Career Opportunities

Research Assistant (Clinical Research Coordinator I)

Job ID #

3261614

Description

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) is seeking Research Assistants (Clinical Research Coordinators) to work with an internationally recognized multidisciplinary team from Massachusetts General Hospital dedicated to improving clinical outcomes, increasing value in health policy, and informing global public health through innovative research, collaboration, and education. MPEC is a dynamic, results-oriented, and diverse group that values the unique contribution of its Research Assistants.

Research Assistants will receive training on clinical and public health research topics, simulation model design and application, research software and tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, and best practices in academic research. MPEC highly values communication of its work to external audiences and is committed to cultivating the presentation skills of Research Assistants – skills that are essential in virtually every field. Research Assistants work within a larger research community at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School that provides exposure to a breadth of interdisciplinary collaboration, access to lectures, and training on a wide array of topics, including programming languages, writing, presentation skills, phlebotomy, ethics, and clinical topics. MPEC values individual mentorship and career development for Research Assistants evident in opportunities for coauthorship on peer-reviewed manuscripts, clinical shadowing, presentations at conferences, and references for future jobs and schooling. Research Assistants in our group frequently go on to pursue careers in medicine, public health, epidemiology, global health, and health policy research, as well as careers in economics, public policy, biostatistics, and non-governmental organizations.

Research Assistants will either work with investigators in the Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis pillar or the Epidemiology and Implementation pillar within MPEC.

The Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis pillar conducts clinical and cost-effectiveness analyses on key aspects of HIV disease management across the life cycle, from infancy to adolescence to aging with HIV. This pillar also develops models to address other chronic and infectious disease treatment and prevention. The pillar works on rapid turn-around high priority key policy issues in the US and beyond. Past and current projects include:

• Projecting the harms and benefits of dolutegravir treatment for HIV in women of childbearing age, which was cited in the WHO policy decision to not withhold this important new treatment option from this population
• Working closely with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care to develop a location-optimization model that could help inform the placement of limited point-of-care testing devices for early infant diagnosis of HIV
• Examining the clinical and economic impact, as well as optimal drug price, of current and novel HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications for populations at high risk of acquiring HIV in the United States, India, and South Africa among other populations
• Assessing the cost-effectiveness of new tuberculosis diagnostic tests in South Africa and Malawi, which was cited in the WHO’s guidelines on tuberculosis testing in people with HIV
• Estimating the impact of tobacco smoking and smoking cessation on the health of people with HIV in the US, which was cited in the US Department of Health and Human Services guidelines on primary care of people with HIV
• Working alongside national clinical trials networks in the US and other settings to project the long term outcomes of interventions to improve health
• Projecting the burden of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and depression among people aging with HIV

Please note that no prior experience in mathematical modeling, programming, economics, or cost-effectiveness analysis is expected of applicants to the Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis Research Assistant position.

The Epidemiology and Implementation pillar develops, implements, and evaluates interventions to improve engagement in medical care in the United States and international settings. Past and current projects include:

• Establishing an international registry of dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19, which led to the discovery of “COVID toes” as a sequela
• An evaluation of pre-therapy HIV adherence counseling, which eliminated delays between eligibility and initiation of HIV therapy in sub-Saharan Africa
• Established one of the first routine HIV screening programs in South Africa, which has since been incorporated into routine practice
• Evaluating the clinical impact of a policy change to allow virologically stable HIV patients to pick up medications at community venues in South Africa
• Quantitative measurement of the effects of HIV on aging and heart disease in rural Uganda
• Investigating the role of maternal HIV infection in the development of early childhood infections
• Studying low-barrier service delivery mechanisms for sexually-transmitted infection screening and prevention out of the MGH Sexual Health Clinic and in partnership with community organizations in the Boston area

A pilot project to offer HIV prevention and family planning to young women in community venues (such as hair salons) in South Africa

Application process

Interested candidates should apply via www.massgeneral.org/careers website using Job ID 3261614.

**When applying, please upload:

• Cover letter specific to the role in our Center
• Resume
• Transcript (unofficial transcript is OK)

Applications that do not include all three components will NOT be considered.**

We welcome applications as early as October 2, 2023. The start date for this position will be in June/July 2024.

For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.

Principal duties and responsibilities

MPEC Research Assistants participate in all phases of research projects, from conception and design of studies through analysis and writing manuscripts for submission to academic journals.

Responsibilities may include, for example:

Modeling pillar-specific tasks

• Participate in simulation model development and design
• Design and execute simulation model runs to address critical policy research questions
• Extract model projections and summarize findings in tables
• Design and develop visually compelling figures that display model output
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary domestic and international scientists to assess datasets, design research questions, and present model findings to policymakers, collaborators, and community partners

Implementation pillar-specific tasks

• Design and manage study databases, generate data queries, and participate in data cleaning efforts
• Analyze quantitative data as part of cohort studies, clinical trials, and implementation studies
• Code qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groups
• Partner with international collaborators and study staff on oversight of studies, standard operating procedure development and review, and data quality assurance

Cross-pillar tasks

• Assist in writing abstracts and designing posters for submission to research conferences
• Present study results to project teams and external stakeholders
• Assist with the preparation of Data Use Agreements, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, and related documents regarding the protection of human subjects
• Perform systematic literature reviews and synthesize relevant data
• Help prepare grant applications
• Provide administrative support as needed, including organizing meetings and preparing slides for lectures and seminars

Qualifications

The position requires a bachelor’s degree, with an academic record demonstrating experience and skills in analytical thinking and/or quantitative methods. Candidates should also demonstrate skill in organization, time management, and both verbal and written communication.

Additional qualifications include:

• Advanced attention to detail
• Problem-solving skills
• Experience with data organization and analysis
• Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office software (particularly Excel), as well as interest in learning new software applications
• Ability to work as part of a diverse team, including remote collaboration
• Intellectual independence and initiative
• Interest in decision science, simulation modeling and analysis, public health, health policy, economics, and/or medicine
• Excellent academic record

Additional experience that is helpful but not required:

• Previous research experience (classroom-based or professional), including investigator-initiated clinical research studies, decision science research and/or simulation tools, or qualitative research methods
• Experience in international or intercultural settings
• Familiarity with statistical programming software such as SAS, Stata, Python, or R
• Database design and management experience, particularly with REDCap or Access

Quantitative, analytical, computer, and English language (spoken and written) skills are required.

Working Conditions

Duties will be carried out in a hybrid format, with time split between a typical office environment and a remote environment. We value work-life balance, and hours will typically be a standard 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday. Hours outside the 9-5 workday may be requested on occasion, with overtime compensation as appropriate, particularly around grant submission deadlines.

In keeping with our overarching mission to reduce health and other disparities in vulnerable populations, the Medical Practice Evaluation Center is specifically committed to recruiting a diverse team of individuals across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and ability backgrounds to ensure that our science is informed by and responsive to the communities we aim to serve. The Center strives to become a leader in developing and maintaining increased representation, recognition, and support of each of these dimensions of diversity among all of its members.

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by all people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities, or skills of personnel so classified.

Job ID #

3249926

Description

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) at Massachusetts General Hospital is seeking a Faculty Biostatistician to work as part of an internationally recognized multidisciplinary team of epidemiologists, clinical trialists, and implementation scientists dedicated to improving clinical outcomes and informing global public health policy in resource limited settings through innovative research, collaboration, and education. Academic appointments within the Mongan Institute at MGH will be at the rank of Instructor, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, based on candidates’ backgrounds. This position will be an integral part of a dynamic, results-oriented, and diverse group of researchers based at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, working in partnership with multiple international institutions.

The Faculty Biostatistician will work within the Epidemiology and Implementation Science Program at MPEC. The Epidemiology and Implementation Program works to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve care of HIV and other diseases of high public health significance in multiple international settings. Current projects include:

• Using implementation science methods to evaluate the health and quality of life impacts of a policy change in South Africa to allow patients with HIV to pick up medications at community venues
• Developing and implementing causal inference statistical methods to determine the contributions of HIV to cardiovascular disease and developing novel cardiovascular disease risk prediction tools in South Africa with use of use of large (i.e. n=20,000) longitudinal observational cohort studies within a community-based, comprehensively phenotyped population
• Conducting a multicenter implementation science clinical trial to estimate the impact of community health worker-supported hypertension care in South Africa
• Investigating the role of maternal HIV infection, co-infection, antiretroviral therapy use, and placental pathology on early childhood health and development
• Evaluating novel service delivery mechanisms for sexually transmitted infection screening and prevention strategies at the MGH Sexual Health Clinic in partnership with community organizations in the Boston area
• Conducting a multinational randomized controlled trial to determine the optimal strategy of managing persistent HIV treatment failure in Uganda and South Africa

The position offers a stimulating, collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment and the opportunity to contribute to NIH-funded, policy-informing research as a co-investigator. The primary responsibilities of this individual will be to inform and select biostatistical design elements of clinical trials, implementation science projects, and longitudinal cohort and other observational study designs. Interested individuals will also have the option to dedicate effort to development of their own scientific work, whether it be applied or theoretical biostatistical methods in the global health epidemiologic, clinical trial and/or implementation science domain. There are multiple possibilities for collaboration with other investigators and biostatisticians in Boston at MGH and the Harvard School of Public Health, as well as with national and international research partners, including in South Africa and Uganda.

Application process

Interested candidates should apply via www.massgeneral.org/careers website using Job ID 3249926.

**When applying, please upload a cover letter and resume.

For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.

Principal duties and responsibilities

The Faculty Biostatistician may participate in all phases of research projects, from conception and design of studies through analysis and writing manuscripts for submission to academic journals.

• Collaborate with investigators to develop and review biostatistical elements of studies (e.g. study design, causal methods, model selection, power/sample size calculations, sensitivity analyses, etc.), including observational studies, clinical trials, and implementation science projects. This work will include grant writing and protocol writing.
• Lead and oversee team of data analysts to conduct biostatistical analysis for research protocols as described above
• Develop and write formal statistical analysis plans and data and safety monitoring plans for research protocols as described above
• Serve as co-author on manuscripts
• Mentor a team of data analysts in statistical analysis, study design, and coding
• Foster a culture of community, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging among faculty, staff and learners
• Maintain department-wide professional expertise in established and emerging biostatistical methods and study design

Interested candidates may also have the opportunity to lead an independent research program on applied and/or theoretic statistical methods related to clinical trials, implementation science, causal methods, and/or related epidemiologic methods.

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities, or skills of personnel so classified.

Qualifications

The candidate should have a doctoral degree in biostatistics or epidemiology and strong statistical computing skills. We are seeking someone with experience with 1) observational methods, such as causal inference, hierarchical modeling, risk prediction modeling and/or missing data methods with electronic health records; and 2) experimental methods, such as traditional clinical trials, implementation science evaluations and/or adaptive designs. We are also seeking individuals with work or research experience in resource-limited settings and/or sustained commitment to work that directly addresses health inequity.

Exceptional quantitative and analytical skills are essential. The candidate must have excellent English language (spoken and written) skills.

Working Conditions

Duties will be carried out primarily in a typical hybrid office environment at Massachusetts General Hospital. The employee should expect to be on-site at least three days per week.

In keeping with our overarching mission to reduce health and other disparities in vulnerable populations, the Medical Practice Evaluation Center is specifically committed to recruiting a diverse team of individuals across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and ability backgrounds to ensure that our science is informed by and responsive to the communities we aim to serve. The Center strives to become a leader in developing and maintaining increased representation, recognition, and support of each of these dimensions of diversity among all of its members.

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by all people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities, or skills of personnel so classified.

Project Coordinator

Job ID #

3277710

Description

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) within the Mongan Institute is seeking an intellectually curious and highly organized individual with international research experience to serve as a Research Project Coordinator for a novel project seeking to define global access to dermatology, characterize dermatology deserts within high- and low-resource settings, and create a roadmap to improve access to skin health.

Currently, there is limited understanding of how dermatologists are distributed across the globe and who is making diagnoses related to skin health. In collaboration with the International League of Dermatological Societies and the World Health Organization, this project aims to leverage survey techniques to define the density and distribution of dermatologists and characterize which healthcare professionals are on the frontline of making initial skin diagnoses.

The Research Project Coordinator will play a key role in maintaining smooth and efficient study operations by identifying and addressing roadblocks, developing detailed plans for accomplishing interim study deliverables, and collaborating with a team of international partners to keep the project moving forward. Through active oversight of regulatory processes, the Project Coordinator will ensure continuous compliance with all applicable regulations. Additionally, the Project Coordinator will engage with data collection tools such as REDCap to accomplish the project aims.

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) informs health policy and transforms the care of underserved populations worldwide through clinically focused cost-effectiveness, epidemiologic, and implementation research. MPEC is driven by a team of passionate and dedicated personnel from diverse backgrounds who exemplify professionalism, respect, and integrity in their work.

MPEC is unified by several core values:

• Humility and mutual respect in our collaborations with external partners
• Equity – as a common objective both as an organization and in our work
• Our collective success and a culture of sharing
• Mentorship – to develop the next generation of investigators and leaders
• Recognition of all team members as contributors
• Balance in work and life – recognizing the tremendous value in both
• A can-do attitude in all that we do

Application process

Interested candidates should apply via www.massgeneral.org/careers website using Job ID 3255146.

**When applying, please upload a cover letter and resume. Applications that do not include both components will NOT be considered.** 

For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.

Principal duties and responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities: 

Logistical and administrative study management responsibilities:

• At project outset, clarify project goals, deliverables, tasks, timeline, and research team
• Throughout project duration, plan, track, and report on project tasks, responsible parties, timelines, etc.
• Proactively take steps to help others move forward, whether it is planning project-specific meetings, getting people to make decisions, bringing in additional resources, etc.
• Serve as a liaison between team members at various US and international collaborative research sites
• Participate in collaborative grant-writing and reporting efforts

Regulatory/compliance responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the Compliance Manager, coordinate and monitor Institutional Review Board applications and reporting, including all applicable review dates and deadlines to prevent lapses in approval
• Serve as the liaison between the Partners Human Subjects Research Committee and in-country IRB and ethics boards to ensure complete, accurate, and consistent regulatory submissions
• Assist with the preparation of Data Use Agreements, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, and related documents regarding the protection of human subjects
• Ensure research integrity, including data documentation and data management

Analytic responsibilities:

• Perform systematic literature reviews and synthesize relevant data
• Assist in writing abstracts and designing posters for submission to research conferences
• Design and manage study databases, generate data queries, and participate in data cleaning efforts
• Create and maintain REDCap databases including the design of data collection forms, extraction and uploading of datasets, and creation of reports
• Present study results to project teams and external stakeholders

Qualifications/Skills

Job qualifications include the following:

• Bachelor’s degree, including rigorous academic performance
• 6+ months of experience in an international setting or as part of an international project team is required

Skills/abilities/competencies required include the following:

• Planning, Organizing and Coordinating
  • Skilled in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency of research operations and subsequently execute improvements
  • Time management skills with the capability to prioritize among multiple requests from multiple individuals and the ability to change direction in response to a fluctuating work environment
• Team Management
  • Ability to work successfully in a collaborative environment, including international stakeholders
  • Skilled in working with teams with different skillsets, work styles, and professional roles
• Gets Results/Takes Initiative
  • High personal work standards and sense of urgency about results
  • Ability to anticipate the needs of the group in a fast-paced environment
  • Problem-solving ability, including the ability to gather information, identify resources, and imagine alternatives
  • Demonstrates initiative and identifies key priorities, even in ambiguous situations with limited direction
  • Ability to work effectively under pressure and within short time constraints
  • Consistently demonstrates a positive, “can-do” attitude
• Communication Skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to represent MPEC with the utmost professionalism and ability to build strong relationships inside and outside the group
  • Ability to clarify and distill complex issues to a variety of stakeholders
  • Cognizant and respectful of cultural differences in communication approach
• Analytical Skills
  • Intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn
  • Rigorous academic and/or professional background including international work
  • Basic familiarity with health outcomes/epidemiology research and/or clinical trials

Working Conditions

Duties will be carried out primarily in a typical hybrid office environment at Massachusetts General Hospital. Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work may be required.

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by all people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities, or skills of personnel so classified.

Job ID #

Description

3273708

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) informs health policy and transforms the care of underserved populations worldwide through clinically focused cost-effectiveness, epidemiologic, and implementation research. MPEC is driven by a team of passionate and dedicated personnel from diverse backgrounds who exemplify professionalism, respect, and integrity in their work.

MPEC is unified by several core values:

• Humility and mutual respect in our collaborations with external partners
• Equity – as a common objective both as an organization and in our work
• Our collective success and a culture of sharing
• Mentorship – to develop the next generation of investigators and leaders
• Recognition of all team members as contributors 
• Balance in work and life – recognizing the tremendous value in both
• A can-do attitude in all that we do

To foster these values in a growing team environment, MPEC is seeking an experienced team leader to provide daily management, oversight and professional mentorship of research staff. The Staff Manager will play a key role in research program administration by providing skill-building coaching to research staff, partnering with faculty researchers to manage research staff workloads, and supporting the professional development of research staff. This individual will bolster and support MPEC’s culture of respectful and collegial collaboration through the cultivation of trusting relationships among staff and Principal Investigators (PIs).

The candidate will work with an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary team from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, alongside collaborators from many institutions, including the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The team conducts research focused on both US and international settings – the latter including, but not limited to, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Brazil, India, Nigeria, and Thailand.

Application process

Interested candidates should apply via www.massgeneral.org/careers website using Job ID 3273708.

**When applying, please include a cover letter along with your resume.** 

For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.

Principal duties and responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities: 

Serve as coach and professional resource to research personnel

• Clinical Research Coordinators
  • Meet regularly with all (~20) CRCs to actively monitor workload
  • Intervene as needed to guide CRCs in prioritizing projects and timelines  
  • Provide consistent coaching regarding skill development and identify appropriate training resources to support professional growth
• All research staff (CRCs, Programmers, Data Analysts, Project Managers, Operations staff)
  • Serve as ombuds, providing confidential advice and facilitating conversations to resolve challenging situations or conflicts
  • In partnership with PIs, provide ongoing professional development support, develop appropriate professional goals, and identify opportunities for ongoing learning opportunities

Coordinate workload planning and distribution

• Work with faculty (and/or Project Manager delegate, if applicable) on CRC allocation planning
• Develop proposals to properly balance project needs and funding availability and refine based on PI input to be responsive to needs
• Monitor overtime and after-hours work trends; engage necessary individuals to address recurring overtime
• Work with recruiting team to recruit a new research assistant cohort within MPEC each year
• Identify areas of unmet need and collaborate with leadership to identify effective methods to address staffing gaps through role reconfiguration or developing new roles within MPEC

Provide Human Resources guidance and support

• Oversee and manage timekeeping for all weekly-paid personnel
• Manage research staff performance reviews, collecting and organizing input, sharing with PI supervisor, and ensuring timely submission to HR
• Engage with MPEC leadership and MGH HR to plan and advocate for promotions for staff as appropriate
• Develop corrective action plans as needed; provide oversight of plan execution
• Direct internship, non-employee, and visa processes for MPEC staff and affiliates

Provide ongoing PI support

• Meet with PIs regularly (monthly, or more frequently if requested) to discuss research staff performance
• Share best practices with PIs regarding supervision, navigating difficult conversations, and delivering performance reviews

Qualifications

Required:

• BA/BS degree and 3+ years of professional work experience in a supervisory/manager position
• Proven mentorship and management skills

Preferred:

• Familiarity with an academic or medical research setting
• Master’s degree in public health, management, or related field

Skills/Competencies

Discretion and Trust-building

• Ability to address personnel matters with empathy and discretion
• Proven skills in mediation and fostering successful communication across the organizational structure, including vertically
• Ability to manage diverse teams with different skillsets, work styles, and professional roles

Planning, Organizing and Coordinating

• Capacity to monitor a complex research enterprise
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to anticipate the needs of the group

Gets Results/Takes Initiative

• High personal work standards and sense of urgency about results; demonstrates initiative
• Consistently demonstrates a positive, “can-do” attitude
• Ability to anticipate and solve problems proactively
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn
• Rigorous academic and/or professional background

Communication Skills

• Ability to work successfully in a collaborative environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to clarify and distill complex issues to a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to represent MPEC with the utmost professionalism and ability to build strong relationships inside and outside the group

Working conditions

Duties will be carried out in a typical office environment. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required. Remote work on Fridays may be considered after onboarding period.