Senior Research Scientist

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that all individuals, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserve the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the organization emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage without premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The organization is committed to fostering a workplace environment that supports both personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Senior Research Scientist position is situated within the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation, which plays a crucial role in global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and enhance health outcomes for vulnerable populations. The IDM develops and shares computational modeling tools, advises policymakers, and promotes data-driven decision-making. The Sexual & Reproductive Health team, part of IDM’s Gender, Vulnerability & Health Equity portfolio, focuses on researching health inequities. The Senior Research Scientist will lead the expansion of an agent-based model tailored to research needs, bridging the gap between technical experts and non-technical audiences. This role involves collaboration with internal and external partners to produce impactful research that enhances sexual and reproductive health programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Research Scientist will contribute to a comprehensive research portfolio in Sexual & Reproductive Health, particularly focusing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Key responsibilities include leveraging statistical modeling and data wrangling skills to develop and parameterize dynamic model features, utilizing and enhancing agent-based modeling tools to guide decision-making regarding STI diagnostics, prevention, and treatment. The role also involves collaborating with teams of researchers and software developers to design, execute, and complete research projects, including partnerships with researchers in regional country offices and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) organizations. Additionally, the Senior Research Scientist will be responsible for communicating and disseminating research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, ensuring that insights are accessible to all stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field, along with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. The ideal candidate will be a technical expert and leader, particularly proficient in Python and R. Additional expertise in sexually transmitted infections or other areas of sexual and reproductive health is highly desirable. The ability to effectively communicate complex modeling insights and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences is essential. Strong initiative, organizational skills, and the capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively across functions while adapting to changing tasks and priorities are also required.

Educational Background:
A PhD or equivalent degree in a quantitative field is mandatory for this position. This educational background ensures that the candidate has the necessary analytical skills and knowledge to engage in advanced research and modeling activities relevant to sexual and reproductive health.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field, demonstrating a strong background in research and modeling. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with dynamic models, particularly agent-based models, and should be recognized as technical experts in their area of specialization. Experience in bridging communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders is also crucial for success in this role.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international scope of the organization and the need to communicate research findings effectively. Additional language skills may be beneficial, particularly in languages relevant to the regions where the organization operates.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited-term role lasting 9 months, and relocation assistance will not be provided. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring visa sponsorship. The salary range for this role is between $186,400 to $228,800 USD, with specific adjustments for high-wage markets like Seattle and Washington D.C., where the range is $203,100 to $314,900 USD. The organization aims to balance competitive compensation with its mission-driven focus, and new hires typically fall within the lower to mid-range of the salary scale based on their skills and experience. Additionally, employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.