Research Scientist III

Health Research, Inc. • New York, NY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Health Research, Inc. is seeking a Research Scientist III to work within the Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit (DOSE). This position will focus on all aspects related to ‘real-time’ fatal, non-fatal drug overdose data and drug checking data. The staff will join a dynamic team working to develop a ‘real-time’ data system to enhance and intensify surveillance and epidemiology activities related to fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. This includes developing data processes to reconcile New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) data sources by working with data subject matter experts; working with external partners such as public safety agencies, crime analysts, and internal drug user health program experts on drug supply monitoring; and developing processes to detect spikes in drug overdoses to generate early warnings to reduce the impact of overdoses on communities across NYS. The staff will work to identify new data sources that can provide increased timeliness for the identification and forecasting of drug overdose spikes. The staff will develop research and evaluation studies utilizing fatal and non-fatal drug overdose data and ODUH program data to further understand the context in which overdoses occur and inform program development and implementation. This position is an opportunity to join a team working to predict, prepare and respond to spikes in drug overdoses, work towards tackling a present public health emergency, and have a real impact by protecting communities across New York State.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in epidemiology, public health, biology, infection control, statistics/biostatistics, biomedical science, environmental health, environmental science or a closely related field and four years of research experience; OR a Master’s degree in a related field and three years of research experience; OR a Doctorate in a related field and one year of research experience.
• Compliance with funding requirements such as time and effort reporting, grant deliverables, and contract deliverables, is required.
• The selected candidate must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the official work location specified in the job posting and must also be located in or willing to relocate to one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, or Massachusetts, prior to hire.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in data analysis of drug overdose data and/or communicable or chronic disease surveillance data and/or drug checking data
• Experience with data collection, management, analysis, and reporting, including intermediate to advance knowledge of SAS, SAS SQL, R or Python; intermediate to advance knowledge mapping software including but not limited to ARC GIS or R mapping capabilities.
• Strong analytic skills including interpretation of results and data analytic outputs to convey information to a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Experience working with and/or designing complex relational databases; experience developing and maintaining databases (Access, RedCap, or others).
• Experience in designing program evaluation and program performance monitoring plans.
• Experience developing data reports for public and internal use, data visualizations, and research deliverables including the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and scientific posters.

Responsibilities

• Developing data processes to reconcile New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) data sources by working with data subject matter experts
• Working with external partners such as public safety agencies, crime analysts, and internal drug user health program experts on drug supply monitoring
• Developing processes to detect spikes in drug overdoses to generate early warnings to reduce the impact of overdoses on communities across NYS
• Identifying new data sources that can provide increased timeliness for the identification and forecasting of drug overdose spikes
• Developing research and evaluation studies utilizing fatal and non-fatal drug overdose data and ODUH program data to further understand the context in which overdoses occur and inform program development and implementation

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance - Several comprehensive health insurance plans to choose from
• Flexible benefit accounts - Medical, dependent care, adoption assistance, parking and transit
• Generous paid time off - Paid federal and state holidays, paid sick, vacation and personal leave
• Tuition support - Assistance is available for individuals pursuing educational or training opportunities
• Retirement Benefits - HRI is a participating employer in the New York State and Local Retirement System and offers optional enrollment in the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan. HRI provides a postretirement Health Benefits Plan for qualified retirees to use towards health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses
• Employee Assistance Program - Provides educational and wellness programs, training, and 24/7 confidential services to assist employees, both personally and professionally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees