Senior Research Scientist, Model Architecture (12-Month LTE)

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) is an embedded research institute within the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supporting global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health. We develop, use, and share computational modeling tools, and promote quantitative decision-making through robust mathematical and statistical modeling. The IDM team comprises both research scientists and software engineers. IDM has a bold and important vision, and you will play a key role in realizing that vision through translating innovative modeling approaches into practical software solutions.

*This is a 12-month limited term employment position with salary and foundation-provided benefits. Relocation will not be provided.
**Application Deadline: December 30, 2024

Your Role

We are seeking an outstanding individual to join the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a Senior Research Scientist, Model Architecture on the Scientific Engineering, Architecture and Technology Accelerator (SEATAC) team.

This role will advance the development of innovative modeling approaches that address complex scientific challenges. This hybrid role combines a scientific focus on dynamical systems modeling with the practical implementation of scalable software solutions. You will design, prototype, and scale computational models to advance understanding in areas such as disease dynamics, immune responses, and population systems.

Your work will directly support the SEATAC team’s mission to catalyze the uptake of new approaches and normalize them as improved standards within IDM and the broader modeling community. As a key technical leader, you will collaborate across interdisciplinary teams, empowering researchers to adopt scientifically rigorous, production-ready methodologies.

What You’ll Do

• Innovative Model Development:
  • Collaborate on designing template immune models of respiratory and enteric acute infection that track boosting and waning dynamics of correlates of protection.
  • Prototype superinfection architectures and calibration workflows suitable to longitudinal observations and pathogen genetic dynamics of TB and malaria within-host systems.
  • Develop and evaluate spatial meta-population modeling approaches for portfolio optimization and surveillance value-of-information questions.
• Tool and Workflow Development:
  • Build reusable utilities and packages in Python and R to streamline data integration and model calibration.
  • Collaborate on integrating model calibration workflows into tutorial vignettes that demonstrate discrete modeling use-cases: hypothesis testing, trial design, delivery optimization.
  • Identify and assess novel technology patterns emerging in adjacent domains like ML workflows and high-performance gaming engines.
• Collaboration and Leadership:
  • Partner with disease experts, software engineers, and interdisciplinary teams to align research objectives with practical solutions.
  • Mentor teammates, teaching workflows and advancing new approaches across the organization.
  • Lead dissemination of findings through publications, workshops, and collaborative tools.

Your Experience

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) and 5+ years of experience in computational modeling, quantitative sciences, or related field.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and scientific modeling frameworks, with experience developing reusable utilities and packages for other scientists.  Familiarity with C++ and Rust a plus.
• Strong foundation in mathematical modeling, dynamical systems, calibration techniques, and complex data types (e.g. spatial uncertainty quantification, genetic recombination graphs).
• Proven experience working in collaborative interdisciplinary teams, translating research needs into actionable solutions.
• Strong mentorship and teaching skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead technical workflows.
• Quick learner in new contextual domains, including disease systems, delivery contexts, and software frameworks.  Confidence and humility to tackle unfamiliar challenges with curiosity and a growth mindset.

Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $204,600 to $317,100 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $222,900 to $345,500 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process. 

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.