Needs Assessment Coordinator, Texas HHS

Job Description

Research Specialist V performs highly advanced (senior-level) research work by overseeing the development, implementation, and monitoring of mixed methods data analysis projects for the Division for Community Health Improvement (CHI). Reports to the Manager of the Surveillance and Data Analytics Group and is a member of the Child and Adolescent Health & Oral Health Epidemiology Team. Serves as program needs assessment and evaluation methodology specialist within the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH Epi) Unit, with minimal supervision and extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Work involves overseeing, planning, and conducting needs assessments and evaluation studies, statistical analyses, research studies, and other projects, and interpreting research findings to gauge the effectiveness of CHI programs, projects, and initiatives. Work also involves directing and conducting qualitative data collection efforts including focus groups, key informant interviews, and other qualitative research efforts. Consults with research professionals, including staff both within and external to MCH Epi, to define and solve specific problems and to assure quality control for statistical analyses and research designs. Prepares reports, scientific papers/articles, and presentations for distribution and/or publication, including writing reports for federal and state partners. Performs scientific literature searches and reviews publications, research proposals, legislation, and state and federal policies to inform policy and practice related to CHI and public health. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the impact of legislation, regulations, and policies affecting CHI programs. Provides data-related consultation and technical assistance to CHI program areas on needs assessment, health impact, research methods, survey development, and program evaluation/assessment of CHI practices, programs, and issues. Participates in cross-functional training and provides technical advice within MCH Epi and beyond. Represents MCH Epi and CHI on committees, workgroups, and projects to meet research and data analysis needs. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions

1. Serves as program needs assessment and evaluation methodology specialist within the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH Epi) Unit, with minimal supervision and extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Work involves overseeing, planning, and conducting needs assessments and evaluation studies, statistical analyses, research studies, and other projects, and interpreting research findings to gauge the effectiveness of CHI programs, projects, and initiatives. Work also involves directing and conducting qualitative data collection efforts including focus groups, key informant interviews, and other qualitative research efforts. (40%)
2. Consults with research professionals, including staff both within and external to MCH Epi, to define and solve specific problems and to assure quality control for statistical analyses and research designs. Prepares reports, scientific papers/articles, and presentations for distribution and/or publication, including writing reports for federal and state partners on the topics of child health, adolescent health, and children with special health care needs. (15%)
3. Performs scientific literature searches and reviews publications, research proposals, legislation, and state and federal policies to inform policy and practice related to CHI and public health. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the impact of legislation, regulations, and policies affecting CHI programs. (15%)
4. Provides data-related consultation and technical assistance to CHI program areas on needs assessment, health impact, research methods, survey development, and program evaluation/assessment of CHI practices, programs, and issues. Participates in cross-functional training and provides technical advice within MCH Epi and beyond. (15%)
5. Represents MCH Epi and CHI on committees, workgroups, and projects to meet research and data analysis needs. (10%)
6. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery of Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternative shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the array of research planning, needs assessment, and evaluation methods; mixed methods research approaches including quantitative (statistical analysis) and qualitative (including focus groups, interviews, and other methodologies) data collection and analysis; scientific research methods, survey studies, statistical concepts and methods and their application to research analysis, analysis of large datasets; computer software applications, especially SAS or other software used to conduct statistical analyses, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access), and geographical information systems software (e.g., ArcGIS).

Skills

• Good coordination, communication, and writing skills; development of procedures to monitor and evaluate progress in achieving project objectives, including feedback to policy makers to provide input into the ongoing research process; strong project management skills to organize major project activities into a logical sequence with a reasonable and achievable set of deadlines; ability to facilitate meeting agendas to achieve planned outcomes and to convey planning alternatives or recommendations to a variety of audiences including DSHS staff, the public, and decision makers; strong technical writing skills to clearly and succinctly communicate project/research information for correspondence with state and federal agencies, grant applications and plans, state rules and planning procedures.

Abilities

• To work independently; to take initiative and participate actively in meetings, stakeholder groups and committees representing M&CH epi and working well independently as well as part of a team; to gather information from a variety of sources and to synthesize and translate detailed information into simpler terms; to express ideas clearly and concisely orally and in writing; to develop and effectively deliver training and technical assistance about research/data methods, procedures or DSHS policies; to assess the reliability, validity, and appropriateness of proposed data collection methods and designs; to plan, organize, and conduct assigned phases of complex research projects; to interpret complex statistical analysis, charts, and tables; to develop and analyze measuring instruments with respect to reliability, relevance, and validity; to formulate reasonable hypotheses and structure research designs to account for variables; to communicate effectively; to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to work with others as part of a team.

How to Apply 

To read more about the position details and apply online, click here! 

Epidemiologic Research Analyst, National Cancer Institute

Description

Seeking an individual with either a master’s degree in epidemiology (or related field) or comparable experience to work on descriptive epidemiology projects with Dr. Meredith Shiels in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, an intramural component of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). For further details about Dr. Shiels’ program of research please click here.

Potential research projects include estimating trends in premature death rates over time and by cause and demographic group, excess death rates in provisional death certificate data compared to historical data, trends in cancer rates over time and disparities in both mortality and cancer trends. In addition to cancer, projects will also focus on the impact of the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 on national death rates. The open position will involve a combination of the following: study design, study management (data coding and cleaning, downloading and merging data sets, coordinating data use agreements), data analysis (statistical analysis of epidemiologic data), generation of tables and figures and preparation of reports for presentation or publication.

Qualifications

 Seeking individuals with either a master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, or a related field, or with comparable experience. The position will involve on-the-job training in epidemiologic analyses and is suited for someone with <4 years experience post-MPH/MS. Given the extensive training involved with the position, we are seeking applicants available for at least a two-year minimum commitment.  Experience with statistical software applications used in public health research is a must; please indicate relevant software applications and degrees of competency. Job requires organizational abilities, attention to detail, initiative, and an aptitude for multi-tasking. U.S. citizenship is required.

Division Description 

The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics is a leading biomedical institution in the fields of cancer epidemiology and has a strong record of excellence in research training and possibilities for professional development. Pay is commensurate with qualifications. This is a contract position, arranged through a government contractor, located at a government agency in Rockville, Maryland.

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should send a CV and a cover letter to Dr. Meredith Shiels at shielsms [at] mail [dot] nih [dot] gov .

Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Position Overview

The EpiBayes research group, led by Dr. Jon Zelner in the Dept. of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health (CSEPH) at the University of Michigan School of Public Health seeks a postdoctoral fellow to work with us on several projects relating to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza and estimates/projections of vaccine efficacy for both of these pathogens. Drs. Emily Martin and Arnold Monto, co-directors of the Michigan Influenza Center will serve as secondary advisors for this position along with additional collaboration from investigators in the Michigan Influenza Center and University of Michigan School of Medicine. The person holding this position will be responsible for the analysis and integration of data from a unique combination of data sources including community-based household cohort studies, clinical studies in outpatient and hospital settings, and state-wide public health surveillance of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology.

About the Research Group 

We are a multidisciplinary, highly-collaborative group, with close connections to other research groups performing primary data collection at the University of Michigan and other institutions. We are broadly interested in understanding and addressing the key sources of spatial and sociodemographic variation in infectious disease infection and transmission risks. Our work covers a wide array of pathogens including respiratory viruses (COVID-19, influenza, RSV), bacterial infections (tuberculosis, Meningitis B, MRSA) and pathogens causing diarrheal disease (noroviruses, E. Coli, all-cause diarrhea). The overarching theme uniting these projects is a focus on the use of cutting-edge statistical and simulation methods to understand and positively impact socioeconomic disparities in global and domestic infection risk.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will have significant experience in statistical modeling of infectious disease transmission using detailed individual level data. Candidates must hold a PhD, but field of study is flexible (e.g. epidemiology, statistics, ecology, social science) with suitability assessed primarily as a function of skills and experience.

Additional Details

This position can be filled immediately, but the start date is flexible. The initial term of this position will be for two years, with the possibility of extension. This position will be all-remote until June 2021, with location thereafter to be determined in collaboration with the candidate and as a function of public health conditions. Interested candidates should send a brief inquiry and CV to Jon Zelner at jzelner [at] umich [dot] edu.