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The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is seeking to hire a full-time Health Policy Research Scientist to join the DMH+UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership (PMHP). The Health Policy Research Scientist will work under supervision of the PMHP Director and Associate Director and support the design and development of research projects and proposal applications related to homelessness, public health, health policy, and related fields. They will collaborate with other researchers, ensuring that the research protocols are followed meticulously and that timelines are met. Duties include:

Support Scientific Research Strategies and Dissemination

1. Design research projects consistent with institutional, state, and national health care priorities with Director’s guidance
2. In collaboration with Director and Associate Director, design and manage program evaluation
3. Collect, manage, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and generate reports from these findings
4. Utilize statistical software such as SAS, SPSS for data cleaning, sorting, and interpreting complex datasets, employing methods like descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (e.g., t-tests, chi-square tests).
5. Identify and apply for funding opportunities consistent with PMHP Leadership priorities under Director’s guidance
6. Develop research methodologies using tools like SPSS for survey design and experiment setup.
7. Utilize statistical analysis results from software like SPSS, STATA, or SAS to substantiate the need and effectiveness of proposed health policy research in grant proposals.
8. Participate in publishing 2-5 manuscripts in collaboration with PMHP and its sponsor, the LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH)
9. Use statistical evidence, including regression analysis and confidence intervals, presented via tools like Tableau or Excel, to support arguments in policy papers and research publications.
10. Disseminate research outcomes (i.e., present research findings at scientific meetings, etc.)
11. Provide statistical expertise in collaborative projects, using data visualization tools like Tableau, Domo, and Qlik for effective communication and employing multivariate analysis to support complex research.
12. Develop processes to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information
13. Oversee development of PMHP products: creating figures and tables, creating and/or formatting PowerPoint slides, handouts, and other training materials
14. With Administrative core assistance, oversee the coordination and administration of assigned research projects, budget tracking, and project timelines
15. Collaborate with Administrative core to ensure proper documentation and compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements for managed project(s)

Communication & Virtual Content Management

1. Support communication and collaboration with CA Policy Lab, the Departments of Mental Health, Public Health, and Health Services, and other partners
2. Collaborate with the Communications core to ensure accurate representation of research findings in various forms of media, including articles, press releases, and social media
3. Create and maintain a repository of virtual resources for researchers and stakeholders to access relevant research materials, in collaboration with the Communications core
4. Respond to requests for PMHP publications, reports, and other information under Director and Associate Director’s request

Training Support

1. Under Associate Director’s supervision, support trainers to incorporate relevant research findings, concepts, and methods into training materials
2. Under Associate Director’s supervision, support junior research staff with internal training and guidance around research best practices