Research Specialist

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

1d•$63,253 - $102,596•Hybrid

About The Position

Functioning independently and under the direction of the principal investigator, performs high-level, complex scientific research experiments. On a regular basis, contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals, and presentations, and investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement. The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic individual to join our research team investigating the clinical and economic value of strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in low- and middle income counties (LMICs). The candidate should be highly motivated with experience in computer science, mathematics, and/or statistics. Ideally, the candidate will have significant experience in software development and programming. Some experience in numerical methods, Bayesian statistics, and/or mathematical model development and parameterization is also a plus. The position offers a stimulating, collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment and the opportunity to contribute to the development of several NIH-funded disease models. The primary responsibilities of this individual will be to help plan, program, and and parameterize a novel simulation model for diabetes in LMICs, which will be used to conduct cost-effectiveness analyses using a range of data sources. Additional responsibilities will include leading abstract presentation and manuscript preparation, assisting with model refinement and expansion, and assisting with new proposals and grant preparation. There are multiple possibilities for collaboration with other researchers in Boston, as well as with many national and international research groups and institutions.

Requirements

Master's Degree Related Field of Study required
Experience in an academic or laboratory research setting 3-5 years required
Must be a problem solver willing to take the initiative and prioritize tasks, thereby ensuring the smooth and efficient conduct of several projects simultaneously.
A high degree of computer literacy in order to use various spreadsheet, database, accounting and word processing programs to assist in administrative, grant proposal preparation, and research reporting activities.
Excellent organizational skills in order to formulate, implement, and monitor a number of interrelated tasks.
Ability to exercise discretion and good judgment in handling of sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to work under deadline pressure and prioritize work from several sources.
Excellent interpersonal skills for internal and external communications.
Minimum of 3 years of research and/or professional experience (inclusive of graduate studies) in the fields of computer science, simulation modeling, statistical analysis, econometrics, health policy, or related field
Master’s degree (MS, MA, or MPH), preferably focusing on applied mathematics, decision science, data science, biostatistics, statistics, computer science, computational biology and/or economics, with a strong background in quantitative coursework and research.
Knowledge of and ability to apply range of concepts from computer science, mathematics, and/or statistics, potentially including object-oriented and functional programming approaches, parallel computing, numerical methods, Bayesian statistics, and/or mathematical model development and parameterization
Ability to learn and adapt statistical and computational methods for use within mathematical simulation models, such as Markov, microsimulation, agent-based, and compartmental models, and ability to solve technical problems in these areas
Capacity to analyze large amounts of data and outstanding judgment with regards to study design and protocols
Superior writing, presentation, and organizational skills for preparation of abstracts, manuscripts, grants, and contracts
Proficiency with R, Python, and/or other programming languages, and ability to learn new programming languages as needed
Facility with standard office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Internet applications) and the ability to learn new computer applications
Organization, efficiency, and attention to detail
Intellectual independence and initiative
Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team
Ability to supervise research assistants as part of project teams
Ability to work within NIH and other federal and foundation regulations and guidelines

Nice To Haves

Experience working on developing disease models and simulation modeling is a plus.
Experience in public health, health economics, and/or health policy research preferred
Experience with academic manuscript development preferred

Responsibilities

Investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.
Contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals and presentations.
Develops proposals and study plans, and coordinates the institutional and external reviews of these proposals.
Responsible for supervising routine reports of laboratory studies, particularly as stipulated in material transfer agreements or corporate-sponsored research agreements, to be distributed to industry scientific counterparts and academic collaborators.
Reports on the progress of work at weekly laboratory seminars.
Semi-autonomously writes up experimental work for grant applications, book chapters, and journal publications.
Responsible for preparing summaries of laboratory studies for meeting presentations and publications.
Calculates, transcribes, analyzes, and prepares figures of data using advanced statistical techniques.
Semi-autonomously identifies, interprets, and applies findings and methods from scientific literature relevant to projects.
Plan, construct, and parameterize disease simulation models with individual and population-level data using advanced mathematical, statistical, and computational methods
Program all components of a disease simulation model for diabetes in LMICs, including optimizing model for use with high-performance computing clusters
Identify and assist in the development of methodological advances in the fields of disease simulation modeling, health decision science, and biostatistics
Support design and analysis of population health datasets relevant to the field of diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases, including assembling preliminary data relevant to these themes.
Coordinate research study activities.
Function as a resource for study issues, particularly in relation to the creation and curation of large survey-based datasets.
Identify problems and help to develop solutions
Contribute to clinical and cost-effectiveness analyses using disease simulation models
Coordinate and help design analyses with project teams, including US and international collaborators across multiple sites
Implements data quality and management activities, including data validation, quality control
Perform literature reviews and synthesize relevant data for these projects with other research staff; work with these staff to convert published data into appropriate model input parameters
Lead code maintenance and documentation of models
Work to refine disease models and research processes alongside other research staff
Document research process thoroughly and consistently
Troubleshoot model inconsistencies (bugs)
Lead abstract and manuscript preparation, as well as presentation of study results for multiple projects at a time
Provide guidance to research assistants and programmers, particularly regarding methodological issues
Assist in the preparation of grant applications and related documents
Assist in the training of new employees/research assistants in use of disease simulation models, including maintenance of training materials
Other duties as assigned