Senior Research Scientist

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Founded on the principle that everyone, regardless of their identity or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the Foundation is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of the populations it serves. It offers an exceptional benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The Foundation fosters a workplace environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Senior Research Scientist position is part of the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) within the Gates Foundation. The IDM aims to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and improve health outcomes through the development and application of computational modeling tools. The successful candidate will lead a flagship project focused on nutrition modeling, specifically addressing micronutrient deficiencies and their implications for infectious diseases. This role requires a deep understanding of the epidemiology of micronutrient deficiencies and the ability to integrate complex data sets to inform public health decision-making. The position is a limited-term engagement lasting 11 months, primarily based in Seattle, WA, and will involve collaboration with various teams within the Foundation and external partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Research Scientist will be responsible for leading analyses that characterize the burden and etiology of micronutrient deficiencies in priority regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This includes identifying hotspots where nutritional deficiencies coincide with high infectious disease burdens. The role involves integrating diverse data sources, such as biomarker surveillance, dietary surveys, and health system data, into a cohesive statistical framework. The scientist will apply a mechanistic understanding of how micronutrient status affects immunity and disease susceptibility, develop analytical frameworks to evaluate the interactions between multiple deficiencies and infectious diseases, and collaborate with IDM modelers to translate findings into dynamic modeling frameworks. Additionally, the scientist will communicate results to various stakeholders, including scientists and Foundation leadership, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and internal strategy documents.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD in nutritional epidemiology, epidemiology, global health, biostatistics, or a closely related field. They should have demonstrated expertise in micronutrient and vitamin deficiency epidemiology, including knowledge of the biological mechanisms linking nutritional status to health outcomes. Strong quantitative and statistical modeling skills are essential, with proficiency in R and/or Python. Experience working with complex datasets, including biomarker data and dietary surveys, is required, along with a track record of peer-reviewed publications and the ability to communicate scientific findings to non-technical audiences. The candidate should be capable of working independently and managing a focused research project within a defined timeline.

Educational Background:
A PhD in a relevant field such as nutritional epidemiology, epidemiology, global health, or biostatistics is required for this position. This advanced degree should provide the candidate with a strong foundation in research methodologies and statistical analysis relevant to the study of nutrition and health outcomes.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have significant experience in nutritional epidemiology, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Familiarity with GBD methodology and burden of disease frameworks is preferred, as is experience linking nutritional epidemiology to infectious disease outcomes. The candidate should also have a background in working collaboratively across interdisciplinary teams, including computational modelers and global health program staff.

Languages:
While the job posting does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential for effective communication within the Foundation and with external partners. Additional language skills relevant to the regions of focus may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This is an 11-month limited-term position based in Seattle, WA, with no relocation assistance provided. The salary range for this role is between $190,100 and $294,700 USD, with higher ranges for positions in Seattle and Washington D.C. The Foundation emphasizes a mission-driven approach to compensation, balancing competitive pay with its overarching goals. Candidates must have unrestricted work authorization in the United States, as the Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. The hiring process will include a background check, and the Foundation is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates.