Publications Data Management Intern

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

Role Overview

As part of our humanitarian mission, MSF conducts hundreds of research studies every year to help us improve patient care and advocate in an evidence-based way for better global health programs and policies. The MSF Science Portal is an online repository where you can find the outcomes of this work—in peer-reviewed medical publications, MSF Scientific Days conference presentations, and other content.

The Publications Data Management Intern will work with the Project Manager on keeping the platform updated regularly and implement data quality improvements across the front end of the website within the content management system, and to the database directly. Primary, regular duties include data entry, data cleaning/manipulation, project and workflow organization, and descriptive analysis. The intern will also support other discrete, long-term projects that can range from website improvement support, dashboard development, and communications planning and support. A diverse student profile will be considered, with an emphasis on workflow organization, data management, experience with relational databases, and knowledge of medical sciences and scholarly publications.

This internship will start in October and last 3 months, with the possibility to extend for an additional 3 months. This role is part-time at 20 hours/week and is hybrid, with in-office attendance on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Department Accountabilities

Support for MSF Medical and Humanitarian Programs

The Programs Department supports the medical humanitarian programs of the MSF Movement in different ways. Each unit contributes to one or more of these responsibilities:

Advocacy and Representation in support of Operations – develop strategies to influence public policy debates as well as private bilateral engagements on behalf of MSF.

Research, Analysis, and Data Management in support of Operations – direct, perform, or facilitate research to address questions posed by Operations. Track and analyze specific policies and practices of governments, multilateral organizations, and others as requested by Operations.

Monitoring of the Policy Environment - engages with Policy issues to ensure information sharing and action based on medical and operational needs of the movement.

Stakeholder Engagement - identify, analyze, plan, and implement actions designed to engage with external and internal stakeholders to support medical humanitarian programming.

Roles Specific Outcomes

Publications support (40-60%)

Create a weekly list of new MSF-authored publications based on reviewing PubMed, Google Scholar alerts, and other data sources

Enter journal publications and conference materials into the Science Portal database using the content management system

Data cleaning and management support (20-30%)

Support the Portal team in improving data cleanliness, requiring direct queries to the database and updating data using SQL (Microsoft SQL Server) to conduct bulk updates or manual cleaning

Workflow monitoring and improvements (20%)

Support with optimizing workflow monitoring and efficiency, and project management

Communications and website visibility (10-20%)

Support communications and raising awareness of the Science Portal via public social media and internal platforms

Additional projects (variable time commitment)

The team has various needs across data visualization, data management, and communications projects that the intern can work on, depending on their strengths and interests

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills

Ability to work independently with supportive supervision

Initiative and confidence to ask questions

Ability to seek out creative and alternative solutions to problems

Behavioral Competencies

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective

Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

Ensures Accountability

Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Collaborates

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

Communicates Effectively

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys

information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

Values Differences

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

Manages Conflict

Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.

Manages Ambiguity

Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations.

Being Resilient

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Technical Compe