Job Posting: Chief, Applied Clinical Informatics Branch

Summary

Background

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is recruiting a Chief of the Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) in the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC). In 1968, Congress established LHNCBC to further biomedicine through innovations in computer and digital communications technology, data science research, and computer applications development.

LHNCBC focuses on advancing the use of real-world clinical data for cutting edge biomedical research and development by judicious application of data science, computational sciences, and biomedical informatics in the diagnosis, prevention and management of diseases and to promote health. LHNCBC is comprised of an Office of the Director and two branches: the Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) and the Scientific Computing Branch (SCB).

The ACIB has a $9M annual budget and a highly skilled staff of about 30 personnel. Activities include research and development (R&D) in biomedicine, and the development and assessment of biomedical products. The ACIB is responsible for:

• Identifying and developing innovative solutions for complex biomedical informatics challenges related to the use of various forms of clinical data (such as electronic health record, imaging, and sensor data) that scale across institutional boundaries and applications.
• Translating new research results into operational solutions that can be implemented in healthcare and research environments.
• Exploring and improving upon emerging solutions in the use of clinical data, including standards for terminology and data communications.
• Collaborating with other entities within NIH and HHS agencies to develop data science solutions to address issues of mutual interest.
• Participating in interdisciplinary, cross-divisional collaborations and project.
• Developing and assessing biomedical products and innovative methods to lower barriers to use real-world clinical data in biomedical research. Examples include more efficient methods to create metadata about clinical datasets to help researchers to identify relevant datasets for their work, development and assessment of computer algorithm products for automated text analysis, and new data science techniques applied to biomedical image and signal processing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to support electronic health record systems and automated clinical decision-making (e.g., image analysis to automatically identify malaria parasites in blood smears.)

Duties

The ACIB Chief is responsible for setting the overall direction and adherence to the mission to devise approaches to strengthen clinical data and improve its value to the research enterprise. The incumbent is responsible for overall program development, program evaluation, product assessment, policy formulation, and strategic direction of ACIB activities. He/she serves in a key leadership role in overseeing a highly skilled scientific and technical workforce of Federal staff and contractors.

Specifically, the duties of the ACIB Chief are as follows:

• Directing all ACIB’s operations, programs, and staff through assessment, reorganization and modernization of the technology product development activities
• Applying biomedical research and product assessment methodologies in healthcare to support improvement in clinical workflows, health information exchange, electronic health records, health data standards, and associated regulatory requirements.
• Developing assessment criteria for reviewing ACIB projects to continue, identifying new areas to pursue, and providing oversight to the expanding portfolio of new and continuing projects within ACIB
• Enhancing and strengthening the Center for Clinical Observational Investigations (CCOI), which will provide profiles and characterizations as well as product assessment about the datasets, and proxy access to support observational research and provide informatics and statistics support while lowering the barrier for adoption of research based on observational data across NIH and making it possible to efficiently test hypotheses arising from basic and pre-clinical research on clinical data
• Conducting product assessments reviews to determine the quality of clinical datasets for possible inclusion into the CCOI and assessing software products to be used in the CCOI for developing dataset profiles and data characterizations, and data science tools related to datasets assessed by CCOI staff
• Overseeing the implementation of a strategic vision for the branch, including identifying products, emerging trends, innovative approaches, and research opportunities in applied clinical informatics
• Coordination and assessment of research technology and product transitions to real-world product environment. Facilitating the transfer of research activities to development of products aimed at improving health and healthcare through methodological advances in clinical informatics
• Leading the day-to-day operations of ACIB as well as supervisory duties including mentoring staff, managing the budget, and conducting staff performance evaluations and training. Overseeing team leads to make sure tasks are being completed on time and adequately.

Who Can Apply

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. Candidates must indicate their U.S. citizenship status on their CV or within their email application submission.

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must possess either a doctoral-level degree in biomedicine or a biological related field, or a master's level or higher degree in:

• engineering
• bioinformatics
• or an emerging or related scientific field.

In addition, candidates must have at least one year of experience related to the position, including achievements in one or more of the following areas to demonstrate the individual has received recognition as an expert in the field:

• Has significant experience dealing with complex, precedent-setting evaluation, scientific policies or development issues (e.g., those associated with novel biomedical products, novel approaches to biomedical product manufacturing, or use of novel evaluation methods)
• Demonstrated cutting-edge expertise in a scientific or technical discipline critical to design, development, manufacturing, clinical performance assessment, or technical aspects of effective oversight of biomedical products
• Played a leadership role in planning and conducting public meetings to seek public input and communicate regulatory scientific policies
• Received invitations to speak at or chair major national or international meetings and symposia or
• Meets other criteria demonstrating sufficient rigor or accomplishment in a relevant or closely related activity or field that is necessary to the accomplishment of NIH's mission.

If you are a current Federal Title 5 employee, you must have one year of equivalent experience at the GS-14 level or above.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency.

Foreign Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Learn more about Foreign Education.

Reasonable Accommodation

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email a complete application package* consisting of:

1. A cover letter including a description of experience and expertise
2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume

*Candidates must indicate their citizenship status on either their resume or cover letter.

Note: Three letters of reference and transcripts will be required if a candidate is selected

Please send your complete application package to: Nikeia Miller at [email protected].