The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently hiring for a Research Scientist (RS) II (Epidemiology/Biostatistics) within our Office of Health Equity's (OHE) Climate Change & Health Equity (CCHE) Branch. In this role, you will serve as a Climate Change & Health Vulnerability Indicators Scientist.
OHE's mission is to promote equitable social, economic, and environmental conditions to achieve optimal health, mental health, and well-being for all and the CCHE Branch embeds health and equity in California climate change policy and planning and embeds climate change and equity in public health policy and planning.
This vacancy is being advertised in Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties. The position’s headquarters will be in the county nearest to the selected candidate’s residence. Hybrid telework is available. The deadline to apply is September 3, 2024, at 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Responsibilities:
- Plan, organize, maintain, and update a surveillance system of indicators related to climate change and health equity (Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Indicators for California, CCHVI), involving multiple agencies and data source
- Use modern data science techniques to calculate indicators of climate change and health equity, in terms of both vulnerability and outcomes
- Use statistical software (e.g., R, Python, etc.) and programming languages to manage, integrate, and/or link data, and conduct scientific analyses
- Apply quantitative and qualitative research methods to analyze data, conduct research, and utilize data for program evaluation
- Advance racial equity, climate and economic justice, diversity, and inclusion in approach, activities, processes, and deliverables
- Evaluate, develop, and expand CCHVI surveillance system to include new indicators related to climate change and health equity
- Conduct literature reviews and collaborate with other researchers and experts to maintain expertise of data sources and indicator options, and incorporate new and updated indicators into the surveillance system as appropriate, in collaboration with other unit staff members
- Make data available for incorporating into online tools, dashboards, and other reports and collaborate with RS III to display indicator data on the Internet for broad public dissemination, using tools such as R Shiny, ArcGIS, or PowerBI, and fulfill data requests and requests for scientific support from in-house staff, the public, media, and other partners
- Provide technical consultation on climate change and health equity data, and develop, implement, and monitor data management and quality improvement strategies
- Provide technical assistance and scientific support with grant writing, project proposals, development of prevention programs and reviewing applications
Desirable Qualifications:
- Commitment to advancing racial equity, health equity, climate and economic justice, diversity, and inclusion in approach, processes, policies, and deliverables
- Commitment to serve vulnerable communities as defined by Section 131019.5 of the California Health and Safety Code
- Proficiency in large data set management and analysis
- Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, etc.) and data visualization tools (e.g., R Shiny, ArcGIS, PowerBI, etc.), and cloud-based data platforms, such as Databricks
- Experience accessing and using Census data
- Knowledge of climate-related health issues
- Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team, while performing a wide array of complex work independently
- Ability to develop and manage professional relationships
- Ability to prioritize and meet multiple competing deadlines
- Excellent written communication skills
Experience: Three years of research experience in the stated specialty or a closely related field. The research experience must have included responsibility for determining research design, choice of methods, and analysis of findings. The research involved in completion of the dissertation required for the doctoral degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience, AND Education: Possession of a master's degree in the stated specialty or in a closely related field.
New to State Service? The following steps will navigate you through the application process:
- Create a CalCareer account by going to https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Login.aspx.
- Confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position you are wanting to apply for. A link to view minimum qualifications is listed on each job posting.
- After confirming that you meet the minimum qualifications, take, and pass the corresponding examination. Most exams are available online and can be found on CalCareers under the Exam/Assessment Search tab. Please note, while candidates are welcome to apply to positions without taking the examination, candidates must pass the examination prior to appointment. Please review the minimum qualifications thoroughly, prior to beginning the examination.
- Apply! Follow all directions and be sure to submit all requested documentation.
Link to Apply: https://bit.ly/3ytMjnc
Organization Details
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, touch the lives of every Californian and visitor to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Shared Vision
CDPH public health professionals, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, and other staff members have a shared vision to protect and improve the health of all Californians. We are dedicated to public service and passionate about our work and the people and communities we serve and protect.
Essential Functions
The essential functions of the Department are critical to the health and wellbeing of people and communities. CDPH's fundamental responsibilities are comprehensive in scope and include infectious disease control and prevention, food safety, environmental health, laboratory services, patient safety, emergency preparedness, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, family health, health equity and vital records and statistics.
CDPH's key activities and services include protecting people in California from the threat of preventable infectious diseases like Zika virus, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis, and providing reliable and accurate public health laboratory services and information about health threats.
Other critical services include providing nutritional support to low-income women, infants and children, and screening newborns and pregnant women for genetic diseases. CDPH also works to ensure the safety of food and bottled water, helps reduce smoking and its impacts and works to prevent chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma and obesity.
The Department also protects patient safety in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, maintains birth and death certificates and prepares for, and responds to public health emergencies.
CDPH works continuously to reduce health and mental health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities to achieve health equity throughout California.