Research Scientist - HMRI Innovation and Implementation

The department of Innovation and Implementation Research is recruiting a Research Scientist to advance innovation, implementation science, digital health and AI-enabled research.

At Houston Methodist, the Research Scientist is responsible for advancing the research mission of the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) through leadership in innovation, implementation science, digital health, and AI-enabled research. This role provides strategic scientific oversight for innovation and implementation research programs, including complex, multidisciplinary projects that leverage data science, analytics, clinical workflows, and health system transformation methodologies.

The Research Scientist serves as a research director of the department and institutional representative, acting as a gatekeeper for research relationships with government agencies, industry partners, and academic collaborators.

This position operates to ensure that the scientific, operational, and budgetary needs of the department’s research portfolio are met. The Research Scientist supports management and research staff by monitoring scientific rigor and performance, standardizing research and analytic practices, optimizing financial and data resources, maintaining productivity, and resolving scientific, technical, and operational challenges across projects.

• Digital Health and AI-focused research programs
• Care redesign related research initiatives
• Implementation science and learning health systems
• Health informatics and Data Analytics

• Lead innovation, implementation, digital health, and AI-focused research programs aligned with institutional priorities
• Provide scientific leadership in study design, research methods, data science, analytics, and program evaluation
• Lead scientific writing efforts, including manuscripts, abstracts, white papers, and institutional reports
• Co-lead the design and execution of clinical trials, pragmatic studies, and health system research initiatives
• Co-lead grant development activities, including study conceptualization, methodological design, and scientific proposal development
• Mentor postdoctoral fellows, research fellows, graduate students, and other trainees to support academic growth and research independence
• Collaborate with clinical, operational, and research stakeholders to advance system-wide innovation and research goal
• Ensure responsible stewardship of research resources, data assets, and external collaborations.

• PhD (or equivalent terminal degree) in natural science, public health, health services research, epidemiology, informatics, psychology, human factors engineering, social science, behavioral science, or related field
• Strong methodological and analytic expertise
• Demonstrated potential for publications and funding
• Experience with healthcare/EHR data preferred

• This role does not involve traditional wet-laboratory oversight or bench-based scientific research. Instead, it focuses on non-lab-based, translational, and applied research, emphasizing implementation science, digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, analytics, and real-world clinical impact.

Exempt

• Doctorate degree in related field

• Experience in related field of study

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients,…