Principal Scientist, Survivorship Research

The Population Science Department is seeking a doctoral-level cancer survivorship researcher to accelerate the pace of the scientific evidence base that informs quality, equitable survivorship care. The department uses the collective expertise of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and behavioral scientists to better understand the behavioral, social, environmental, and biologic factors that affect cancer prevention, risk, survivorship, and survival. This research aims to refine personalized risk prediction and targeted intervention strategies, inform public health and clinical decision making for cancer prevention and survivorship, and reduce disparities among medically vulnerable populations. Most of the work within Population Science uses the Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS), a series of large-scale prospective cohort studies built and maintained by the American Cancer Society since the 1950’s. The CPS cohorts include extensive survey-based data, participant portal data, medical claims, and other data sources, such as accelerometry, blood, stool, saliva, and tumor tissue, that are available for survivorship research. Linkage between our CPS-II cohort and Medicare claims data provides unique opportunities for research among older cancer survivors and individuals without a cancer history for comparison. This specific role in Population Science will focus on cancer survivorship research within the prospective cohort studies and a new survivor sub-cohort, with data assessed before and after a cancer diagnosis.

We are particularly interested in cancer survivorship scientists with expertise and interest in conducting research in one or more of the following areas:

-Research utilizing a combination of biospecimens, patient-reported outcomes, and cancer-related data
-Claims-based analyses
-Accelerated aging among survivor populations
-Cognition
-Cancer health disparities
-Cardio-oncology
-Cancer-related symptom management
-Lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition, tobacco, marijuana, and physical activity

The scientist hired for this position will provide strategic direction in innovative data collection and research projects within the CPS-3 cohort related to cancer survivorship. In addition, the scientist will work collaboratively on research projects with other intramural research scientists as well as the extramural scientific community, with the potential for pooled analyses across other prospective cohort studies, that result in published peer-reviewed original research. The scientist will also serve as a public spokesperson for Population Science by communicating results of their research to stakeholders-including American Cancer Society staff and volunteers, the scientific community, mainstream media, policy, and the public at large. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to lead as well as contribute to work that has international impact.

Successful candidates should have a sustained focus on cancer survivorship, will be expected to establish an innovative, independent research portfolio that aligns with the Society’s mission and Population Science research priorities, and will contribute to the scientific leadership of the CPS cohorts. Applicants must have a doctoral degree and post-doctoral training in epidemiology (including molecular and genetic epidemiology), behavioral science, public health, statistics, bioinformatics, or a related field. A consistent track-record of publication is required.

The American Cancer Society has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.

Alpa Patel, PhD, Senior Vice President, Population Science ([email protected])