Research Scientist ; Epidemiology

Overview

The Research Scientist 2 will join the Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit in the Office of Drug User Health as part of the team of research scientists developing novel methodological approaches for drug overdose outbreak detection by establishing a near real-time surveillance for drug overdose and spike rapid response activities. The incumbent will participate in the team by focusing primarily on hospital discharge and emergency department data.

Conduct data management and data monitoring activities for information on hospital discharge and emergency department visits. Assist in conducting public health investigation activities to investigate and characterize drug overdose spike events in New York State. Utilize drug overdose hospital related and surveillance data to contribute to all phases of the research process including problem definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings.

Collaborate with evaluation staff in the Office of Program Evaluation and Research (AIDS Institute) and prevention and harm reduction staff in the Office of Drug User Health to develop program evaluation projects and performance monitoring.

• Conduct data management and data monitoring activities for information on hospital discharge and emergency department visits.
• Assist in conducting public health investigations to investigate and characterize drug overdose spike events in New York State.
• Utilize drug overdose hospital-related and surveillance data to contribute to all phases of the research process including problem definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings.
• Collaborate with evaluation staff in the Office of Program Evaluation and Research (AIDS Institute) and prevention and harm reduction staff in the Office of Drug User Health to develop program evaluation projects and performance monitoring.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biomedical science, environmental health, environmental science, epidemiology, infection control, public health, statistics/biostatistics, or a related degree
  * AND three years of professional research experience in an appropriate field.
• SUBSTITUTIONS:
  Master's degree in an appropriate field may substitute for one year of experience, and a Ph.D. in an appropriate field may substitute for an additional year of experience.
• Related degrees may include Economics, Education, Mathematics, Medical Anthropology, Medical Geography, Nursing, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Psychology, Sociology, or other relevant Social Science, or Natural Science.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in public health surveillance and epidemiology; public health and policy research, study design and execution; analysis using epidemiological principles and methodologies.
• Experience with SAS, SQL or other statistical software, relational databases and graphical or geospatial software packages (e.g., Tableau, ARC GIS, SAS Viya).
• Experience with information technology and systems used for electronic public health reporting.
• Experience with large, population-based and other health-related data sets (e.g., SPARCS, ECLRS, vital statistics).
• Experience with disease registries and working with confidential data.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, written and verbal communication skills.

• Full-time, permanent, non-competitive appointment.
• Candidates, when applying, please indicate how you possess a full scope of professional research experience that includes problem definition, planning research approaches, conducting studies, collecting and processing data, and interpreting and reporting findings.
• Degrees awarded from educational institutions outside the United States, or its territories must be independently verified for equivalency. Please see http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). for additional information.
• We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:
  Holiday & Paid Time Off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System, Shift & Geographic pay…