The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently hiring for a Research Scientist (RS) III (Epidemiology/Biostatistics) within our Center for Healthy Communities' (CHC) Office of Oral Health (OOH). In this role, you will serve as an Epidemiology and Surveillance Lead.
CHC is committed to public health approaches that strengthen both state and local leadership, alignment, and partnerships. CHC drives action to influence determinants of health, eliminate health inequalities, and achieve positive health outcomes. OOH is committed to good oral health through prevention, education, and community outreach and events. OOH has created a 10-year roadmap to build local-level infrastructure, collect statewide data, and deliver consistent and effective oral health messaging.
This vacancy is being advertised in Sacramento Countyy. Hybrid telework is available for this position. The deadline to apply is August 30, 2024, at 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Responsibilities:
- Direct and coordinate the California Oral Health Surveillance System by applying state-of-the-art statistical and epidemiological methodologies for the continued assessment and surveillance of oral health indicators, health-related preventive and risk factors, and dental health workforce capacity using data from different sources including, but is not limited to, healthy surveys, administrative data, community-based organizations, dental or medical professional organizations, and other non-traditional data systems relevant for social determinants of health
- Identify gaps in relevant oral health data, especially for tracking health disparities and provide guidance on opportunities and methods to address those gaps; adapt the surveillance system in response to Data Health Equity Playbook developed by CHC and update the California Oral Health Surveillance Plan (COHP) to ensure alignment with emerging priorities for health equity; and develop, coordinate, and direct epidemiological and surveillance studies of highly developed scientific scope and complexity in support of COHP
- Serve as principal or co-investigator on public health projects of oral health disparities while considering the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of oral diseases, and serve as scientific advisor to other junior research scientists and fellows, as well as in the limitations of data sources and appropriate interpretation of results and participate as chair or member of workgroups and taskforces for national and state organizations that address oral health
- Evaluate statistical and epidemiological designs in collaboration with internal and external scientific staff to select appropriate methods and provide analytical support of program evaluation and performance management efforts, and develop knowledge base of relevant equity-centered performance metrics and data sources and perform analytical studies using high-level computer programming and statistical packages
- Communicate actionable dental health information from epidemiological investigations and surveillance efforts to guide public health policy and programs, and present results of oral health disparities for virtual or in-person meetings to stakeholders, community advocates, and scientific audiences, and lead and provide direction for data dissemination efforts for oral health indicators including, but not limited to, data visualizations and interactive dashboards, departmental reports, factsheets, chartbooks, infographics, and scientific journal publications
Desirable Qualifications:
- Knowledge of epidemiology methods and biostatistics and applied relevant experience in population research or public health
- Fluency in statistical software, such as SAS and/or R
- Experience disseminating and interpreting data findings for diverse audiences
- Demonstrated experience effectively interacting and achieving results with internal and external partners
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
Experience: One year of progressively responsible scientific research experience in the stated specialty or a closely related field. This experience must have included either: (1) experience with major responsibility for the design and execution of a complex, highly specialized research project; or (2) experience in the coordination and direction of a complex and difficult scientific research effort. This experience must be at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Research Scientist II, AND Education: Possession of a doctoral degree in the stated specialty or 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/3MbmqMd
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.