Overview:
Term: 1 Year
To assist in completing biostatistical analyses associated with COMPASS (Cannabis use, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking, Sedentary behaviour) study data and contribute to the writing of peer reviewed publications and research reports resulting from the data. The Junior Data Analyst is responsible for maintaining the various datasets (student-level, school-level, environmental) and supports data and cleaning operations for COMPASS. The Junior Data Analyst also provides data outputs for Knowledge Translation and Exchange activities and other reports associated with COMPASS.
This position on contigent on funding.
Responsibilities:
Data Analysis
Conducts relevant analyses for internal/external collaborators and stakeholders involving sophisticated statistical methods (e.g., multi-level modeling, longitudinal analysis, analysis with multiple measures and clustered data) for COMPASS-related peer reviewed publications and reports
Uses various statistical packages (e.g., SAS, STATA, SPSS) to meet the needs of the analysis and stakeholders
Synthesizes quantitative data at the student-level, school-level and environmental-level to inform knowledge-based products for COMPASS
Performs data-linkage activities to incorporate relevant external data from a variety of sources (e.g. Statistics Canada) to COMPASS data
Implements new/complex methods for the analyses of COMPASS data (e.g., decision tree models, innovative methods for evaluating natural experiments, trajectory analyses, etc.)
Reviews graduate student statistics code for research papers/reports
Development and Management of Datasets
Ensures that student-level, school-level and environmental data are accurate, consistent, properly maintained and shared in compliance with relevant privacy protection, confidentiality and other ethical principles
Identifies and addresses data integrity/reliability issues and uses data cleaning processes to achieve required data quality standards
Works with large data sets to perform data mining and complete statistical analyses
Works with the Program Manager to process data requests from investigators and other data users; maintain electronic records of data usage permissions
Transforms, synthesizes, and cleanses data: identifies opportunities to reduce duplication and errors and to ensure consistency in data; identifies data integrity issues and proposes data cleansing processes to develop clear and consistent data quality standards
Survey Data Processing
Implements quality control processes for datasets, via cleaning and processing data – e.g. validate data entry; check data against survey documentation; check for out-of-range and extreme data values; ensure that variable names are correct, create derived variables
Implements standard operating procedures to create, organize, store, document, extract/export, convert, merge and manipulate large and small data files
Creates and regularly updates school- and environment-level datasets throughout the year as new data are available
Cleans, reviews and identifies missing or incomplete school-level data in real time, and works with the recruitment coordinator to follow-up with contacts accordingly
Knowledge Translation and Communication
Provides data outputs and creates reports for knowledge translation and exchange activities with external stakeholders, including schools, school boards, public health units and other research groups
Assists in writing documentation reports to accompany the release of large data sets, including microdata user guides, public use micro-data files, data codebooks
Contributes to the writing of peer-reviewed scientific publications and technical reports
Prioritizes and responds to ad hoc and routine data inquiries
Prepares reports for Investigators, staff, external data users and stakeholders, including funders
Communicates clearly with external stakeholders
Task Organization and Prioritization
Assists in the coordinated analyses of data from several large and small projects involving various combinations of investigators and staff using COMPASS data
Demonstrates proficiency in managing competing priorities and time demands from multiple sources
Consultation, Leadership and Student Mentorship
Advises investigators, staff and graduate students regarding data management and analysis
Responds to questions of a statistical nature from internal and external stakeholders
Consults with Program Manager and collaborators on data analysis plans and database management
Communicates with students regularly throughout the data collection cycle to ensure proper collection methods are followed
Qualifications:
Master’s degree in biostatistics or related discipline with significant biostatistics focus (e.g., Math)
1 – 2 years’ experience performing longitudinal and multi-level regression analyses
Previous data management, manipulation, interpretation and analysis experience is an asset
Demonstrated experience working with large and complex data sets
Experience communicating technical concepts to a non-technical audience is an asset
Experience with technical report writing and writing for peer-reviewed scientific publications
Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis software such as SAS and/or R, including longitudinal and multi-level modeling
Ability to work independently and as part of a team; ability to take initiative and be proactive
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
Ability to perform data management and formatting for standard statistical software
Strong verbal and written communication skills with statisticians and non-statisticians, with the ability to convey information to those with limited or no technical knowledge or framework
Ability to apply, identify, and use, a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods
Ability to work on multiple analytical projects concurrently
Initiative to acquire new skills and remain current with new developments as required
Vaccination Requirement Statement:
Effective May 1, 2022, the University suspended its Vaccination Requirement. Prior to May 1, pursuant to this Requirement, all University employees were required to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (subject to the University’s obligations under the Human Rights Code to accommodate employees who were unable to receive a vaccination). The University’s Vaccination Requirement website can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/return/vaccination-requirement.
The pandemic is ongoing and public health advice continues to evolve. Accordingly, the University reserves the absolute right to reinstate the Vaccination Requirement on short notice, and upon such reinstatement you will be required to comply. You shall also be required to comply with any new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University from time to time, including new policies/requirements related to mandatory employee vaccination. As the University may need to reinstate the Requirement on short notice, it will continue to collect and maintain up-to-date information on employee vaccination status. Please submit your Covid-19 vaccine status (QR code) to: https://checkin.uwaterloo.ca/
Failure to comply with the Vaccination Requirement if it is reinstated, including failure to comply with any future amendments to the Vaccination Requirement, or failure to comply with new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University, including those related to new mandatory employee vaccination, shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.
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Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
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