(Hybrid) Research Scientist - Health Affairs Institute

Description

The Health Affairs Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Research Scientist.

About the Opportunity

West Virginia University's (WVU) Health Affairs Institute (HAI) is seeking candidates for a full-time Research Scientist position to assist in leading research and evaluation efforts across HAI's interdisciplinary research and evaluation teams. HAI serves as the coordinating office for WVU's State-University partnership with West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Services (DoHS). HAI frequently engages in collaborative efforts with the WV DoHS and other state and nonprofit partners that hold a mission to improve the health of West Virginians, which is the purpose of HAI. Ideal candidates will have work experience that aligns with HAI's purpose and the mission of DoHS's Bureau for Medical Services, Bureau for Social Services, Bureau for Behavioral Health or Bureau for Public Health, and an interest in improving the health of underserved populations, particularly rural, Appalachian populations.

The Research Scientist is a key participant in HAI's State-University partnership and interdisciplinary research and evaluation project teams and reports directly to HAI's Director of Science. Overarching responsibilities include directing the coordination with state partners to lead large-scale evaluations, research, and/or policy analyses, guiding and directing subgroups within interdisciplinary research and evaluation teams to achieve evaluation design and analytic objectives, and providing oversight to the project work of Research Associates. Options for virtual work are available.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to advance the partnership between the WVU Health Sciences Center and the WV DoHS, as well as other state and nonprofit partners with a mission to improve the health of West Virginians.
• Guide and oversee communication and efficient collaboration between research partners at the WVU Health Sciences Center and the staff of the West Virginia DoHS or other state and nonprofit partners.
• Lead substantive portions of project research, including coordination of the work of multiple research associates under the direction of the project principal investigator and/or program director.
• Oversees the analyses of data analytics completed by health analysts for respective projects using SAS and other statistical analysis packages at the direction of the HAI's Director of Science, Director of Health Analytics, or leadership within the DoHS.
• Develop research and/or evaluation designs to answer questions posed by state and community partners through contracted work.
• Ensure that data analytic and research/evaluation activities are compliant with university-level policies for the responsible conduct of research as well as federal, and state policies.
• Provides consultation to faculty and government partners regarding the preparation of research proposals, design and methodology, data analytics, and interpretation of results.
• Identify opportunities for potential collaborations between the Health Sciences Center and the WV DoHS, as well as other state and nonprofit partners with a mission to improve the health of West Virginians.
• Leads composition of reports as required by the University, the Health Sciences Center administration, and external agencies. Communicates results of analytic projects and program evaluations with relevant staff of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
• Lead the development of publications for peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations.
• Directly supervises research associates.
• Conduct or direct special projects as assigned. Acts in other matters and capacities as delegated by the Assistant Vice President for Health Affairs or the Director of Science.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in health or data science-related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
  • Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas: public health, mental health, Medicaid/Medicare services, substance use, health data analytics, and/or survey research
  • Research achievement in health research (health services research, public health informatics, health policy) as evidenced by publications and/or sustained involvement in a research or evaluation program.
  • Experience conducting research/evaluations using large health data sources within the healthcare industry, academic or governmental sectors
  • Work experience post-doctorate
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge and experience in utilizing various large health databases for research, program evaluation, and policy development; experience in mixed method designs and/or claims data preferred.
• Experience analyzing quantitative and/or qualitative data
• Extensive knowledge in the use of standard statistical analysis packages such as SPSS, SAS, or R or qualitative analysis packages such as Nvivo or Atlas.TI
• Experience designing and overseeing large public health projects, involving the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data
• Consistent record of successfully publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts in the field of public health or health services research
• Experience training and/or supervising other individuals
• Creative problem-solving ability and strong organizational skills
• Ability to project and maintain a positive and collaborative attitude.
• Proficient in communicating professionally, orally, and in writing, goals, methods, and results of program initiatives with diverse groups of stakeholders.

• Valid Driver's License and ability to travel on an intermittent basis if/when required.