Research Assistant III Non-Lab

12-Apr-2024

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

65450BR

Job Summary

The Research Assistant will engage in a series of research activities within the Health Systems Innovation Lab (HSIL) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the following projects: (I) Global Health Policy Lab (50%) and (II) Health Systems Innovation Lab Innovation Stream (50%).

Position Description

The RA will conduct the following key duties and responsibilities within an agreed timeframe with the PI and research team for the Global Health Policy Lab project:

• Develop a search strategy to identify health policy documents from select countries groups (e.g., Group of Twenty Nations), including government and parliamentary websites, multilateral organizations, research institutions, and legal databases
• Conduct a review of health policies identified using the search strategy developed
• Develop a taxonomy to categorize and classify health policies
• Develop inventory dataset of all health policies identified to train model
• Convert policy documents identified in the inventory into a format that is suitable for text analysis, extraction, and cleaning;
• Annotate documents with relevant metadata, for example, country of origin and publication date (based on taxonomy);
• Use the dataset to develop and train a large language model to recognize and classify health-related policies within documents using the index dataset
• Create a searchable database where users can query policy documents based on relevant criteria, for example, country, year, theme, among others;
• Develop a user-friendly web interface to access and search the database;
• Use feedback from select users and conduct an assessment of the NLP model for accuracy to enhance the platform iteratively, improving user experience and scalability;
• Develop a process to continuously update policy documents and the model to ensure the database stays current;
• Develop and implement robust data security measures to protect sensitive policy information and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations, especially if handling data from different countries;
• Launch product at relevant global health engagement meeting with policy.

• Lead in the design and implementation of the Annual HSIL Hackathon 2023
• Lead in the curriculum refresh for the 2023 Venture Incubation Program
• Lead in the development and implementation of the first iteration of the HSIL Alumni Network
• Develop data pipeline (using OECD data and other relevant lab data, for example, HSCI-LA and T1D incidence model, as initial sources) to lead in designing and implementing a web-hosted Health System

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience is required; a combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience using Python or other, similar programming languages is required,

Additional Qualifications and Skills

The following job-specific skills and competencies are preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree; Master's Degree is preferred
• 2+ years of relevant, professional experience
• Experience using Microsoft Office
• Interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, strong written and verbal communication skills, diligent and organized, conveys integrity
• Experience with R, Java, C++, Tensorflow, Tableau, PowerBI, Azure Synapse, Data processing tools (e.g., Panda)

• Awareness of and aptitude to appropriately and effectively understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based difference within group environments
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Skills related to creating and supporting an environment that allows for inclusion, effective intercultural engagement, and personal humility and authenticity

Additional Information

Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to support our mission of health research and education, and to be a part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the country!

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• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health does not provide visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for staff positions.
• Harvard University requires pre-employment reference checks and background screenings.
• This position has a 90 day orientation and review period. The O&R period will be waived for any internal Harvard employee transfers.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

403117 Research Assistant III Non-Lab

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Department

Health Systems Group

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we believe that diversity is integral to the Harvard experience and our mission of improving public health education, research and policy. Diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world enriches our community and enables us to best meet the public health needs of the United States and the world. Ongoing learning and development related to diversity allows for both individual and institutional growth, and is necessary to foster and sustain a culture of inclusion. To achieve this, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to opportunities for learning, living, and working at the Harvard Chan School. We maintain an unwavering dedication to diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core to our institutional values and to actively counter, minimize, and address racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, gender bias, and all forms of discrimination.

Learn more about the School’s mission, objectives, and core values , our Principles of Citizenship , and our diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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