As part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Institute for Disease Modeling’s (IDM) mission is to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health by developing, using, and sharing computational modeling tools and promoting quantitative decision-making. The IDM team is composed of research scientists and software developers who create advanced models of disease transmission, develop computational tools to inform global disease eradication policy, conduct analysis of epidemiologically- and policy-relevant data, and identify and address critical knowledge gaps. IDM is a highly dynamic organization with a work environment that is defined by innovation and collaboration. As part of our work, we routinely collaborate with groups at the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the Centers for Disease Control, PATH, ministries of health in the developing world, as well as universities and research institutes across the globe.
We seek an exceptional Senior Research Scientist to join IDM’s Computational Science Research (CSR) team to design the next generation of dynamic models and analytical pipelines. You will be instrumental in developing new computational models that will be faster and more incisive than current tools while gaining flexibility through modularity and abstraction. Simultaneously, the scientist will have opportunities to support application of these tools through the research and implementation of novel workflows that facilitate tasks such as Bayesian posterior sampling for model calibration, cost-benefit optimization, information value quantification, complex scenario analysis, and related utilities toward ease-of-use, reproducibility, and rapid iteration/experimentation. This effort will translate key lessons IDM has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic response to disease eradication and large-DALY mitigation questions in Polio, Malaria, TB/HIV, Family Planning/Maternal New born Child Health ( MNCH) /Nutrition, vaccine-preventable diseases, healthcare delivery, and more. You are encouraged to publish; and resulting models and tools will be shared broadly as open source software.
Joining our group provides unique opportunities to interact with global-health policymakers, to collaborate with world-class researchers and non-profit organizations, and to contribute to more effective burden reduction and disease eradication strategies.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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- Work across IDM’s research teams to understand challenges, barriers, and limitations of current models and analytical pipelines with respect to key questions and stakeholder requests.
- Design, implement, test, and deploy next-generation models in partnership with IDM’s software development and test teams.
- Quickly prototype solutions to challenging problems through scripting and web-based platforms.
- Cross-pollinate solutions from computer science, dynamical systems, economics, physics, biosystems, and engineering to problems in health and development.
- Conduct application-driven technical research in applied mathematics.
- Lead in the creation of internal and global public goods such as open source software and academic publications.
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REQUIREMENTS
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- PhD in a quantitative field (e.g. Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Computational Biology).
- 5-plus years of experience in building computational models or analytical tools desired.
- Knowledge of public health issues in developing world settings is a plus.
- Deep and diverse knowledge of theoretical and computational methods in statistics, computer science, dynamical systems, economics, genomics, mathematics, and modeling.
- A track record of published articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. List of articles to be submitted with application.
- Proficiency in at least one data-analysis or scripting language (python preferred).
- Experience communicating diverse and technical work to stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to work productively as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and high standard for quality of work product.
- Experience working on collaborative software projects.
- Ability to initiate, organize, and manage research projects and clearly communicate analysis results to diverse audiences
- Must be highly inquisitive, self-motivated, and results-oriented.
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 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
* Prior Protected Activity