Sr Research Scientist

Sr Research Scientist 2

In addition to the UNM

Job Description for the Senior Research Scientist 2, the position at the UNM Health Sciences Center for Native American Health (CNAH) entails serving as Co‑Director of CNAH’s Public Health Core.

CNAH’s Senior Research Scientist 2 will independently interpret, organize, and execute complex public health research and programming initiatives to engage Tribal Nations and Urban Native American communities in local actions that address the social and structural determinants of health. The position formulates and conducts systematic investigations of considerable scope and complexity, develops and tests model concepts and evaluation approaches, including Indigenous evaluation methodologies, and applies rigorous scientific research principles to community‑engaged and implementation research.

The Senior Research Scientist 2 collaborates with principal investigators, Tribal and urban Native partners, and interdisciplinary and mixed‑methods teams to design, analyze, and disseminate research findings; prepares grant proposals and multifaceted budgets; and serves as Principal Investigator or Co‑Investigator on funded projects.

The Senior Research Scientist 2 will work collaboratively across CNAH’s Research Core, Student and Tribal Health Workforce Development Core, and Health Policy Core to integrate research, training, and policy translation. The role provides technical leadership and consultation to research staff and trainees, contributes to peer‑reviewed publications and professional presentations, and maintains expertise in state‑of‑the‑art public health science, implementation science, and evaluation frameworks.

This position requires independent judgment in defining the scope and direction of integrated research programs of broad significance and in representing CNAH in external collaborations and professional leadership activities.

• Successful candidate must submit to a post‑offer, pre‑employment physical examination and medical history check. Additional health screenings may be required, dependent on the nature of the research conducted, as determined by Employee Occupational Health Services.
• All regular staff positions must successfully pass a pre‑employment background check, which may include a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment.

Master’s degree; at least 7 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year‑for‑year basis.

• Experience with engaging and trust‑building with Native American individuals, Tribal Nations, and Urban Native American communities
• Ability to interpret, design, organize, and implement integrated and complex community‑engaged public health research and programming initiatives
• Experience in leading the development, definition, and direction of local actions that address social and structural determinants of health, integrating research, training, and policy translation activities
• Ability to provide technical guidance and leadership to professional staff on the use of state‑of‑the‑art public health science, Indigenous evaluation, and implementation science methodologies
• Ability to develop and implement funding strategies and programs; experience in grant writing and peer‑reviewed publication

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.