Senior Research Scientist, Disease Modeling (9-month LTE*)

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation supports global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health of those most in need. We develop, use, and share computational modeling tools, advise policy makers, promote quantitative decision-making, and advance scientific methodologies. The IDM team comprises both research scientists and software engineers. IDM is committed to sharing its work as public goods benefiting the global community of scientists, policy makers, program implementers, and health-care workers, especially in low-income and low-resource parts of the world.

The Sexual & Reproductive Health team is part of IDM’s Gender, Vulnerability & Health Equity portfolio. You will play a key role in realizing our mission to catalyze, conduct, and elevate research which uncovers and investigates factors that give rise to health inequities.

Your Role

The Senior Research Scientist reports to the Research Manager of Sexual & Reproductive Health. You are a creative, resourceful, and curious researcher. You are a technical expert, with experience developing and using dynamic models, such as agent-based models, for research. You will work on a team, leading the expansion of an agent-based model to meet research needs, with expertise in bridging the gap between technical experts and non-technical audiences. You will work closely with internal and external partners to produce impactful, rigorous research that improves SRH programming and advances the field.

*This position is a limited-term position for 9 months. Relocation will not be provided.

What You’ll Do

• Contribute to a robust research portfolio in Sexual & Reproductive Health, with a focus on STIs
• Leverage statistical modeling and data wrangling skills to build and parameterize dynamic model features
• Utilize and improve agent-based modeling tools to inform decision-making around STI diagnostics, prevention, and treatment
• Work with teams of other researchers and software developers to design, execute, and complete research projects, including researchers in regional country offices and LMIC organizations.
• Communicate and disseminate research results to technical and non-technical audiences to both internal foundation and external partners

Your Experience

• PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field required
• 5+ years of experience
• Technical expert/leader, especially on Python and R. Additional expertise in sexually transmitted infections, or other areas of sexual and reproductive health, is desirable.
• Ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences, communicating key insights from modeling, as well as its limitations
• Strong initiative, organizational skills, and ability to work autonomously and cross-functionally while remaining flexible to changing tasks, priorities, and roles and responsibilities

**Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $186,400 to $228,800 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $203,100 to $314,900 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

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Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.