HIV Behavioral Scientist - (Remote)

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Behavioral Scientist to provide design, implementation, and analysis support to research projects related to socio-behavioral determinants of disease outcomes, healthcare engagement, and clinical trial participation.

Reporting to the Director, Clinical Research Directorate, HJF Global Infectious Diseases, this position will support the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), Viral Diseases Program (VDP), OneHealth Branch, and other components of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). HJF Global ID executes observational studies and clinical trials at sites in the United States, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Thailand, Philippines, Jordan, and the Republic of Georgia. The incumbent will oversee socio-behavioral components of cross-sectional and cohort studies and interventional prevention, treatment, and cure trials for HIV and other infectious diseases. Applicable programs include the Developing Leadership and Innovation in Viral Eradication Research (DELIVER) Initiative, a multinational capacity-building and research initiative focused on the testing of novel strategies to induce durable remission of HIV. The incumbent will design and interpret research to understand how to better engage and support participants in the conduct of complicated clinical trials. In addition, the incumbent will contribute to projects investigating patient and participant preferences for treatment and prevention modalities for infectious diseases such as HIV. The incumbent will also contribute to projects investigating socio-behavioral determinants of disease risk as an investigator on cross-sectional and cohort studies evaluating factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Apply strategic thinking to articulate important problems and knowledge gaps related to socio-behavioral determinants of disease outcomes, health-care engagement, and clinical trial participation particularly with respect to under-represented communities and key populations. Develop research questions and hypotheses and contribute to the development of research designs and approaches to address questions and knowledge gaps, applying methods such as discrete choice experiments, community-based participatory research practices, surveys, and other methods as appropriate.
• Conduct socio-behavioral research according to approved protocols as a study Principal Investigator, Protocol Chair, Associate Investigator, Consultant, or other designated role and maintain ethical and regulatory compliance as well as the integrity of study data and health and welfare of study participants. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate methods and models. Prepare these data and study findings for presentation at scientific meetings and publication in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Translate socio-behavioral research findings into recommendations for study design and community engagement approaches that optimize recruitment and retention of target populations for research, including under-represented communities and key populations.
• Write and manage grant proposals to obtain funding from multiple funding sources.
• Contribute to the creation, composition, maintenance, and execution of research protocols and supporting documents including study-related budgets and status reports. Coordinate the operational management of clinical research by applying comprehensive knowledge of clinical research logistics, project management, and data management to develop and execute appropriate project plans.
• Coordinate the execution of contracts and agreements as needed to support assigned projects.
• Participate in the submission and continuing review of clinical research protocols with all applicable Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and regulatory bodies.
• Generate relevant program status reports to the institution, government agencies, sponsors, research partners and others. Prepare presentations for internal and external scientific meetings.
• Understand and implement the concepts and best practices of ethical research per CITI, HIPAA, and Good Clinical Practice training standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• May supervise multidisciplinary contract staff.

Education and Experience

• Doctoral Degree required in a social science, epidemiology, public health, or another related field with emphasis on human research studies.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of the design, execution, and analysis of studies employing quantitative and qualitative behavioral research methodologies, such as discrete choice experiments, community-based participatory research practices, and surveys.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to make effective presentations and publish scientific research.
• Familiarity with medical science and clinical research, ideally with experience in research related to HIV and/or other infectious diseases.
• Knowledge of U.S. regulations governing the conduct of medical and behavioral research.
• Proficiency with standard business productivity software, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications. Knowledge of software used in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, such as SAS, Stata, R, GraphPad Prism, Atlas.ti, NVivo, MAXQDA, Ngene, Sawtooth, and similar applications.
• Ability to handle challenging workloads and multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to successfully lead complex, multidisciplinary research teams.
• Experience with research related to HIV and/or other infectious diseases in international settings strongly preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a T1/Public Trust background check.

Physical Capabilities

• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.
• Incumbent must be able to travel domestically and internationally and provide support to clinical research activities in potentially austere environments (up to 20% travel time expected).

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary range for this position is $100,500 - $158,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Some HJF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or an approved religious or medical accommodation will be required.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.