The department of epidemiology has an active research program to integrate mathematical modeling with community-based surveillance to understand the spread of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. The ideal candidate for this position will be an individual with extensive experience in the analysis of complex infectious disease datasets and who is interested in contributing to high-impact, applied research assessing the impact of vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions at the local, state, and national level. This individual will join a multidisciplinary and highly-collaborative research environment and will work closely with Dr. Jon Zelner, as well as Drs. Emily Martin and Marisa Eisenberg.

The original posting is at the level of a Research Area Specialist Senior, but a postdoc or other type of position is also possible for the right candidate. Although the position is listed as a 1-year opening, it is our intention for this to be a multi-year or longer-term position depending on fit, funding, etc.

To apply, send a PDF copy of your CV and 1-2 paragraph statement of interest to Jon Zelner (jzelner@umich.edu). Please don't hesitate to reach out ahead of time with any inquiries!

Responsibilities:

Carry out analytic projects independently and under the direction of the principal investigator. Develop and implement statistical and simulation models of infectious disease incidence and transmission using multi-level spatial and hierarchical datasets.

Conduct relevant reviews of the scientific literature. Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals as lead author. Contribute to manuscripts led by others.

Coordinate project goals and deliverables with the priorities of state, local, and national public health partners. Assist with preparation of updates on project progress for funding organizations.

Supervise students and hourly research employees in appropriate data collection. Provide oversight and guidance for student analytic projects.

Required Qualifications: Doctorate in epidemiology, ecology, statistics, or a related field. 4-5 years of experience conducting basic or applied infectious disease research. Demonstrated experience analyzing complex population-based and cohort datasets using hierarchical models using R. Demonstrated experience in transmission modeling and supervisory experience of students and staff. Strong scientific writing and oral presentation skills are necessary for the individual who fills this position.

Desired Qualifications: 2+ years experience collaborating with multidisciplinary, distributed teams and experience supervising the research of graduate students and hourly research staff. Knowledge and experience implementing and analyzing hierarchical Bayesian models using Stan.