Career Opportunities

Please come join us at one of our Virtual Open Houses to learn more about the Research Assistant (RA)/Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) position! You’ll have the opportunity to talk to current RAs, alumni, faculty, and other team members. Sessions will be 1-2 hours depending on the length of the Q&A portion. Please register for a day using the following links:

• Please check back – no additional sessions are currently scheduled this season.

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 carein 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.

Job ID #

3260066

Description

The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) at Massachusetts General Hospital is seeking a Research Scientist 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. The 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 Research Scientist 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. 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. 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 3260066.

**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 Research Scientist 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 safety monitoring plans for research protocols as described above
• Lead and advise study teams on writing in statistical methods and production of figures, tables, posters, and peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Mentor a team of data analysts in statistical analysis, study design, 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

Qualifications

The candidate should have advanced formal training (PhD) in biostatistics or a related field 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 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.

Research Staff Scientist

Job ID #

3255146

Description

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 alternative strategies of HIV and tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, as well as modeling of other diseases and care. The position is with an internationally-recognized, multidisciplinary team from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Yale School of Public Health, and multiple international institutions including the University of Cape Town, South Africa. The research team includes decision scientists, physicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and health economists. Together, the group studies the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of various prevention and treatment options for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, tobacco use, and other health-related conditions, in collaboration with researchers in the US, as well as in a range of international settings, including Botswana, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, France, India, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.

The candidate should be highly motivated with extensive experience in quantitative methods, independent mathematical model development, parameterization, and debugging. The position offers a stimulating and multidisciplinary environment and the opportunity to contribute to the development of the NIH-funded Cost-effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC) microsimulation model, and potentially other disease models. The primary responsibilities of this individual will be to assist with model refinement and extension including infection transmission dynamics, to conduct CEPAC model-based cost-effectiveness analyses including value-of-information analyses, to lead in abstract and manuscript preparation, and to assist with grant submissions. There are multiple possibilities for interaction with other researchers in Boston, as well as collaboration with many national and international research groups and institutions.

Application process

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

**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: 

• Lead US and international projects to complete the aims of numerous NIH grants, including development and specification of mathematical simulation models
• Conduct multiple clinical and cost-effectiveness analyses on different aspects of HIV and tuberculosis disease management using a computer simulation model of HIV and tuberculosis disease (the CEPAC-US, CEPAC-International, CEPAC-Adolescent, and CEPAC-Pediatric models), assuring consistency with guidelines for best practices
• Develop and apply novel simulation modeling methods, including value-of-information analysis, to inform clinical trial design in HIV and tuberculosis
• Design methods of HIV and tuberculosis transmission modeling
• Perform literature reviews and synthesize relevant data for these projects with biostatistics staff; work with these staff to convert published data into appropriate input parameters
• Assist with the parameterization and documentation of the model, and train other users on updates
• Develop analysis plans and protocols for studies consistent with federal guidelines
• Troubleshoot model inconsistencies (bugs) alongside the Programming team and other research staff (Research Assistants and Project Managers)
• Provide guidance to Research Assistants, particularly regarding methodological issues
• Provide input into major studies undertaken by the research team
• Lead abstract and manuscript preparation, as well as presentation of study results for several projects at a time
• Prepare grant applications and related documents
• Attend national and international scientific meetings
• Present research at seminars, working group meetings, and lectures
• Take a major role in technology transfer and training meetings with US and international investigators
• Coordinate design of specific studies, collaborating with US and international collaborators across multiple sites
• Assist in the training of new employees in the use of the CEPAC model
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Skills

Job qualifications include the following:

• PhD or ScD in Operations Research, Decision Science, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, or related area
• Minimum of 5 years of research experience (inclusive of graduate studies)

Skills/abilities/competencies required include the following:

• Capacity to manipulate large amounts of data
• Ability to work with mathematical models and methods, including Markov and Monte Carlo simulation models, compartmental and agent-based epidemiological models, and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis, and ability to solve technical problems in these areas
• Experience with transmission or network modeling
• Outstanding writing, presentation, and organizational skills for manuscript and abstract preparations
• Facility with data analytic, statistical, and programming software
• Proficiency with standard office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and the ability to learn new computer applications
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Intellectual independence and initiative
• Ability to supervise Research Assistants and other team members in collaborative projects
• Experience in public health, health economics, and health policy, preferably in HIV or tuberculosis
• Ability to work within NIH and other federal and foundation regulations and guidelines

Working Conditions

Duties will be carried out primarily in a typical hybrid office environment at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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.