(Hybrid) Research Scientist - Health Affairs Institute

About the role

The Health Affairs Institute at West Virginia University is seeking a Research Scientist to join our interdisciplinary team. This position serves as a key participant in our State-University partnership and collaborative research and evaluation projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the scientific lead for designated projects and complete task elements of projects under other leadership as needed
• Collaborates with project directors and project managers to create and implement workplans, determine scientific approach and research staffing needs
• Lead development of study protocols, IRB submissions, analytic plans, and evaluation frameworks
• Ensure scientific rigor, validity, and quality of all deliverables
• Oversee research teams in analysis, synthesis, and dissemination of results
• Identify and address complex methodological or implementation challenges
• Coordinate work across a portfolio of projects, ensuring integration of methods, staffing, and deliverables
• Lead proposal development and contribute to the organization’s strategic business development goals
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, state agencies, and nonprofit partners
• Participate in internal strategic planning, methodological innovation, and staff development initiatives
• Supervise, mentor and guide the professional development of assigned science team personnel
• Lead hiring or selection processes for project staff as needed
• Ensure that data analytic and research/evaluation activities are compliant with university-level policies for the responsible conduct of research as well as federal, and state policies, laws, and regulations
• Lead composition of reports as required by the University, the Health Sciences Center administration, and external agencies
• Communicate results of analytic projects and program evaluations with external stakeholders and project sponsors
• Lead the development of publications for peer-reviewed manuscripts and contribute to institutional visibility through conference presentations

Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in health-related field
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in at least one of the following areas: Medicaid/Medicare services, health services research, public health, mental health, substance use, health policy, rural health; as evidenced by publications and/or sustained involvement in a research or evaluation program
• Experience conducting large scale research/evaluations within the healthcare industry, academic or governmental sectors
• Extensive knowledge and experience in utilizing various large health databases for research, program evaluation, and policy development; experience in mixed method designs and/or claims data preferred
• Experience analyzing quantitative and/or qualitative data
• Knowledge in the use of standard statistical analysis packages such as SPSS, SAS, or R or qualitative analysis packages such as Nvivo or Atlas
• Experience designing and overseeing large public health projects, involving the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data
• Consistent record of successfully publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts in the field of public health, health policy, or health services research
• Experience training and/or supervising other individuals
• Creative problem-solving ability and strong organizational skills
• Ability to project and maintain a positive and collaborative attitude
• Proficient in communicating professionally, orally, and in writing, goals, methods, and results of program initiatives with diverse groups of stakeholders

Requirements

• Valid Driver’s License and ability to travel on an intermittent basis if/when required