Research Data Scientist

Research Data ScientistThe Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics is seeking a Research Data Scientist to support cutting-edge health policy and economics research through advanced analytics, data infrastructure development, and project leadership. This role is part of a state-of-the-art data core and collaborates closely with principal investigators and a multidisciplinary research team. This is a full-time, one-year fixed term position (renewable) with a hybrid work arrangement. The mission of the Schaeffer Center is to measurably improve value in health through evidence-based policy solutions, research excellence, transformative education, and private- and public-sector engagement. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to work that has a meaningful impact on the transformation of health care and to apply advanced analytics to real-world policy questions using large-scale health care data.Responsibilities:Lead and execute complex data analyses using large-scale health care data (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, commercial claims)Design and build data pipelines, research tools, and analytic infrastructureEnsure data quality and reproducibility through rigorous quality assurance processesManage projects, including timelines, deliverables, and coordination with cross-functional team membersSupervise and mentor junior staffTranslate complex data into actionable insights to support policy-relevant researchRequired Qualifications:MA/MS in statistics, data science, economics, applied mathematics, or related quantitative field (or equivalent combined education and work experience)5+ years of experience with statistical programming (e.g., SAS, R, Python)Experience with administrative health care claims data (Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial)Experience with SQL, data warehouses (e.g., Snowflake), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS)Demonstrated experience leading analytic efforts and contributing to research projectsStrong problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions for complex data challengesEligibility to work in the U.S. (no visa sponsorship available)Preferred Qualifications:Experience in health economics, health policy, public health, or similar discipline7+ years of experience with statistical programmingExperience with CMS secure environments (e.g., VRDC, IDR) and NIA LINKAGEExperience leveraging AI-assisted tools to enhance coding, data analysis, and workflow efficiency, including iterative or semi-automated workflowsMinimum Education: Master's DegreeCompensation: The annual base salary range for this position is $105,664.88 - $122,141.8. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. Commensurate with experience and qualifications.