Senior Research Scientist

Surgo Foundation is a privately funded ‘action tank’ focused on bringing the latest innovations around behavior, tech, and data to global health and development.  With a laser focus on uncovering the ‘why’ and developing precision solutions, we partner with organizations and governments to help unlock some of their biggest challenges. We work wherever inequities exist, whether in low-income countries or in the United States. And on major global issues such as reproductive health, maternal health, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, education, and housing.

Our multidisciplinary team includes development experts, data scientists, behavioral scientists, and technologists who are skilled in collecting and interpreting data on why people behave the way they do and how complex systems work, and in developing scalable solutions and tools. We are a small but diverse team with big plans.  

About the Role

We are looking for an exceptional, creative, and highly motivated Senior Research Scientist with extensive applied experience in the analysis of large-scale data sets using statistics and machine learning methods. As Senior Research Scientist, your responsibilities will include:

  • Serve as scientific lead on research programs: design and analyze Surgo Foundation’s quantitative research programs, creatively applying, adapting, and integrating innovative data science methodologies to key development problems

  • Design analysis plans, socialize them, and incorporate necessary feedback across internal and external stakeholders

  • Visualize results for easy interpretation and application of insights, using graphics and layman’s language to communicate them

  • Keep up to date and explore adaptation of new methodologies, technologies, and data sources for design and implementation of Surgo’s research programs

  • Work collaboratively with other Surgo team members in management of data platforms and initiatives

  • Present to partners and collaborators as needed in meetings and conference settings

  • Prepare and support scientific communication to journals and conferences

This position requires proven experience creatively designing studies and applying statistical methods to challenging research problems. This requires a passion for unraveling and defining challenging ad hoc research problems and integrating methods to answer them through insights. There are many exciting developments in data science in recent years, and the candidate will translate these to global health and development challenges.

Requirements:

  • Each of our research scientists brings in their own area of expertise (e.g. causal inference, statistics, NLP, geospatial, big data) so you are not expected to be an expert in every facet of data science. However, we do expect you to be able to speak confidently across statistical and machine learning techniques so you can identify which approach is appropriate to a novel problem. With this in mind, our ideal candidate:

  • PhD-level candidate with at least 4+ years of applied research experience using quantitative methods. Very experienced MS-level candidates will be considered

  • Strong coding skills (R or Python; most of us use R) for data handling, cleaning, imputation, statistics, and machine learning through reliable and replicable analysis (version control, code organization, collaborating with others on code base).

  • Exceptional proficiency in applying and interpreting statistical methods. Candidate should be directly familiar with most of: regression (linear, logistical, mixed-effects), decision trees, cluster analysis, factor analysis, latent class analysis, principal components analysis. In-depth knowledge of methods' assumptions, advantages and disadvantages is required.

  • One or more of the following areas of expertise:

    • Knowledge of quasi-experimental methods (instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, etc.) given most data we work with is observational.

    • Proficiency in machine learning algorithms such as Bayesian Causal Interference, graphical modeling, deep learning, structural equation modeling, random forests, computer vision, and natural language processing. Candidate should have a broad understanding of the field of ML and its tools.

    • Experience conducting geospatial analyses and statistics.

  • Proven track record of applying some of the aforementioned techniques to messy (rather than Kaggle-type) data.

  • Proven publication record

  • Excellent communication (written, verbal and visual presentation) skills

  • Willingness to travel

Location: Washington DC, USA

Compensation: Highly competitive compensation and benefits package

Travel: International and national travel (20-40%)

Our Hiring Philosophy

We hire for passion and core competencies.

We look for problem solvers and lateral thinkers.

We love it if you have done different things with your time.

If you think you are ideal for this position, write to us even if you don’t have all of the above requirements.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policy

Surgo believes a diverse, inclusive staff makes us a stronger team and more impactful organization. We’re committed to a diverse team, and qualified people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, ages, sex, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, languages, social class, marital status, religions, veterans status, and disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates: Please send your 1) resume/CV and 2) brief cover letter to Dr. Sema Sgaier, Executive Director, Surgo Foundation: Jobs@surgofoundation.org. Please add “Application for Research Scientist Position” in the subject of the email.

Short-listed applicants will go through several steps: a phone screening, a take-home project, and an on-site with the executive director and the team.

Closing date for applications: Accepted on a rolling basis

Desired start date: As soon as possible