Lead, Research Data Scientist - Cancer, Dr. Cullen lab

Overview

Will play a vital role in creating, managing, and integrating clinical and research data infrastructure for the Cancer Prevention and Control Program (CPC). They will ensure data harmonization and compliance with industry standards. This position will oversee the development and optimization of data pipelines, statistical data analysis, facilitate research collaboration with other cancer centers, and promote data quality initiatives. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between technical data requirements and clinical research needs, supporting CPC and its mission to advance cancer research through high-quality real-world data.

• Design, implement, and maintain a state-of-the-art data management infrastructure that includes robust Data Mart from multiple novel sources reflecting medical, social, genomic, and environmental drivers of health, consistent with the departmental mission.
• Engage in strategic negotiations and collaborations with key data providers, including institutional EMR teams, the Texas Cancer Registry, and other state and local agencies, to secure access to data critical to understanding the medical and socioecological contexts of health in patients with cancer. Liaise with multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless data flow, integration, and alignment with project objectives.
• Oversee strategic guidance on data elements, methods, and models required for clinical and research objectives, and facilitate the identification and extraction of these elements from the EHR and data warehouse systems.
• Oversee data collection and harmonization processes, ensuring compliance with applicable industry data standards (e.g., FHIR, HL7, NAACCR).
• Collaboratively develop and deploy quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) measures to maintain data integrity and reliability.
• Apply statistical and epidemiological methods to analyze data on health outcomes and survival in patients with cancer. Develop and adhere to statistical analysis plans (SAP), prepare research presentations, and draft results for peer-reviewed publications.
• Monitor emerging trends and developments in real-world clinico-omic data informatics and provide strategic recommendations on technologies and processes to optimize and advance the CPC data ecosystem.
• Prepare and present data insights, integration strategies, and progress reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Enhance scientific discovery by contributing to hypothesis generation, cohort identification, publications, presentations, and proposals that advance CPC program goals.
• Establish a streamlined process for research approval that includes developing an umbrella IRB protocol and standardized data-use agreements for the novel data warehouses to facilitate quicker start times for research projects.
• Manage an expanding team with varied expertise within the Clinical Informatics and Data Sciences Group. Train, mentor, and supervise staff on data workflow processes, good practices, and standards.
• Strong understanding of data interoperability standards (e.g., FHIR, HL7, OMOP, CDISC, NAACCR).
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, and GCP.
• Familiarity with cancer genomics repositories and/or cancer registries is highly desirable.

Technical Proficiency:

• Proficiency with data integration tools and platforms (e.g., ETL processes, APIs, databases).
• Knowledge of programming languages or tools commonly used in data analysis and integration (e.g., Python, R, SQL, Tableau).
• Knowledge of EPIC, PACS, LIS, and other Health
  
  IT/business systems.
• Deep understanding of AI lifecycle Management, AI/ML Platform architecture.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data environments (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure).
• Familiarity with terminology systems, including SNOMED, LOINC, RxNorm, and ICD, to encode and query healthcare data.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

Provide personalized care and service by consistently…