COMPASS Data Analyst

The Data Analyst collaborates with research team leads, research partners, and graduate students to lead the 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. Additionally to the role of biostatistician, this position manages the various datasets (student-level, school-level, environmental) and oversees data and cleaning operations. The Data Analyst also provides data outputs for Knowledge Translation and Exchange activities and other reports.

This position is contigent of funding

Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Planning

• Plans and conducts relevant analyses involving sophisticated statistical methods (e.g., multi-level modeling, longitudinal analysis, analysis with multiple measures and clustered data)
• Makes original contributions to research papers and reports both in the area of population health and in the development of analytical methods
• Uses various statistical packages (e.g., SAS, STATA, SPSS) to meet the needs of the analysis and stakeholders
• Uses statistical methods to contribute to the design of multi-centre studies using complex survey methods and/or longitudinal data across study types involving natural experiments
• Uses external data from a variety of sources (e.g. Statistics Canada), in combination with internal project data to prepare analyses and reports that address research questions
• Synthesizes quantitative and qualitative data at the student-level, school-level and environmental-level to inform evidence-based public health interventions
• Works with external stakeholders and collaborators to conduct data analyses
• Understands new methods for the analysis of natural experiments

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
• 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
• Applies data coding within online survey software (Qualtrics) and generates testing procedures to ensure structural database accuracy in advance of data collection
• Works with external stakeholders to provide data management and consultation

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
• Writes documentation reports to accompany the release of large data sets, including microdata user guides, public use microdata files, data codebooks
• Contributes to the writing of peer-reviewed scientific publications and technical reports
• Presents finding at scientific meetings
• 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

• Leads the analyses of data from several large and small projects involving various combinations of investigators and staff
• Demonstrates proficiency in managing competing priorities and time demands from multiple sources
• Oversees and assigns tasks to co-op students, graduate students and casual staff regarding data processing and database management activities

Consultation, Leadership and Student Mentorship

• Advises investigators, staff and graduate students regarding study design, data management and analysis
• Responds to questions of a statistical nature from external stakeholders
• Consults with external stakeholders and collaborators on data analysis plans and database management

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biostatistics or Master’s degree in statistics with significant biostatistics focus
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience applying advanced statistical methods
• Specific experience performing longitudinal and multi-level regression analyses
• Previous data management, manipulation, interpretation and analysis experience
• Demonstrated experience working with large and complex data sets
• Experience communicating technical concepts to a non-technical audience
• Experience with technical report writing and writing for peer-reviewed scientific publications
• Experience managing the creation, cross-referencing and maintenance of datasets
• 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

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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.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935