RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 4

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a "Great College to Work For" for four consecutive years. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine is the third largest clinical department within the School of Medicine with 330 full-time faculty members, 460 courtesy faculty members, and over 350 staff. Department faculty provide clinical services in 5 hospitals, 14 primary care locations, and several outpatient sites in addition to telepsychiatry consultations to more than 150 clinics in Washington and beyond. As the only academic psychiatry department serving the five state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), the Department's highly competitive residency training program is largely responsible for developing the mental health workforce in the Pacific Northwest. The Department's robust research portfolio totals $67 million in grants and contracts per year for projects ranging from clinical neurosciences to treatment development to health policy and population health. The Department is recognized as an international leader in developing, testing, and implementing Collaborative Care, an integrated care model increasingly seen as a solution for population-based mental health care. Other areas of excellence include Addictions, Autism, High Risk Youth, Neurosciences, and Trauma, and the Department is developing innovative new programs in Technology and Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Maternal and Child Mental Health, and Targeted Intervention Development. Psychiatry is the third largest department in the School of Medicine and the largest non-divisioned department. The overall annual operations funding from all sources is over $130 million. The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 4. This position is in the field of public health research. The position will focus on better understanding and improving Indigenous public health and prevention in the areas of opioid overdose, substance use, and mental health using epidemiological and social science frameworks. Seven Directions at the University of Washington is the first national public health institute in the United States to focus solely on improving Indigenous health and wellness. We are committed to cultivating and sharing knowledge, connecting communities and resources, and working to achieve shared goals for future generations. Seven Directions partners to support tribal communities to increase the capacity of tribal health systems designed to prevent and respond to the opioid overdose epidemic and address other health disparities, as well as conducting community-driven and community-designed health research. Our work includes culturally tailored technical assistance, community-engaged culture-centered research, evaluation, training, Indigenizing and decolonizing research, Indigenous data sovereignty, policy translation, convenings, and dissemination strategies. These services aim to improve Indigenous-serving organizations' and systems' data collection and epidemiologic surveillance capacity; increase implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies grounded in values respecting tribal sovereignty and cultural traditions; showcase models of tribal promising practices; and utilize Indigenous evaluation approaches. As a trusted convenor and resource among tribal and urban Indian partners, we collaboratively develop and meaningfully disseminate resources among tribal and urban Indian organization partners and other key stakeholders via diverse platforms and technologies. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Research study design, grant preparation, data analysis and scientific writing/publication (30%) The RS will work with the Seven Directions team to plan and design opioid, substance use, mental health, or other Indigenous culture-centered research or technical assistance projects related to Indigenous evaluation, Indigenous health and well-being, and more. They will take a significant part in project design and operations, including designing project phases; conducting scientific and grey literature reviews, environmental scans; developing interview scripts, project protocols, surveys; and writing grey and scientific manuscripts. In collaboration with other team members, they will analyze data, formulate conclusions, and present research results in publishable formats, including written documents, presentations, or online modules. They will work with PIs and faculty to identify external federal, state, local, and private grant opportunities. They will draft grant materials, including research strategies, budgets, and supporting documentation. Research and Project Management (40%) Lead and assist with project management activities, including developing and monitoring project timelines, ensuring work is successfully executed and completed within time frames to meet research objectives, and communicating with diverse academic, practice, and community partners. Develop research operations protocols and train staff in implementing the research activities. Develop technical assistance, training, workshop plans or training materials, and participate in delivering or facilitating these interactions with partners. Lead project-related communications, logistics, and technical support. Engage in occasional travel to conferences and partner sites. Dissemination of Findings (20%) The RS will support the dissemination of findings to a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats, including academic publications, online forums, webinars, and virtual and in-person presentations. They will contribute to manuscript development and report writing. They will prepare meeting summaries, progress reports, study deliverables, journal articles, and other written materials, and present study findings at meetings as needed. Identify and attend relevant conferences, trainings, and relevant events to highlight Seven Directions' work. Present research results including methodological approach and research design. Identify and support additional program-specific dissemination needs. Administration and Operations (10%) Work with PI and senior staff with auxiliary project management duties as requested and anticipate additional areas for support. Serve on 1-2 Seven Directions internal committees. Support in the planning, writing, and submission of conference grants (such as NIH R13, National Science Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, etc.). Support post-conference dissemination efforts. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS A Master's degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Information School, American Indian Studies, or related fields AND a minimum of 4 years of work experience with public heath particularity with Indigenous health and wellness OR equivalent combination of education/experience. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Familiarity with or work experience with Indigenous or other underserved populations and settings. Familiarity with issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native Indigenous health, healing, cultural diversity, and strengths. Familiarity with public health evaluation including Indigenous evaluation. Demonstrated fluency in Quantitative and/or Qualitative and/or Mixed Methods research methodology. Ability to design interview guides, conduct one-on-one interviews and facilitate focus groups, organize and analyze and summarize qualitative data (interviews, stories etc.). Ability to develop survey instruments, collect, analyze, interpret, and summarize quantitative data. Experience in community engagement or community-based participatory research (CBPR). Knowledgeable about substance use and disorder in general and among AI/AN communities. Experience designing and implementing research studies, including identifying and using appropriate research instruments and methodologies. Experience leading the successful publication of grey and scientific literature. Knowledge and experience with the grant writing process. Knowledge and prior experience with human subjects institutional review process. Baseline knowledge of appropriately indicated statistical design based on desired analysis. Familiarity with literature management software packages, e.g., EndNote, Zotero, etc. and qualitative software management and analysis software packages, e.g., Dedoose, Atlas.ti etc. Experience working closely as a trusted resource with communities to identify needs, define strategy, develop action plans, identify deliverables, present results, measure outcomes, and provide recommendations. Knowledgeable about public health communication best practices and effective communication for different populations. Experience developing and facilitating trainings for adult learners. Experience facilitating meetings and discussions for internal and external (i.e., community, funders) partners. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS A Doctoral degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Information School, American Indian Studies, or related fields. Four or more years working in or on behalf of tribal nations and American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in both urban and rural settings. Advanced statistical analysis and program software knowledge. Familiarity with project management tools and/or software packages, e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, etc. Knowledge or prior experience with digital story-telling. Application Process: The application process 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 Work 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 access 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.