Research Scientist ; Biostatistics or Epidemiology

Overview

The Research Scientist 3 (RS3) incumbents have primary responsibilities to conduct independent scientific research and surveillance activities and contribute to the linkages of major statewide datasets and analyses of these datasets. They will be responsible for scientific research and adoption of modern methodologies and technologies for data linkages, assessing data sources for inclusion, selecting and developing indicators for analyses, and developing and implementing analysis and evaluation plans of the linked data to monitor progress and policy impact to support major state initiatives and scientific research regarding opioid misuse and overdose prevention.

The incumbents will work with opioid team members to implement epidemiology, surveillance, scientific research methodologies and evaluation activities of various data sources and the linked data to overcome limitations of using individual datasets to fill information gaps and enhance overdose responses. Specifically, the incumbent will:
1) develop and implement data linkage methodologies for linking major statewide data sources including but not limited to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program data, ED and hospitalization data, mortality data, and pre-hospital care (e-PCR) data;
2) develop scientific research and evaluation questions, study design, and comprehensive analysis plans for analyzing individual and linked datasets to fill information gaps and needs;
3) carry out the implementation of these scientific research plans including the development of dependent and independent indicators, selecting appropriate statistical methodologies, conducting descriptive and multivariate analyses, generating visualizations and interpretation of results, developing various reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts to support opioid and substance misuse intervention activities, designing and developing surveillance products such as comprehensive surveillance reports, data visualization dashboards of important performance indicators, and data-to-action reports;

and
4) supervise staff (as needed), providing appropriate training and guidance, and performing other related duties as assigned.

Description

Duties Description The Research Scientist 3 (RS3) incumbents will have primary responsibilities to conduct independent scientific research and surveillance activities and critically contribute to the linkages of major large statewide datasets and analyses of these datasets. The incumbents will be responsible for the scientific research and adoption of modern methodologies and technologies for data linkages, assessments of data sources for inclusion, selection, and development of indicators for analyses, development and implementation of analysis and evaluation plans of the linked data to monitor progress and policy impact to support major state initiatives and scientific research regarding opioid misuse and overdose prevention.

The incumbents will work with opioid team members to implement epidemiology, surveillance, scientific research methodologies and evaluation activities of various data sources and the linked data that will overcome the limitations of using individual datasets to fill information gaps and needs to better target interventions and enhance overdose responses. Specifically, the incumbent will:
1) develop and implement data linkage methodologies for linking major statewide data sources including but not limited to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program data, ED and hospitalization data, mortality data, and pre-hospital care (e-PCR) data;
2) develop scientific research and evaluation questions, study design, and comprehensive analysis plans for analyzing individual and linked datasets to fill information gaps and needs;
3) carry out the implementation of these scientific research plans including the development dependent and independent indicators, selecting appropriate statistical methodologies, conducting descriptive and multivariate analyses, generating visualizations and interpretation of results, developing various reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts to support opioid and substance misuse intervention activities, designing and developing surveillance products such as comprehensive surveillance reports, data visualization dashboards of important performance indicators, and data-to-action reports;

and
4) supervise staff (as needed), providing appropriate training and guidance, and conducting other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology, Statistics/Biostatistics, Public Health, Biology, Biomedical Science, Engineering, Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Infection Control, Mathematics or a closely related degree field AND four (4) years of full-time, professional scientific research experience in an appropriate field.

• Substitutions: master’s degree in Epidemiology, Statistics/Biostatistics, Public Health, Biology, Biomedical Science, Engineering, Environmental Health,…