Clinical Research Scientist

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager SFARI Cohorts, the Clinical Research Scientist will help define the clinical study protocol measures and lead various data activities for the SPARK collection (Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge) and other SFARI clinical cohorts. Activities include evaluation and interpretation of clinical and neuropsychological measures, data review and quality assurance, data analysis and preparation of statistics for presentations, publications and community reports, developing collaborations and data alignment with rare disease registries and creating reports and summaries for internal and external inquiries. The Clinical Research Scientist will work with the current clinical research scientist and project managers in promoting the research goals of SFARI and bringing clinical expertise to the team’s day-to-day activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research, evaluate, implement and interpret clinical, neuropsychological and medical history measures for SFARI cohorts; participate in creation of surveys and questionnaires.

• Draft and/or advise on language for clinical items in study-related workflows and reports; review and test workflows for clinical issues/accuracy and monitor post-launch.

• Develop and/or manage relationships and collaborations with rare disease registries with regard to data alignment

• In collaboration with other SFARI staff and external investigators, contribute to efforts of publication of SFARI cohort data.

• In collaboration with other SFARI staff, lead efforts related to data quality/cleaning and release for all SFARI cohorts.

• Delegate work to other SFARI staff and consultants as needed to fulfill deliverables and job duties

• Collaborate with other SFARI staff to provide phenotype data and summaries to the genetics team and for family meetings

• Analyze, interpret, prepare and/or present data for publications, posters, brochures, snapshots and presentations for SFARI cohorts.

• Test workflows for clinical issues/accuracy; test relevant data collection and review platforms.

• Prepare, review and update SFARI Base cohort researcher documentation (data dictionaries, release notes).

• Participate in SFARI activities, including staffing SFARI booths for annual conferences, assisting with family meetings, etc.

• Aid other data-related projects at the Simons Foundation as needed (e.g., answering questions from internal staff or external researchers).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Ph.D./Ed.D. and postdoctoral experience in related research or clinical field or master’s degree and at least five years’ experience using the above skills

Experience

• Proficiency with scoring and/or summarizing surveys and common psychological measures (IQ tests, ASD instruments such as ADOS, ADI, SCQ etc., a plus) and familiarity with interpretation of measures and scores

• Familiarity with ASD and other child developmental diagnoses

• Proficiency with manipulation of data files (csv/xls)

• Proficiency with statistical analysis, including data cleaning and preparing statistics with social science data

• Experience querying using SQL and/or use of statistical packages such as SPSS, STATA or R.

• Experience with preparing graphics (such as histograms) and figures for publication, conference posters and presentations.

• Experience using PowerPoint and functions and formulas in Excel

Related Skills & Other Requirements

• Must be self-motivated with ability to take on independent work in clinical data (with specific training in SFARI cohorts)

• Must be detail oriented with excellent organizational skills and logical reasoning ability

• Must be efficient and able to combine information across sources

• Must have knowledge of published standards and written documentation with regard to clinical data

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your interest in the position.

The Simons Foundation’s Diversity Commitment

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment. The Simons Foundation actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.