What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Specialist position at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Site: The General Hospital Corporation
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
Summary
Job Summary
Functioning independently and under the direction of the principal investigator, performs high-level, complex scientific research experiments. On a regular basis, contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals, and presentations, and investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.
Does this position require Patient Care?
No
Essential Functions
Education
Master's Degree Related Field of Study required
Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No
Licenses and Credentials
Experience
Experience in an academic or laboratory research setting 3-5 years required
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic individual to join our research team investigating the clinical and economic value of strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in low- and middle income counties (LMICs). The candidate should be highly motivated with experience in computer science, mathematics, and/or statistics. Ideally, the candidate will have significant experience in software development and programming. Some experience in numerical methods, Bayesian statistics, and/or mathematical model development and parameterization is also a plus. The position offers a stimulating, collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment and the opportunity to contribute to the development of several NIH-funded disease models. The primary responsibilities of this individual will be to help plan, program, and and parameterize a novel simulation model for diabetes in LMICs, which will be used to conduct cost-effectiveness analyses using a range of data sources. Additional responsibilities will include leading abstract presentation and manuscript preparation, assisting with model refinement and expansion, and assisting with new proposals and grant preparation. There are multiple possibilities for collaboration with other researchers in Boston, as well as with many national and international research groups and institutions.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
Qualifications include the following:
This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary based on need.
Remote Type
Hybrid
Work Location
100 Cambridge Street
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
Pay Range
$63,252.80 - $102,596.00/Annual
Grade
7
At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.
EEO Statement
1200 The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
Summary
Job Summary
Functioning independently and under the direction of the principal investigator, performs high-level, complex scientific research experiments. On a regular basis, contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals, and presentations, and investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.
Does this position require Patient Care?
No
Essential Functions
- Investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.
- Contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals and presentations.
- Develops proposals and study plans, and coordinates the institutional and external reviews of these proposals.
- Responsible for supervising routine reports of laboratory studies, particularly as stipulated in material transfer agreements or corporate-sponsored research agreements, to be distributed to industry scientific counterparts and academic collaborators.
- Reports on the progress of work at weekly laboratory seminars. Semi-autonomously writes up experimental work for grant applications, book chapters, and journal publications.
- Responsible for preparing summaries of laboratory studies for meeting presentations and publications.
- Calculates, transcribes, analyzes, and prepares figures of data using advanced statistical techniques.
- Semi-autonomously identifies, interprets, and applies findings and methods from scientific literature relevant to projects.
Education
Master's Degree Related Field of Study required
Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No
Licenses and Credentials
Experience
Experience in an academic or laboratory research setting 3-5 years required
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Must be a problem solver willing to take the initiative and prioritize tasks, thereby ensuring the smooth and efficient conduct of several projects simultaneously.
- A high degree of computer literacy in order to use various spreadsheet, database, accounting and word processing programs to assist in administrative, grant proposal preparation, and research reporting activities.
- Excellent organizational skills in order to formulate, implement, and monitor a number of interrelated tasks.
- Ability to exercise discretion and good judgment in handling of sensitive and confidential information.
- Ability to work under deadline pressure and prioritize work from several sources.
- Excellent interpersonal skills for internal and external communications.
The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic individual to join our research team investigating the clinical and economic value of strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in low- and middle income counties (LMICs). The candidate should be highly motivated with experience in computer science, mathematics, and/or statistics. Ideally, the candidate will have significant experience in software development and programming. Some experience in numerical methods, Bayesian statistics, and/or mathematical model development and parameterization is also a plus. The position offers a stimulating, collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment and the opportunity to contribute to the development of several NIH-funded disease models. The primary responsibilities of this individual will be to help plan, program, and and parameterize a novel simulation model for diabetes in LMICs, which will be used to conduct cost-effectiveness analyses using a range of data sources. Additional responsibilities will include leading abstract presentation and manuscript preparation, assisting with model refinement and expansion, and assisting with new proposals and grant preparation. There are multiple possibilities for collaboration with other researchers in Boston, as well as with many national and international research groups and institutions.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Plan, construct, and parameterize disease simulation models with individual and population-level data using advanced mathematical, statistical, and computational methods
- Program all components of a disease simulation model for diabetes in LMICs, including optimizing model for use with high-performance computing clusters
- Identify and assist in the development of methodological advances in the fields of disease simulation modeling, health decision science, and biostatistics
- Support design and analysis of population health datasets relevant to the field of diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases, including assembling preliminary data relevant to these themes.
- Coordinate research study activities. Function as a resource for study issues, particularly in relation to the creation and curation of large survey-based datasets. Identify problems and help to develop solutions
- Contribute to clinical and cost-effectiveness analyses using disease simulation models
- Coordinate and help design analyses with project teams, including US and international collaborators across multiple sites
- Implements data quality and management activities, including data validation, quality control
- Perform literature reviews and synthesize relevant data for these projects with other research staff; work with these staff to convert published data into appropriate model input parameters
- Lead code maintenance and documentation of models
- Work to refine disease models and research processes alongside other research staff
- Document research process thoroughly and consistently
- Troubleshoot model inconsistencies (bugs)
- Lead abstract and manuscript preparation, as well as presentation of study results for multiple projects at a time
- Provide guidance to research assistants and programmers, particularly regarding methodological issues
- Assist in the preparation of grant applications and related documents
- Assist in the training of new employees/research assistants in use of disease simulation models, including maintenance of training materials
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications include the following:
- Minimum of 3 years of research and/or professional experience (inclusive of graduate studies) in the fields of computer science, simulation modeling, statistical analysis, econometrics, health policy, or related field
- Master’s degree (MS, MA, or MPH), preferably focusing on applied mathematics, decision science, data science, biostatistics, statistics, computer science, computational biology and/or economics, with a strong background in quantitative coursework and research.
- Knowledge of and ability to apply range of concepts from computer science, mathematics, and/or statistics, potentially including object-oriented and functional programming approaches, parallel computing, numerical methods, Bayesian statistics, and/or mathematical model development and parameterization
- Ability to learn and adapt statistical and computational methods for use within mathematical simulation models, such as Markov, microsimulation, agent-based, and compartmental models, and ability to solve technical problems in these areas
- Capacity to analyze large amounts of data and outstanding judgment with regards to study design and protocols
- Superior writing, presentation, and organizational skills for preparation of abstracts, manuscripts, grants, and contracts
- Proficiency with R, Python, and/or other programming languages, and ability to learn new programming languages as needed
- Facility with standard office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Internet applications) and the ability to learn new computer applications
- Organization, efficiency, and attention to detail
- Intellectual independence and initiative
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team
- Ability to supervise research assistants as part of project teams
- Ability to work within NIH and other federal and foundation regulations and guidelines
- Experience in public health, health economics, and/or health policy research preferred
- Experience with academic manuscript development preferred
- This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary based on need.
This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary based on need.
Remote Type
Hybrid
Work Location
100 Cambridge Street
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
Pay Range
$63,252.80 - $102,596.00/Annual
Grade
7
At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.
EEO Statement
1200 The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
Salary : $63,253 - $102,596