As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

MEDEX Northwest is the University of Washington’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program located in the School of Medicine.  As one of the nation’s first PA programs, MEDEX has a long history of training experienced health care workers (RN’s, paramedics, military corps persons, allied health professionals) as physician assistants.  The program is approximately 26 months in length and offers graduates both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.  MEDEX admits 120-140 students per year in four training sites – Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Anchorage.  Graduates of the program typically choose to work in primary care jobs throughout the program’s service area of Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada.

MEDEX Northwest, the University of Washington’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist 2 to work with the MEDEX Evaluation and Measurement team.

POSITION PURPOSE
This position will report to the Evaluation Lead (Dr. Nagasawa), work collaboratively with faculty and staff, and perform daily data support and evaluation activities using established and new protocols that inform the Evaluation and Measurement Team.  Development of new instruments and implementation of new database software may also be involved.  Primary activities will include the initial processing of data, data verification, coding, tracking, maintenance, query building, and documentation in Access databases, Excel spreadsheets and statistical package data files.  The preferred candidate will have strong experience working with these tools in tandem.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist in modification or development, and validation of evaluative instruments and data collection tools, including surveys, checklists, and attitudinal scales

Independently collect, collate, analyze, and prepare data for reporting

Independently create and format data tables, charts, graphics for reporting

Assist with the management and maintenance of program databases and spreadsheets, including data checking and reconciliation

Synthesize data and interpret results for reports (quantitative and qualitative)

Perform quantitative and qualitative analyses related to program evaluation

Perform test and item analyses and provide interpretation of results to faculty and students

Generate prediction models and trend analysis of longitudinal data

Provide faculty and technical support for the online evaluation program, including creation of online surveys, scheduling of surveys, report generation, and extraction of data

Provide support for online communication between faculty and staff regarding sensitive student data that is aligned with FERPA regulations

Maintain confidentiality of applicant and program information

Perform other related duties as required

REQUIRED SKILLS

Strong analytic and critical thinking skills

Strong statistical skills including use of statistical software (e.g., SPSS or other)

Strong data management skills

Strong database skills –including creating and managing relational tables

Strong skills in Microsoft Office products  (eg, Access, Powerpoint, Excel)

Strong written and oral communication skills

Strong organizational skills; ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and maintain a system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks and projects

Mature, detail oriented individual able to work both independently and in a team environment

Ability to work with quantitative and qualitative data

Ability to perform test and item analyses of student performance and provide interpretation to faculty and staff

Ability and willingness to work with Evaluation team on content and thematic analysis of open-ended comments

Ability to handle longitudinal datasets (organize and retrieve data readily)

Ability to synthesize and integrate data

Ability to generate and format reports or presentations for varying audiences (create tables, graphics, adjust visual formatting, checking for details)

Ability to produce reports with varying deadlines (standardized and upon request)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s level degree (or equivalent work experience) in Public Health, Educational Psychology, Biostatistics, Statistics, Educational Research, or Research Psychology

New graduates must have at least 2 years’ experience in handling datasets (e.g., research assistantship or analyst)

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Familiarity with educational research and educational research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative)

Professional interest in educational measurement and evaluation

Strong understanding of quantitative approaches to problem solving and demonstrated attention to detail

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in data visualization tools such as Tableu (or willingness and interest to learn)

Experience with other data management software (e.g., REDCap)

Master’s level training (or equivalent) in statistics, biostatistics, or social services or educational research is desired

Application Process:  
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.