Site: The General Hospital Corporation

 

At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission—from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community.  We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.

At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare — people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds – to apply.

 

 

Job Summary

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 co-authorship 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.

 

Qualifications

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 care in 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 sequelaAn evaluation of pre-therapy HIV adherence counseling, which eliminated delays between eligibility and initiation of HIV therapy in sub-Saharan AfricaEstablished one of the first routine HIV screening programs in South Africa, which has since been incorporated into routine practiceEvaluating the clinical impact of a policy change to allow virologically stable people with HIV to pick up medications at community venues in South AfricaQuantitative measurement of the effects of HIV on aging and heart disease in rural UgandaInvestigating the role of maternal HIV infection in the development of early childhood infectionsStudying 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.

**When applying, please upload:

(1)    Cover letter specific to the role in our Center

(2)    Resume

(3)    Transcript (unofficial transcript is OK)

Applications that do not include all three components will NOT be considered.**

The start date for this position will be in June/July 2024.

For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.

MPEC Research Assistants work with multiple investigators and 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 designDesign and execute simulation model runs to address critical policy research questionsExtract model projections and summarize findings in tablesDesign and develop visually compelling figures that display model outputCollaborate 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 effortsAnalyze quantitative data as part of cohort studies, clinical trials, and implementation studiesCode qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groupsPartner with international collaborators and study staff on oversight of studies, standard operating procedure development and review, and data quality assuranceRecruit, consent, administer surveys, and engage with research participants on domestic studies

Cross-pillar tasks

Assist in writing abstracts and designing posters for submission to research conferencesPresent study results to project teams and external stakeholdersAssist with the preparation of Data Use Agreements, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, and related documents regarding the protection of human subjectsPerform systematic literature reviews and synthesize relevant dataHelp prepare grant applicationsProvide administrative support as needed, including organizing meetings and preparing slides for lectures and seminars

 

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Additional Job Description

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 detailProblem-solving skillsExperience with data organization and analysisProficiency with standard Microsoft Office software (particularly Excel), as well as interest in learning new software applicationsAbility to work as part of a diverse team, including remote collaborationIntellectual independence and initiativeInterest in decision science, simulation modeling and analysis, public health, health policy, economics, and/or medicineExcellent 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 methodsExperience in international or intercultural settingsFamiliarity with statistical programming software such as SAS, Stata, Python, or RDatabase design and management experience, particularly with REDCap or Access

Quantitative, analytical, computer, and English language (spoken and written) skills are required.

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.

 

Remote Type

Hybrid

 

Work Location

50 Staniford Street

 

EEO Statement:

The General Hospital Corporation is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

 

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.