Research Scientist - Lincoln, RI

We're changing the way health care works for the better. That means consulting with our members, partnering with our physicians, and delivering drugs in the most efficient and effective way. Join us and start doing your life's best work.(sm)

Purpose of Job: The Research Scientist plays a key role in ensuring the scientific development of QualityMetric’s world-class health assessment products and conducting strategic projects. This position supports patient-based outcomes research (e.g., quality of life, functional status assessment, disability, satisfaction, etc.) for client-sponsored and internally-funded projects. 

Department: Optum’s Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) Division (formerly QualityMetric), is committed to improving healthcare through quality measurement in PRO survey design, development, validation, and outcomes analysis and reporting. The group supports customers across the life cycle of drug development for regulatory needs, payers, needs, and observational studies. Beyond clinical trial expertise, our team helps practitioners, payers, and policymakers use PROs. We also work with other clinical outcome assessments such as clinician-reported outcomes and observer-reported outcomes. This small team of experienced experts in psychometrics, with backgrounds in cognitive and clinical psychology, sociology, public health, biostatistics, and epidemiology, is based in Lincoln RI, within driving distance from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Our team is mostly office-based, collegial, and supportive of work-life balance.

Brief overview of job role: We are hiring a Research Scientist with PRO experience, including survey development and psychometric analysis, as well as a range of statistical approaches for outcome analytics. This position will lead multiple projects, working as a team, including supervising and training junior level staff. The Scientist is expected to write statistical analysis plans, conduct psychometric and outcome analyses, and write technical reports, draft Powerpoint presentations and posters, and write manuscripts for a range of projects ranging from small, rapid turnover projects to large, multi-phase projects across multiple disease areas. The Scientist is also expected to work with potential customers and propose new projects. Strong writing abilities are required. SAS or similar statistical programming experience is required.

Primary Responsibilities:

Responsible for all final project deliverables for which s/he is PI in terms of accuracy, quality, timeliness, and financial project performance
Interacts with clients, clinical experts, and research support staff to ensure that projects are completed in a timely fashion and in accordance with quality standards
Manages projects efficiently and effectively within guidelines of company and department standard operating procedures
Designs studies, manages large data sets, analyzes data, interprets and reports results
Prepares technical reports, summaries, and protocols
Prepares and publishes scientific reports and manuscripts
Prepares for and presents at professional meetings and client-sponsored events, and prepares and publishes associated abstracts
Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theory, as well as current science literature
Interacts effectively and collegially with all employees, fostering a supportive and cross departmental working environment
Delegates work as needed, provides supervision and training/mentoring to junior-level staff
Responsible for a moderate amount of participation in client calls and proposals for business development

Required Qualifications:

PhD in a relevant field (or Master’s for outstanding candidates with significant experience in field) 
3+ years post-doctoral experience (or 7+ years with Master’s) 
Strong background in measurement and quantitative methods, including ability to design study protocols, manage large data sets, analyze data, interpret results and to oversee work of junior-level staff 
Expertise in SAS or similar program
Proven track record of scientific accomplishment, including peer-reviewed publications, scientific conference presentations, leadership on scientific projects, and ability to mentor junior-level analysts
Proven track record of scientific accomplishment, including but not limited to the following:

Acted in lead role or co-lead for at least 5 projects and/or at least $350,000 worth of work
At least 5 peer-reviewed published articles, lead author on at least 1 (abstracts not included; can be “in press”), or equivalent experience (such as large number of complex unpublished technical reports for clients, internal statistical manuals or documentation, etc.)
At least 10 abstracts accepted for presentation, must have presented at least 3 of these at a major scientific venue, or equivalent experience teaching college-level curriculum or industry workshops 
Travel Requirements: Minimal; conference attendance 2-3 times per year 
Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world?s large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm)

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Patient Insights, Quantitative, Study Design, Data Sets, Protocols, Research