Research Associate

Requisition #: A-137609-3

Status: Full Time

Type: Faculty

School: Bloomberg School of Public Health

Department/Program: Department of Environmental Health and Engineering

Location City: Baltimore

Location State: MD

Location Zip Code: 21218

Closing Date: Open until filled

To apply: apply.interfolio.com/137609

General Description

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health works to protect people's health from epidemics and disasters and ensure that communities are resilient to major challenges. We examine how scientific and technological innovations can strengthen health security. We study the policies, organizations, systems, and tools to prevent and respond to outbreaks and public health crises. We advance policies and practice to address a range of challenges, including the global rise in emerging infectious diseases, a continued risk of pandemic flu, major natural disasters, our dependence on vulnerable infrastructure, and the potential for biological, chemical, or nuclear accidents or deliberate threats.

CHS was recently awarded a 5-year Cooperative Agreement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics to support a new epidemic preparedness project--Toward Epidemic Preparedness: Enhancing Public Health Infrastructure and Incorporating Data-Driven Tools. This project will initiate the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) within the Johns Hopkins University. CORI will establish partnerships with traditional and nontraditional public health stakeholders across the country to integrate infectious disease modeling and analytics tools into decision making at many levels and train public health practitioners to use modeling and analytics tools for the full spectrum of epidemic responses. Partners will include state and local public health departments, elected leaders, public health decision-makers, and meteorologists. CORI is looking to hire Research Associates to support this new project.

The Research Associates will work with a team focused on the following tasks:

-      Drafting public health emergency operations plans, standard operating procedures, data sharing agreements, and other plans and policies that can be used by public health leadership and other decision-makers during a large-scale public health emergency.

-      Developing risk assessment tools that can provide public health leaders and other decision-makers with evidence-based guidelines in response to emerging public health events.

-      Developing communication materials for epidemic modeling and analytics to improve public communication and individual decision-making during seasonal respiratory virus activity and public health emergencies.

-      Developing strategies, protocols, and tools to integrate epidemic modeling and analytics capabilities and outputs into emergency response decision-making processes for private sector partners.

-      Developing and disseminating infectious disease modeling and outbreak analytics educational trainings and digital courseware.

-      Developing and executing epidemic modeling and analytics tabletop exercises and simulations with CORI partners.

The Research Associate reports to a CORI co-investigator, who will coordinate their work among the CORI director and deputy director, other co-investigators, chief of staff, program manager, other research associates, and communications, financial, and administrative staff. Research Associates may also respond to requests from the CORI director and deputy director, other co-investigators, chief of staff, senior research associates, and program manager.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

At the direction of the CORI co-investigator:

-      Conduct research and analysis on project-related topics including, but not limited to, infectious disease modeling and outbreak analytics, infectious disease epidemiology, public health risk assessment, public communication, and data-sharing

-      Research and draft emergency operations plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other agreements that align with CORI's strategic objectives

-      Research and draft epidemic modeling and analytics communication material tailored for a broad audience of stakeholders, including state and local public health agency staff, political leaders, private sector business, and the public

-      Assist in developing and executing tabletop exercises and simulations

-      Support the development and implementation of educational trainings and digital courses aimed at health professionals and infectious disease modelers

-      Represent CORI at project meetings and scientific conferences

-      Serve as an integral member of project teams, including attending in-person and remote project meetings and taking meeting notes

-      Provide project management support (e.g., scheduling meetings, organizing events)

-      Prepare reports and publishable manuscripts, for both internal and public use

The position offers either a full-time remote or a hybrid teleworking/in-office option. The CORI office will be operated out of new CHS offices, conveniently located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

-      Masters-level degree in epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, public health, biostatistics, bioinformatics, or a closely related discipline (e.g., statistics, data science)

-      Experience in participating/managing/organizing multidisciplinary research in at least one of the above fields

-      Research, writing, or policy analysis experience in a scientific, public health, medical, technological, governmental, or commercial context

-      Familiarity with the operational life cycle of project management, including project planning and development, funding and staffing, day-to-day management, and product delivery

-      Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to create realistic project schedules, and meet deadlines, while prioritizing and managing multiple tasks

-      Excellent written communication skills, including writing and editing skills that can be applied to the conceptualization, development, design, writing, and editing of materials created for multiple purposes and audiences

-      Able to interpret and communicate science-based public health evidence to support implementation into effective practice

-      Able to support and foster teamwork and collaboration among all staff

-      Able to work independently and collaboratively with other project team members

-      Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills

-      Keen observation, assessment, and evaluation skills

-      Able to identify and solve problems and make sound decisions

-      Proficient with personal computers, internet-based search methods, and appropriate office (e.g., Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), database, research-related and/or statistical software

-      Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to domestic locations

Preferred Skills and Qualifications (need not have all to apply):

-      Familiarity with Notion and Airtable program management software

-      Familiarity with OtterAI, Microsoft Teams, and other software programs to support CORI center operations

-      Knowledge and/or experience with disaster/emergency response and preparing documents and plans associated with response operations to such events

-      Public health communication experience, including demonstrated knowledge of plain-language communication practices, CDC health literacy guidelines, and best practices communicating with stakeholders with varying degrees and understanding of public health concepts and practices

Application Instructions

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should upload a statement of interest, curriculum vitae, a writing sample (any article, report, or paper where the applicant is the lead author is sufficient), and names of 3 references to Interfolio. If an applicant has questions about this position or the application process, please email Sarah Firestone, CORI program manager ([email protected]) with the subject "CORI: application for research associate role."

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [email protected]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.