About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Description
A full-time Research Fellow is sought to support funded research projects in the UMass Amherst Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.
One project is a newly funded 5-year NIH grant that is evaluating the influence of chronic stress and stress-related metabolic changes on risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease and dementia. This grant is based at UMASS Amherst, with subcontracts to four other institutions. A multi-disciplinary team of faculty, postdocs and students will be working on the grant. Data from at least five cohort studies will be utilized in some aspect of the project (i.e., Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Jackson Heart Study, Nurses’ Health Studies, Women’s Health Initiative, and PREDIMED). This project has two Principal Investigators (PI): Dr. Sue Hankinson (Professor, UMass Amherst) and Dr. Laura Kubzansky (Professor, Harvard Chan School of Public Health).
The other project involves overseeing NIH- and CDC-funded research activities for the Reich Lab (PI: Dr. Nicholas Reich, Professor, UMass Amherst). This research group builds and maintains operational forecasting models in close collaboration with the CDC, e.g., through projects such as the US COVID-19 Forecast Hub and the FluSight Challenge. Additionally, they have active collaborations with the Massachusetts Department of Health and various other academic research groups both in the US and around the world.
The Project Manager will coordinate and manage all administrative aspects of these projects under the direction of the Principal Investigators for each project. Strong administrative and communication skills are required to ensure administrative aspects are addressed in a timely manner, federal and institutional research administration requirements are met, study team questions are answered, and project progress is tracked and communicated to the team. Ability to manage time effectively to sequence multiple projects for different investigators is also required.
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree required; MS or MPH in public health or related field preferred
- 2 years of relevant experience required; a combination of education and experience may be considered
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent skills for time management and oversight of multiple projects
- Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and R or SAS programming languages, and ease with learning new software and technology (preferred)
- Highly organized with a strong attention to detail and accuracy (preferred)
- Experience working independently, taking initiative, having excellent follow through, and showing good judgement (preferred)
- Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a professional administrative support position, as well as in an academic or research environment (preferred)
Additional Information
- Typical office environment
- 40 hours per week
Application Instructions
Along with the application, please submit a resume and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.