Research Scientist - Youth Mental Health

Department: Research and Development

Location: Remote - US Based Role

Compensation: $112,000 - $127,000 / year

Description

We are looking for an experienced researcher who will initially be dedicated to a high-profile, multi-year project to create a public-facing US Youth Mental Health Tracker in an equity-forward manner. This is a hugely ambitious and impactful project alongside major partners (Pivotal Ventures, MTV) that will change how mental health is monitored and tracked in the US. As one of our research scientists on this project, you'll work on designing large-scale data collection methods including surveys, analyze survey and geospatial data on drivers of mental health, and innovate in how we analyze and report youth mental health data to the public and others who need to act on the poor state of youth mental health. This is the right role for you if you are passionate about using advanced analytics and healthcare-related data to deliver impactful insights.

What you’ll achieve:

• Deliver on a wide range of research activities - literature review, survey instrument development, development of novel data sources, identifying and using existing data, extracting insights from hyperlocal contextual data, compiling reports and slide decks, analysis and data pipelines - to put in place a multi-year US youth mental health tracker in an equity-forward manner.


• Innovate how we think about and collect youth mental health data, using new methodologies, analytical technologies, and data sources


• Lead the project's Youth Advisory Board and collaborate with external subject matter experts


• Deliver data processing and analytical pipelines that transform raw data (e.g. survey, geo) into high-quality internal data assets and client deliverables


• Delight the public and clients with high-quality statistical analysis, valuable insights, and strong data visualizations


• Foster organizational growth with mentoring and support your colleagues' professional development

About you:

• A PhD or equivalent with 5+ years experience hands-on, end-to-end quantitative research experience in youth mental health


• Fluent in R (we also use Git and AWS).


• Survey instrument design and sampling design experience


• Strong command of statistical concepts and skills (e.g. linear/logistic regression, feature selection)


• Experience with the ethics and privacy implications of doing research on mental health in youth


• Desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment amidst uncertainty where you can have an outsized impact on our success


• Desire to learn new skills beyond your area of expertise


• Excellent public-facing and scientific communication skills in English, both written and verbal

Location: This role is remote-friendly. You must be located in an Eastern or Central time zone.

Travel: Some travel (up to 10%) possible

Benefits

• Fantastic, fun and collaborative colleagues; opportunity to solve tough challenges in healthcare


• Ability to be entrepreneurial and tremendous opportunities for growth


• Public Benefit Corporation with an impact and equity mission


• Competitive compensation and health benefits


• Generous PTO, 10+ holidays


• Highly competitive 401K


• 3 months paid parental leave


• Professional Development opportunities

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 your experience doesn't match all the requirements listed above.



Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policy
Surgo believes a diverse, inclusive staff makes a stronger team and more impactful organization and we are committed to building and developing this team and environment. Qualified people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, ages, sex, genders, sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions, languages, social class, marital status, religions, veterans status, and disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.