JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Modeling & Analytics Research Assistant

DIVISION: Programs

REPORTS TO: Vice President for Research

DATE: May 2018

SUPERVISES
The position may require supervision of interns

POSITION SUMMARY
The Research Assistant is expected to ensure the smooth planning and execution of EcoHealth Alliance’s research on the dynamics of pathogen transmission within and among wildlife populations, livestock, and humans; as well as the risk of spillover, patterns of infection, and phylodynamics of emerging zoonotic diseases. The Research Assistant’s primary duties will include supporting EcoHealth Alliance’s Modeling & Analytics team, including the collection of data from literature, data management, analysis, and quality assurance, and assistance in writing manuscripts, grants, and preparing presentations. The research assistant will be expected to participate in weekly meetings to ensure progress is being made on research activities. The Research Assistant will also provide necessary administrative support to the supervisor and to other staff as required. The Research Assistant will be based at EcoHealth Alliance headquarters in New York and will be supervised by Vice President for Research.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Work on modeling and other projects that broadly integrate evolutionary, ecological, and biodiversity data into emerging disease and zoonotic disease models.
• Liaise with EcoHealth Alliance and external collaborators to generate hypotheses and to assist with development of models and plan avenues of scientific investigation
• Provide modeling and analytical support to EcoHealth Alliance scientists
• Coordinate meetings of the EcoHealth Alliance Science Team and other groups
• Assist in project management and provide administrative support for project managers
• Administer grants including proposals, partner coordination, and reporting
• Maintain organization of published work by EcoHealth Alliance staff
• Maintain finances, reimbursements, and expense coding for research scientists and self
• Take minutes and generate draft agendas for meetings
• Assist with grant and manuscript writing
• Participate in all relevant meetings at EcoHealth Alliance as well as other projects and tasks as required or assigned

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work to ensure smooth functioning of programs at EcoHealth Alliance
• Conduct literature reviews to provide detailed background for grant proposals, scientific manuscripts and other project needs
• Assemble, clean, combine, and curate data sets from large, heterogeneous sources
• Perform statistical analyses to understand and make predictions about disease emergence
• Produce data and schematic visualizations
• Assist with high quality scientific manuscripts for publication
• Assist with budgeting for grants, including ensuring timely drafting and submission of reports as well as reminders about updates and contacting funding agencies
• Assist with the development of other projects related to the EcoHealth Alliance programs
• Assist with outreach to donors, media contacts, potential collaborators, and other institutions

QUALIFICATIONS
• B.S. or B.A in Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Public Health, or related field
• Strong quantitative analytical skills
• Experience with basic statistical, evolutionary, or spatial analyses, particularly using R
• Previous experience writing grants and with grant administration
• Ability to conduct literature reviews, data collation and cleaning, and exploratory data analyses and visualizations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Proven ability to work independently
• A strong sense of team spirit and diplomacy
• Previous experience in public health or infectious diseases
• Fluency in English

EcoHealth Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, and vision coverage, and a 403(b) pension plan. For further information about EcoHealth Alliance, please visit our website: www.ecohealthalliance.org

HOW TO APPLY: Send an email a single attachment labeled with your first and last name only (“first last.pdf”) in PDF format containing only (a) a cover letter, (b) CV, and (c) three references to jobs@ecohealthalliance.org with "Modeling & Analytics Research Assistant – PREDICT, Spring 2018" in the subject line. Emails without the subject line or with multiple attachments will not be received. No formal text is required within the body of your email, since only the attached document will be retained. All inquiries will receive an automatic response confirming receipt. Applications will be evaluated and only appropriate candidates will be contacted.