Scientific Writer

Boston VA Research Institute, Inc. (BVARI); Boston (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston VA Research Institute, Inc. (BVARI) seeks a full-time Science/Medical Writer to collaborate with data scientists, software developers, and clinicians in oncology to develop publications from research findings.

You will manage publication timelines, prepare submissions for conferences and journals, and contribute to grant materials while helping produce informational materials for clinical operations projects. This role requires Massachusetts residency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degrees preferred.
• Ability to draft and edit scientific materials including text and figures with attention to detail.
• Ability to work with data scientists and clinicians to coordinate the writing process.

Responsibilities

• Create and edit documents independently to support our group's scientific research, including grant applications, manuscripts, informational reports.
• Perform literature searches and interact with team members to understand project background and goals.
• Collaborate with data scientists and subject matter experts to clearly describe analyses and discussions.
• Assess document requirements and ensure they meet project criteria.
• Deliver documents on time and alert teams to delays or gaps.

Skills

Drafting & editing

Collaboration with data scientists

Deadline-oriented

Attention to detail

Medical terminology & statistics

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Job description

The VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) is New England's premier referral center for Veterans' healthcare. VABHS is the largest recipient of VA research funds in the nation.

The VA Boston Informatics Group has a full-time Science/Medical Writer opening. In this position, you will work closely with data scientists, software developers, and clinical investigators in oncology to develop publications based on the team's research. Publications may include abstracts, posters, or slide presentations for national or international conferences, as well as peer-reviewed manuscripts for medical journals. You will be responsible for tracking progress relative to publication timelines and preparing and uploading publication submissions to conference and journal websites. You will also contribute to the production of grant applications and informational materials related to our clinical operations projects.

You will join a strong, collegial, diverse, and talented team of computer scientists, statisticians, and clinicians at the VA. VA Boston is a leading research center affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and was named among the Top 100 Places to Work by the Boston Globe.

Primary Duties

• Create and edit documents independently to support our group's scientific research, including grant applications, scientific manuscripts, informational/shareholder reports, as well as other research materials.
• Perform literature searches, review documents, and interact with team members to develop a thorough understanding of project background and goals.
• Collaborate with data scientists and subject matter experts to ensure clear, accurate, and concise description of analyses and associated discussions.
• Assess document requirements and ensure documents meet requirements.
• Deliver documents on time, alerting project teams of any anticipated delays, information gaps, or other concerns.

Qualifications

• Bachelors required. Masters or PhD preferred in relevant field (e.g. life sciences, medicine, statistics, or epidemiology).
• Ability to accurately draft, edit, and review complex materials including scientific text and figures with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work closely with others (e.g., data scientists, doctors, etc) to orchestrate the overall writing production process, including gathering information from different sources as needed.
• Ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment; good organizational, multitasking, and prioritizing skills.
• Strong communication and writing skills and knowledge of medical terminology and statistics, including the ability to convey data in a clear, concise manner and a commitment to scientific accuracy.
• Strong overall computer skills including proficiency with MS Office: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

The employee must be a resident of Massachusetts upon start date.

Please note we are unable to provide work authorization and/or visa sponsorship.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

The candidate must reside in the state of Massachusetts for this position.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to sit for prolonged periods of time; stand; walk; use hands; and reach with hands and arms.

This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position for a total of 40 hours per week.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire and periodic reappointment.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Boston VA Research Institute, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absences, compensation, and training.

Pay Range

Minimum $75,000.00, Midpoint $85,000, Maximum $95,000.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.