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November 20, 2009

Staff Scientist: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Location: Seattle, Washington, US
Requisition Number: KS-22587

About Us

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical research to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. Recognized internationally for its pioneering work in bone-marrow transplantation, the Center’s four scientific divisions collaborate to form a unique environment for conducting basic and applied science. The Hutchinson Center, in collaboration with its clinical and research partners, the University of Washington and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Pacific Northwest.

About the Department

The Cancer Technology Assessment Group (CTAG) is part of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division. This team conducts leading-edge health economics and outcomes research in cancer prevention and treatment in collaboration with local, national, and international institutions. CTAG’s diverse portfolio includes federally and privately funded research projects investigating a variety of aspects of the cancer experience in the community, including patterns of screening, treatment, and treatment decision making, with particular interest in health care disparities and underserved populations. CTAG has also received federal funding to establish a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research in cancer genomics, and is collaborating on a second Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research in cancer diagnostics. This dynamic research team offers the successful candidate an excellent opportunity to fully participate in the scientific aspects of emerging health economics research in cancer prevention and treatment, including research proposal writing, manuscript preparation, and attending and presenting at national meetings.

Job Description

Under the guidance of a senior faculty member, the successful candidate will be a key member of a dynamic research team, providing day-to-day intellectual oversight to multiple ongoing research projects. He/she will present findings at national conferences and contribute as an author to peer-reviewed publications addressing the team’s findings in cancer outcomes and comparative effectiveness research. The staff scientist will give scientific direction to technical project staff and will supervise graduate and post-graduate fellows working in relevant areas.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior scientists from a variety of disciplines (community medicine, biostatistics, Pharmacoeconomics, modeling) to achieve project goals. Liaise with external collaborators as needed to devise joint strategies for analyzing available data and build strong collaborative links to share data, results, and jointly write publications. Participate in regular work groups to share ideas with colleagues, present progress on work, and discuss avenues for future objectives and deadlines.
• Assume day-to-day scientific oversight for quantitative and qualitative analyses as part of multiple ongoing research projects, most of which analyze the economic aspects of cancer technologies, diagnostics, and treatment, and which range from claims-based retrospective analyses to prospective pragmatic trials.
• Provide daily direction to technical staff in working to structure and analyze large health datasets, and through data analysis and report preparation.
• Serve as a scientific resource to project management staff on issues including study design, protocol development, and data collection. Work closely with project management staff to achieve project milestones.
• Participate in survey instrument development, particularly for collection of cost data, and develop protocols for data collection.
• Participate in the development of specific research concepts for study proposals, and instruments, as well as the development and implementation of innovative research protocols. Assist in developing new research initiatives and generate content for funding applications prepared for organizations such as National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control, and industry sponsors. Assist with and contribute to the compilation of data for publication and grant proposals.
• Contribute as an author to abstracts, poster presentations, manuscripts, and other publications addressing research in cost effectiveness and health technology assessment.
• Prepare and deliver presentations that articulate the technical aspects of the analyses conducted and the results obtained. Prepare materials that complement presentations as learning tools.
• Supervise post-bachelor and post-graduate fellows who are part of intensive quantitative skills-building fellowships. Includes regular meetings with fellows to critique their work, give constructive feedback, consider their training needs and research interests, and set objectives and deadlines for ongoing work as members of a larger team of researchers.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in health economics, pharmacoeconomics, or related discipline, with demonstrated interest in outcomes or health services research, cost effectiveness analysis, or decision modeling.
• At least two years of related professional experience, preferably in health services research.
• Knowledge of health care issues, health policy, and health care programs.
• Understanding of health services research methods including experience with biostatistics.
• At least one year using either SAS or related statistical package for analysis.
• Outstanding academic record, excellent writing, research, analysis, and communication skills.
• Expertise in writing technical papers and record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience with presentations at professional meetings.
• Experience providing research guidance constructively and insightfully.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a dynamic and fast-paced research team.
• Strong motivation, adaptability and organizational skills that support the management of multiple priorities.
• Ability to use creative approaches to develop new methods and new design.
• Able to assume a leadership role in conducting and managing day-to-day operations for multiple research projects simultaneously.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working on quantitative research linked to public policy analysis desired.
• Project management experience: ability to conceptualize, organize, and implement complex multi-year research studies.
• Exposure to, or understanding of, clinical research methods.
• Experience mentoring junior researchers.
• Experience managing project staff.
• Experience with analysis of health plan administrative databases (pharmacy and medical claims) and/or economic modeling is preferred.
• Experience using social media for professional/academic purposes

To apply for this position, please send cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the contact information for three professional references to:

Kyle Snell, Recruiter ksnell@fhcrc.org

November 2009: PhD Economist , Pharmacoeconomist , Researcher/Co-ordinator