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Data Extraction Specialist, Neonatal and Child Health

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center at the University of Washington. Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations. Our vision is to provide policymakers, donors, and researchers with the highest-quality quantitative evidence base so all people live long lives in full health.

IHME is committed to providing the evidence base necessary to help solve the world’s most important health problems. This requires creativity and innovation, which are cultivated by an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects and appreciates differences, embraces collaboration, and invites the voices of all IHME team members.

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for a Data Extraction Specialist on our Neonatal and Child Health team. This person will primarily work with an initial focus on blood disorders, anemia, micronutrient deficiencies, hemoglobinopathies, and pregnancy-related health outcomes. The main purpose of this position is to provide highly specialized oversight, guidance, and performance of routine, but complex extraction processes for input data used in modeling at IHME, which will serve research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors.

This position will work with a dynamic team of researchers and staff at all levels. The Data Extraction Specialist is expected to become knowledgeable in data pertaining to relevant content areas and will consult with researchers as needed to amass data necessary for analysis, presentation, and publication. To create the array of indicators required, this position provides guidance on the extraction of all available relevant quantitative data from surveys, censuses, literature, administrative records, and primary research datasets into central databases. Relevant data include those on mortality, causes of death, epidemiology, and a range of determinants and risk factors, such as education, income, or air pollution.

The position must have a strong command of a variety of research needs and analytic functions. The Data Extraction Specialist must be able to anticipate the needs of research teams, as well as other functional teams including the Global Impact Group, Technology Team, and Research Management as it pertains to the work of data extraction. Frequently the individual will be given assignments where desired end results are identified but there is no preset path for achieving it. The individual must therefore carry out scoping and planning in order to resolve questions and produce results.

This position will work alongside other research staff on complementary projects and will require a foundational knowledge of IHME’s work, as well as core technical skills and collective problem-solving. Overall, the Data Extraction Specialist will be a critical member of an agile, dynamic team. This position is contingent on funding availability.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Data Intake Management and Quality Assessment
  • Anticipate potential issues with extractions, research proposed solutions, and work with research managers, researchers, and faculty to determine the best approach, and implement approach in a well-documented and consistent manner.
  • Maintain, update, and carry out routine but complex processes that are central to generating estimates of key indicators.
  • Develop and use protocols to identify problems with datasets and routine extraction processes, rectify issues, and systematize processes for future work.
  • Develop and use protocols that dictate the best ways to extract data for use in multiple analyses.
  • Conduct extractions, formatting, and transformation of data from multiple sources using established tools at the highest level of quality.
  • Maintain data and extractions in a way that all sources are properly documented and can be appropriately cited in compliance with standards.
  • Document extraction processes in order to ensure consistency in extraction across research teams.
  • Perform quality checks and audits of extractions from fellow staff in order to ensure extractions are being done according to standards and are well-documented for presentation in publications and for the transition of work to new researchers.
  • Explore methods for improving extraction processes and implement them when possible in order to save time or simplify the extraction process and/or improve the quality of extractions.

Training
  • Train new staff on processes and guidelines for data management and extractions.
  • Give feedback on best practices for data management and extractions.
  • Effectively communicate changes to extraction processes throughout the GBD research cycle in written and oral communications.

General 
  • Communicate clearly and effectively while contributing as a member of the Institute.
  • Work closely with other team members to assist with relevant tasks, facilitate learning new skills, and help resolve emerging problems on different projects.
  • Attend relevant meetings, adhere to deadlines, and participate as a vital member to collectively advance team-level objectives.
  • Serve as a resource to others in explaining approaches to data management and extraction.
  • Participate in overall community of the Institute, carrying out duties as may be required for team members.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
  • Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or related field and three years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Must have demonstrated competence with analytic tasks and ability to participate productively in interdisciplinary research teams.
  • Demonstrated familiarity and ability to agilely assess, transform, and work with quantitative data from a range of sources.
  • Demonstrated experience with developing and implementing standardized data extraction and data management systems.
  • Ability to learn new information quickly and apply analytic skills to better understand complex information in a systematic way.
  • Strong quantitative aptitude, desire to learn new skills, and ability to interpret complex analytic information.
  • Strong sense of focus and attention to detail.
  • Strong communication skills necessary to discuss complex databases and computation tasks.
  • Interest in global health, population health, and/or ways in which quantitative research and data science can be used to create valuable global public goods.
  • Demonstrated organizational skills, self-motivation, flexibility, and the ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced, energetic, highly creative, entrepreneurial environment.
  • A commitment to working alongside others at IHME to illuminate the health impacts of systemic racism and to work within IHME to make our organization more diverse and inclusive. See IHME’s DEI statement here:   http://www.healthdata.org/get-involved/careers/dei

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS:
  • Coding experience, including but not limited to, use of R, Python or SQL.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
  • Weekend and evening work sometimes required.
  • This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the U.S. The UW is not able to sponsor visas for staff positions.
  • Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.