Data Navigator (Research Informatics Specialist)

Data Navigator (Research Informatics Specialist)

Job Summary

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) supports many faculty researchers, data scientists, clinical coordinators, and informaticists. Join our dynamic team as a Biomedical Informatics Core Research Data Navigator at the University of Utah! In this pivotal role, you'll empower and collaborate with research investigators and their teams through hands-on training and support, utilizing an advanced suite of research applications and data resources facilitated by the CTSI's Biomedical Informatics Core. This position will train investigators to use cutting-edge research tools and guide them to resources to utilize the best tool at the right time.

Your journey with us will involve coordinating and effectively managing research data inquiries, ensuring the optimal research tool and data resource is matched to each unique project. Your expertise in informatics best practices will be key in guiding researchers through complex processes and software capabilities, ensuring clear and effective communication. It is also expected that the incumbent will engage in early problem formulation to maximize the data impact on faculty research projects, leading to true scientific collaborations that may lead to joint authorship of peer-reviewed publications.
Get ready to master tools like TriNetX, the global health research network, ENACT (Next-Gen Accrual to Clinical Trials), National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), and other cutting-edge research data networks and data enclaves. Your role will be crucial in enhancing the use of a diverse array of research data resources, working closely with investigators to help drive the success of the entire team.
Expect to engage regularly with colleagues across various departments and research groups through frequent presentations, many of which will be in person. Your ability to generate insightful reports on data resource usage, instructional content effectiveness, and investigator satisfaction will be invaluable in our continuous improvement efforts. Using best practices in developing team science approaches will be critical to accomplishing the goals of this position.
As a member of our team, you will enjoy the independence to troubleshoot, manage your tasks, and communicate effectively with researchers, all while leveraging the robust operations systems of the CTSI Biomedical Informatics Core. This is your chance to make a significant impact in the CTSI Biomedical Informatics Core, contributing to groundbreaking research and innovation. Join us in advancing the frontiers of medical research and informatics using the emerging paradigms of team science!
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) serves as an academic home for clinical and translational research, developing innovative health services and training a new generation of investigators. Four foundations of discovery compose the institute: Cores and Services, Education and Training, Clinical Research Support Office, and Administration, and these foundations provide support for T1 to T4 research. The CTSI is committed advance of clinical and translational science using the emerging principles of team science.
Utah CTSI has produced leading investigators with several NIH grants awarded for their various “bench-to-bedside” areas of research and partners with other flagship institutions to contribute published works and clinical success.
Learn more about the CTSI: https://ctsi.utah.edu/about-us/what-is-ctsi



Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities:

1. Assist Principal Investigators or trainees in formulating scientific questions such that they express a health inquiry in a computable form amenable to data analysis.
2. Advise on the best data source(s) available to address the health inquiry formulated as in i).
3. Advise of the state-of-the-art data modeling and analytics needed to extract scientific knowledge from the data source(s) used in the project.
   
   

Essential Functions:1. Documentation and Resource Management

• Produce and manage data resource documentation for investigator use and dissemination.
• Become proficient in using tools such as TriNetX, ENACT (Next-Gen Accrual to Clinical Trials), AllofUs, PCORnet, N3C, Utah Department of Health and Human Services (UDHSS), and other research cohort identification tools.
• Work with investigators to increase the novel usage of a wide range of research data resources.
• Generate and analyze measurement and usage reports of data resources.
• Spearheaded cataloging of metadata and supported the discovery of data sources.
• Collaborate with data resource Owners and Stewards under the guidance of BMIC leadership in navigating researchers in the use of these resources.

2. Training and Presentations

• Conduct training and support sessions for University of Utah research investigators and study staff on research applications provided by the Biomedical Informatics Core (BMIC) of the CTSI.
• Deliver frequent presentations, including in-person, to colleges, departments, divisions, and investigator groups.
• Utilize all available means of communication, including electronic documentation, tutorials, training videos, presentations at grand rounds, and one-on-one consultations.

3. Individual Consultations

• Coordinate and triage requests to identify the most appropriate research tool for each project inquiry, in collaboration with BMIC User Services and the Informatics and Operations Directors.
• Utilize basic knowledge of informatics best practices to address software capabilities and data resources while working with researchers on complex processes.
• Recommend the best available resources in an unbiased fashion to foster enhanced usage of local, regional, national, and international clinical, multi-omics, and environmental data resources to support each research project.

4. Resource Exploration and Assessment

• Explore and coordinate new national or strategic resources of institutional interest.
• Assess the effectiveness of instructional content and investigator satisfaction with BMIC services.

In addition, this position should help BMIC leadership in disseminating existing resources through presentations, and training (especially of enclaves - N3C, AllofUS), and support the usage of data sources for the development of novel methods such as temporal machine learning.

• This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically requiredNearly Continuously: Office environment.Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be requiredNearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
  
  Minimum Qualifications
  Requires a bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). At least 5 years of experience in applications systems analysis or in a related area required. Must have a working knowledge of relational databases and client-server concepts.
  
  Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
  
  Preferences
  Experience in health sciences research in an academic setting and an understanding of research practices will be needed to accurately address investigator needs and research process questions, from research formulation to execution, and publication.

• Strong drive to provide well-informed information and support for researchers to access data resources across the University.
• Working knowledge of information systems and research data management concepts
• Interprets results from data query platforms using a variety of techniques, ranging from simple data aggregation to complex data mining.
• Designs, develops, and implements query solutions. Works well with clients, and project and research leaders to identify data interrogation and query requirements.
• Demonstrated professional writing and presentation skills and effective interpersonal communication.
• Experience in clinical research and a working knowledge of research processes.
• Experience producing research-focused training materials and proficiency with producing customer-facing documentation.
• Experience with or previous training in Good Clinical Practice or Clinical Research Coordination and HIPAA regulations.
• Demonstrated experience working with programming languages such as Python or R, relational database technologies such as Oracle, MSSQL, MySQL, and exposure to machine learning and data mining methods.
• Knowledge of emerging principles guiding the development of team science as a critical approach to modern biomedical sciences.
• Master in health sciences, analytics or informatics-related field required, PhD preferred.

Special Instructions


Requisition Number: PRN39520B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Arranged with Supervisor
Department: 01271 - Biomed Informatics Core CCTS
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $94,000 -$104,000
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: No

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/169441


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