Assistant Project Scientist - Division of General Medicine

PROJECT SCIENTIST, DIVISION OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The Project Scientist makes significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in his/her academic discipline. The appointee possesses the subject matter expertise and the creative energy necessary to function at a high level of competence. A terminal research degree (PhD or equivalent) in biostatistics, epidemiology, or another quantitative field relevant to the area of research is required. The appointee will participate in activities to increase, improve, or upgrade his/her competency. Appointees with Project Scientist titles may engage in University and public service. They do not have teaching responsibilities. Although the Project Scientist is expected to work independently under the general guidance of an academic member with an independent research program (i.e., Professor, Professional Researcher, Specialist in Cooperative Extension, etc.), he/she is not required to develop an independent research program or reputation. He/she will carry out research or creative programs with supervision by an individual in an academic title that carries automatic Principal status. The Project Scientist does not usually serve as a Principal Investigator but may do so by exception.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1) RESEARCH (80%)
Research activity (35%)
This position requires creative contributions to and collaborative development of an active research program investigating topics relevant to the research area of controlled substance epidemiology and health outcomes. The successful candidate will have experience conducting health services and epidemiologic research involving administrative datasets that include prescription drug records, particularly controlled substances (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants) and associations between prescribing patterns and patient / population health outcomes, including substance use disorders, healthcare utilization, and mortality.

The candidate will join an existing multidisciplinary research program focused on controlled substance prescribing patterns and health outcomes in California, so experience and knowledge of California datasets is strongly preferred. Experience with statistical software and data management techniques necessary to efficiently analyze large datasets is preferred. The candidate will help to determine research goals in consultation with the Principal Investigator. He/she will design specific projects, including the selection of appropriate methods and techniques. In some cases, the candidate may supervise students or data analysts regarding technical aspects of the research, including methods development, trouble-shooting problems, performing analytic procedures with different statistical software packages, interpreting results and planning follow-up analyses. Prior experience working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary clinical or health services research team is strongly preferred.

Publication (20%)
The candidate will publish research in peer-reviewed journals either independently or in collaboration with the PI or other members of the research team. Evidence of past successful scholarly publication, as evidenced by authorship or co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications in the field of controlled substance epidemiology is required.

Grant Acquisition (20%)
The candidate will assist in writing proposals for funding from federal and state agencies and other funding organizations. Prior experience writing or contributing to grant proposals is preferred. The candidate will prepare and assist in the preparation of reports as required by granting agencies and prepare modifications of budgets and other grant components as needed.

Project Management (5%)
The candidate will assist with completing administrative paperwork necessary to conduct research projects in this field, including preparing and submitting data requests, institutional review board submissions, and completing required training activities. When the candidate serves as PI on a project, he/she will take appropriate lead responsibility for these activities, in consultation with the Principal Investigator.

2) PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15%)
The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field of controlled substance epidemiology, and substance use disorders and associated outcomes. He/she will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The candidate will attend seminars to present research results and may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups.

The candidate will actively seek out and learn new analytic techniques and methods needed to advance knowledge and conduct innovative research in the area of controlled substance epidemiology and associations between drug use and health outcomes. The candidate will develop content expertise in this area of research and keep abreast of new developments in the field through regular review of peer-reviewed articles and scholarly literature.

When appropriate, the candidate may coordinate and/or give presentations at seminars, laboratory meetings or educational functions.

3) UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)
The candidate will engage in public outreach activities that include presenting scientific research results to the general public and providing relevant advice to individuals and public agencies.

The candidate may engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service, but teaching classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Must possess a PhD or equivalent degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, or another quantitative field relevant to health services and epidemiological research involving dataset management and complex analyses.
• Demonstrated evidence of successful scholarly poublication in peer-reviewed journals, as author or co-author, in the field of controlled substance epidemiology.
• Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Demonstrated data management and analysis experience, working with very large datasets .
• Supervisory experience with students or analysts.

This recruitment is conducted at the Assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the Assistant rank, regardless of the proposed appointee's qualifications.

The University of California, Davis is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. More information is available http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis- indoors and outdoors, including parking lots, and residential space.

• Must possess a PhD or equivalent degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, or another quantitative field relevant to health services and epidemiological research involving dataset management and complex analyses.
• Demonstrated evidence of successful scholarly poublication in peer-reviewed journals, as author or co-author, in the field of controlled substance epidemiology.
• Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment.

• Demonstrated data management and analysis experience, working with very large datasets .
• Supervisory experience with students or analysts.