to assess cancer outcomes, spatial patterns, temporal trends, and disparities across racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic groups using specialized tools and programming applications such as SQL , SAS , R, Python, ArcGIS, or QGIS accurately and efficiently.
Constructs, cleans, and analyzes longitudinal residential histories to examine mobility, life-course exposures, and neighborhood change.
Develops high-quality GIS outputs, including static maps, analytic spatial layers, and interactive web-based mapping tools for internal and external users.
Prepares scientifically sound NJSCR -specific statement of work, Scientific Review Board, Institutional Review Board applications, protocols, data use agreements, and other documents (Local Context Supplement, Data Linkage Agreement, Research Agreement) in coordination with senior management, research collaborators, and sponsors, if applicable.
Ensure timely submission of SRB , IRB , and associated Modifications and Continuing Reviews.
Monitor and track all study documentation to ensure timely execution and compliance and that information is correctly documented in their respective tracker databases.
Develops and negotiates project budgets reports, tracks invoicing, payments, and spending on projects.
Monitors that studies are correctly documented in the tracker databases.
Manages day-to-day activities of geospatial cancer research projects and studies under supervision of the SRS or deputy director.
Act as the primary liaison with the principal investigator, providing progress reports, communicating problems and questions, collaborating on publications, and transmitting data securely.