Position: Student Intern, Syndemics Lab Infectious Diseases

Location: Boston, MA

Schedule: 40 hours per week, temporary

POSITION SUMMARY:

Summer Research Project Description: The summer intern will be working on projects involving the model Researching Effective Strategies to Prevent Opioid Deaths (RESPOND). The RESPOND model simulates a population with opioid use disorder (OUD) using characteristics including the natural history of OUD, movements on to and off of medications for opioid use disorder. This model tracks outputs such as overdoses and costs. The RESPOND model is used to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a variety of interventions or policies aimed at addressing opioid use disorder.

Intern Role in the Project

The intern will play a crucial role in updating the RESPOND model by conducting a literature review on drug use and treatment. This will include reviewing any subpopulations with rates that differ from the general population with an eye to health equity, focusing on differences between groups based on race/ethnicity or gender. We will then use the resources that the intern identifies and summarizes to develop simulation parameters for distributional cost-effectiveness analysis. The intern will learn the principles of cost-effectiveness and distributional cost-effectiveness and will then have the opportunity to write up this review for dissemination and/or presentation.

Interns with this team will have the opportunity to join the established Syndemics and CHERISH virtual cohort of summer interns across multiple institutions working with principal investigators conducting public health (specifically, health services / health economics) research in substance use. The summer experience will include skills building sessions with topics ranging from: 1) how to conduct a literature review, 2) online presence and networking, 3) introduction to healthcare systems, 4) introduction to healthcare policy, 5) presentation "do's and "don'ts, and 6) how to build a CV/resume.

Ideal candidate will have an interest in public health, health equity, substance use disorders, data driven research, simulation modeling, and/or health economics. Candidate will have an academic background in public health, health sciences/services, epidemiology, or related field.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• conducting literature reviews on drug use and treatment
• reviewing subpopulations with rates that differ from the general population, focusing on differences between groups based on race/ethnicity or gender
• assist with literature review and manuscript development
• contribute to the Syndemics Lab website and social media profiles with blog posts, highlights, etc.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Recent college graduate or student enrolled in a related graduate or undergraduate degree program, preferably beyond a second semester junior.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Must have the ability to perform multiple tasks and prioritize duties
• Ability to work independently
• Must possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Must have an interest in performing new and varied work assignments, and be flexible with regard to work assignments
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Word is required. Knowledge or ability to learnMinitab.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn't dictate health.

is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail toor call617-638-8582to let us know the nature of your request.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans