Statistical Epidemiologist at 54gene

Department: Data/Scientific Team
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: Chief Data/ Scientific Officer

Job Description

• The Statistical Epidemiologist will have an opportunity to make his or her mark within a growing scientific team within 54gene.
• S/he will study the current literature and compare to both internal and external genomic datasets to analyze the interplay between genetic biomarkers and environmental factors to further the goal toward identifying diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
• Primary responsibilities include but not limited to analyzing next generation sequencing data (e.g., RNA-seq, whole genome/exome sequencing) using bioinformatical and statistical tools and developing new statistical methods to answer biological questions that arise in the research.
• This position will involve applying—and possibly developing—statistical and computational methods to high-throughput genetic and genomic data. Within the scientific team, potential projects include whole genome sequence association studies, genome-wide epigenetic association studies, and integrative genomic studies that incorporate sequence and expression data.
• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment as well as engage fellow scientists and project teams to leverage genomics data in achieving project objectives

Roles and Responsibilities
Genetic & Epidemiological Research:

• Conduct literature reviews, identify and analyze scientific studies to assist in developing hypotheses for what to look for in the genetic data
• Identify and analyze public health issues and their impact on public policies (as it relates to corporate project objectives)
• Apply principles of evidence-based public health, disease surveillance, medical terminology, and biostatistics to datasets
• Develop and implement epidemiology studies within the context of the company's research and development and post market programs, including data collection and management strategy, project coordination, research administration and study protocols
• Analyze health challenges from multiple perspectives, weighing the pros and cons of alternate courses of action, and making recommendations to the company and clients
• Work with program staff and stakeholders to develop and implement process and outcome evaluation related to partnerships, surveillance, and interventions
• Assist in identifying potential data sources and collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data for surveillance and evaluation, including performance measures related to interventions and program activities
• Access and utilize a variety of data sources for program evaluation and chronic disease surveillance activities

Data Analysis:

• Assist with data entry, coding and manage databases
• Integrate data from health records and biomarker/genomic/other datasets in specific disease areas to gain deeper insight into patient subpopulations enabling an integrated biomarker strategy and/or target/biomarker discovery or verification
• Design and perform a variety of detailed biostatistical analyses and applies knowledge of advanced statistical software (e.g., SAS) to tasks that involve large amount of data or extensive data cleaning
• Utilize statistical techniques commonly used in epidemiologic evaluations to interpret and analyze health phenomena
• Translate data analysis results, often from large datasets, into actionable information for our clients
• Frequent application of computer skills in Microsoft ACCESS, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and a statistical package such as SAS or SPSS
• Collaboratively work in teams of data scientists, geneticists, biostatisticians, statistical programmers, health care professionals, as well as independently, to develop and implement disease surveillance, program assessment/evaluation, and medical informatics
• Data mining of existing electronic clinical and genomic data systems

Reports & Publications Support:

• Provide written reports summarizing study procedures and results for diverse stakeholders (i.e. statistical programmers, biostatisticians and other related functional areas, and external collaborators)
• Prepare technical and non-technical summaries of work, scientific reports and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed literature

Data Collection Design & Support:

• Support research teams in development of study protocols for ethical and IRB submissions
• Assist with development of data collection methods
• Support research teams to conduct data collection training sessions
• Assist and/or conduct focus groups, data collection as defined by study protocol
• Develop and conduct surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups as appropriate.
• Provide technical assistance to program staff and contractors on data collection methods, including focus groups and surveys.
• Prepare and conduct training and data presentations for diverse audiences

Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to coordinate and facilitate functions of cross-functional teams of professional and support personnel in conducting routine and non-routine epidemiologic evaluations
• Computerized database management and statistical software program skills, including SAS required.
• Data analysis skills (SAS, SPSS, etc.)
• Ability to write and publish scientific manuscripts
• Ability to communicate and work with a team, and independently, and with external stakeholders
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication
• Strong math and statistical skills
• Cross-cultural competency; ability to work with a diverse, global team
• Ability to learn in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to coordinate and manage tasks and processes with minimal supervision
• Strong sense of responsibility with keen attention to details
• English fluency; fluency in French is a plus

Education & Certifications:

• M.S or PhD in Epidemiology, Genetic Epidemiology, Public Health, Biostatistics, or related field
• Minimum 15 credit hours in basic and advanced Biostatistics courses & 15+ credit hours in courses in Epidemiology  

Experience:

• 3 years minimum; 5+ years preferred work experience in the field of Epidemiology
• 2+ years’ experience of working independently in a multi-disciplinary team is required
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data techniques
• Experience writing technical or scientific reports, and documents
• Experience in the procurement, curation, organization and/or analysis of large sets of data
• Experience using technical software, e.g., SAS or R, ArcGIS, Qualtrics, MS Excel
• Experience in the use of R, Python, SQL, Shiny, Jira and other data analysis/performance management tools, preferred
• Demonstrated success working in a fast-paced, swiftly changing entrepreneurial environment; experience in a biotech start up, or rapidly growing companies, preferred
• Experience working in a company based in multiple locations; global experience preferred
• Effective at communicating insights and presenting concepts to a diverse audience
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams; Experience collaborating with lab scientists on data generation and analysis
• Ability to annotate and explore potential functions of identified variants with publicly available functional datasets or fine-mapping tools
• Knowledge of rare variant validation using multiple technologies and publicly available resources
• Experience in genome-wide (GWAS) and phenome-wide association studies, especially as they relate to implications in large multi-ethnic cohorts and analysis