Research Assistantships in Data Sciences

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Opportunities in Data Sciences and Healthcare Systems, Health Information Technology Applications Systems, and Health Systems Policy and Programs

If you have an interest after reading this opportunity sheet, please send an email message to:    position inquiry@uhtasi.org

Background

The Telecommunications and Social Informatics (TASI)/Pacific Health Informatics and Data Center (PHIDC) Research Program of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is a Technical Assistance and Research Partner (TARP) with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  As TARP, the TASI/PHIDC has several projects and will be:

• implementing a Decision Support System/Data Warehouse (DSS/DW) for Medicaid, Medicare and private payer claims and other public health and clinical data in a secure enclave and using SAS software for data management and analysis;
• conducting a study on alternatives for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Medicaid program for an Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) and Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) claims processing system that is able to ultimately submit data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data repository; and,
• conducting a study on alternatives and development of a plan for a Medicaid Health Information Exchange and ultimate clinical data repository.  The data from these projects will be integrated into the DSS/DW over time. 

The projects will involve health policy and program planning; systems analysis and design and analysis of eligibility, enrollment and medical claims and other data through a secure systems and network enclave compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as amended; planning and implementing data analytics research using advanced Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software for data management, data integration, data analysis and reporting.  The projects will require documentation using systems development life cycle methodologies and templates for systems, but not involve the development of applications software since acquisition of services and/or reuse of existing system software will be a competitive alternative.  The projects are complex but industrious students will find these real-world experience with application information systems, data warehouse of a wide variety of data, and data analytic projects.  The data analysis is tightly coupled with policy and program analysis of Medicaid health insurance and will provide considerable experience in the areas described above. 

The projects have several objectives.  The projects will improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical claims processing in the CNMI.  The extensive medical claims, clinical, and public health data that is a key feature of the projects are focused on understanding the health conditions of the populations, the cost of care, the quality of care, and cost of services.  The interests in the data analytics are intended to improve the administration of a healthcare payer and program activity; improve healthcare policy; and address other health policy and program issues.

The Telecommunications and Social Informatics (TASI)/Pacific Health Informatics and Data Center (PHIDC) Research Program is seeking graduate and undergraduate students with an interest in:

• data sciences, information and computer science, and data analytics and statistics with emphasis in information systems planning, design, and development as well as systems and network operations and security;
• health care systems and public health data analysis and/or policy and program planning, design, and implementation; and/or,
• general office administration, including human resources and project financial accounting.

Undergraduate and graduate students with interests in the above areas that are seeking interesting but challenging “real world” work experience in the above areas may find these positions of interest. 

Duties and Responsibilities

TASI/PHIDIC is looking for industrious students at all levels (graduate and undergraduate students) for projects eager to work in the areas of (a) planning, design, development and implementation of health information systems and (b) data analytics and policy and program planning.  Please see the TASI/PHIDC background to understand the overall project and opportunities.

The projects are planned as multi-year activities and will provide major “real world” experiences with policy and program planning and implementation; information systems planning, requirements, analysis of design alternatives, development, implementation, and operations; and data management, analysis, and reporting of an increasing volume and variety of health care data. 

Graduate Assistants

1. Planning, Design, Development and Operations - Provide technical, analytic, and coordination support for systems planning and implementation, research activities, reporting, data requests, and presentation.
2. Assist with informatics and analytics research related to healthcare challenges related to the cost of care, quality of care, population health analysis, health disparities, and related subjects in Hawaii and the Pacific Region.
3. Assist in the design, development, implementation and documentation of systems requirements, alternatives, general systems design, technical system specifications and/or programming of application systems, data extract/transform/load of data from systems and other sources, data integration using record linkage techniques and using data de-identification for data security.
4. Assist with research on various healthcare and healthcare system topics, and conduct summaries and literature reviews.
5. Assist in systems and network and security operations and management.
6. Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for Graduate Assistant

1. Must be a full-time graduate student admitted to or registered in a graduate program for a MA/MS or PhD degree in Data Sciences, Public Health, Communication, Computer Science, Data Analytics and/or Statistics, Business Administration and other fields providing that the student is interested and Program Planning and Development and/or Quantitative Data Analytics.
2. Must have good academic standing (non-probationary status, and 3.0 GPA or above);
3. Knowledge/Skills Abilities
1. Knowledge – The following are areas where TASI is seeking graduate and undergraduate students:
1. Information systems planning and design;
2. Information systems, networking, and security;
3. System operations, monitoring, support;
4. Statistical Analysis System (SAS) data management and analysis.
2. Abilities - Ability to undertake healthcare-policy, program, planning through identification and reviews of health systems and data in the areas of Medicare/Medicaid/Private Payer/Uninsured populations, medical claims data, health system services and outcomes, disease research and interpret research findings, write short analytical summaries.  Document systems activities.  Abilities to learn how to document system requirements, alternatives, design, system/program/operations specifications, and others.
4. Must be self-motivated, persistent and has a strong desire to learn.
5. Demonstrated ability to work as a good team player with a collaborative spirit.
6. Must have good communication skills, oral and written English.  Communications are critical to the projects.
7. Demonstrated ability to be flexible and to lead projects with minimal guidance from mentor.

Desirable Qualifications 

(Depending on position applying for and whether graduate or undergraduate).

1. Knowledge of health systems, including health care providers, financial billing, health information technology, Medicare and Medicaid health insurance, health policy and regulation, and others.
2. Experience and knowledge of the Pacific and health systems.
3. Familiarity with information systems design, development, and project management and documentation theory and practice.
4. Data management and linking of data and/or quantitative research methods and analysis.
5. Knowledge and/or work experience in the area(s) applying for.
6. Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, university policy, rules, regulations, theories and systems associated with healthcare; database management systems, academic research, data analysis, data governance and individual confidentiality and privacy.

To Apply:

Submit cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications; current curriculum vitae; a copy of official transcripts; and the names with contact information (including email addresses) of 3 professional references to the address below. Email applications are acceptable.  (Note: only complete applications will be considered.)

Inquiries:

EEO/AA, Clery Act, ADA

The University of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, genetic information, marital status, breastfeeding, income assignment for child support, arrest and court record (except as permissible under State law), sexual orientation, domestic or sexual violence victim status, national guard absence, or status as a covered veteran.

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request:  The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly.  Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/

The University of Hawai'i does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, or disability in its programs and activities.  For more information or inquiries regarding these policies, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/coordinator/

 (posted 12/2020, still active 10/2022)