The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

As part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Institute for Disease Modeling’s (IDM) mission is to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health by developing, using, and sharing computational modeling tools and promoting quantitative decision-making. The IDM team is composed of research scientists and software developers who build sophisticated models of disease transmission, develop computational tools to advise on global disease eradication policy, conduct analysis of epidemiologically- and policy-relevant data, and identify and address critical knowledge gaps. IDM is a multifaceted organization with a work environment defined by innovation and teamwork. As part of our work, we routinely collaborate with groups at the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the Centers for Disease Control, PATH, ministries of health, as well as universities and research institutes across the globe.

Your Role

We seek an outstanding Senior Research Scientist to join our vaccine-preventable disease (VPD), statistics, and delivery team. You will be a member of IDM’s core polio team, directly impacting the global effort to eradicate polio, particularly type 2 circulating vaccine-derived polio (cVDPV2). You will address significant science, policy, and operational questions and advise on decisions with real-world impact. Your work will span multiple quantitative fields, including disease modeling, statistics, epidemiology, and computational science, and will involve collaboration with a diverse set of colleagues at IDM and across the Foundation. You will approach difficult problems with optimism, creativity, expertise, and a willingness to lead and learn.

Joining our group provides opportunities to interact with global-health policymakers, to collaborate with world-class researchers and non-profit organizations, and to put your quantitative expertise to use saving and improving the lives of vulnerable populations around the world.

What You’ll Do

• Support polio eradication efforts with quantitative modeling and interpretation of epidemiological and scientific data, particularly for oral polio vaccines (OPV) and vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).
• Interface and collaborate with members of the Foundation’s polio strategy team, the broader set of partners across GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative), and associated modeling groups.
• Create and adapt analyses as necessary of evolving VDPV epidemiology and risks, vaccination policies and vaccine supply, genetics analysis, and surveillance function (clinical and environmental).
• Work closely with internal and external partners to understand the current policy and program questions.
• Envision innovative framings of problems to simplify work and cut to essential issues.
• Clearly communicate sophisticated methods to diverse audiences.
• Identify knowledge or data gaps in settings in which we work and propose solutions.

Your Experience

• PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics/Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Economics, Epidemiology, Computational Biology), with demonstrative experience.
• Experience working on quantitative modeling of infectious disease; experience with polio epidemiology preferred.
• Knowledge of disease control and public health issues in LIC/LMIC; experience engaging with GPEI preferred, experience with type 2 epidemiology a plus
• Experience in statistical inference and applied statistical methods; experience with modeling of longitudinal spatial data preferred.
• Familiarity with stochastic modeling and/or disease modeling preferred (e.g. stochastic processes, compartmental models, or agent-based models)
• Experience with modeling and analysis of vaccines (for example, immunogenicity, trial design, etc.) a plus
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g. R or Python); facility with R preferred
• Experience working on collaborative software projects through GitHub preferred.
• Strong data analysis skills

Other Attributes

• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently as part of a team
• Attention to detail and high standard for quality of work product
• Ability to initiate, coordinate, and lead research projects and clearly communicate analysis results to diverse audiences.

*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The typical salary range for this role is $140,553 to $261,027 USD. The exact offer will be determined by a variety of factors such as the candidate’s individual skills, qualifications, and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

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Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.