Senior Biostatistician

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The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the University of Southern California is seeking a full-time Applied Biostatistician to join our dynamic team. We are looking for a skilled and motivated individual who can lead and contribute to advanced statistical analyses, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and play a key role in impactful research on aging and dementia.

One of the primary responsibilities of this position will be to develop, maintain, and expand complex analytic pipelines for data imputation in ongoing longitudinal studies. This position provides an excellent opportunity to lead independent projects, contribute to high-impact publications, and work in a collaborative, research-driven environment. This is a grant funded, one year fixed term position and hybrid work arrangement.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct data analysis using statistical programming with a focus on accuracy and reproducibility

• Address missing data using imputation methods and other advanced statistical techniques

• Apply theoretical knowledge and appropriate statistical tools to solve complex problems

• Develop and implement statistical protocols for quality control

• Summarize and communicate findings orally and in written form

• Contribute to the preparation of papers for publication

• Support the development of statistical plans and power analysis for proposal development

Successful candidates for this position will have demonstrated research excellence, as evidenced through their publication record. The role demands exceptional analytical abilities, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the capacity to lead projects while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams. You will be part of a team of dedicated professionals in a dynamic and supportive environment that values innovation and scientific excellence.

CESR is an interdisciplinary institute (cesr.usc.edu/). Research areas at CESR include work on longitudinal data collection, aging, cognition, brain health, health and health disparities.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in biostatistics, statistics, epidemiology, or other quantitative social science field

• Proficiency in R

• Expertise in missing data imputation

• Experience working with large-scale observational cohort studies or surveys

• Familiarity with regression modeling, survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting findings

• Demonstrated research skills, preferably in the form of peer reviewed publications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Stata and Mplus

• Experience in item response theory or confirmatory factor analysis

• Prior experience designing and leading complex simulation analysis to estimate statistical power for complex analyses and answer empirical methodological questions

• A minimum of 3 years of experience after the completion of PhD

Salary range: The annual base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $190,000. 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 salary data, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This is a grant funded position.

About the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR)

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to discovering how people around the globe live, think, interact, age, invest, and make important, life-changing decisions. Our in-depth research and analysis are deepening the understanding of human behavior in a wide range of economic and social contexts. Our ultimate goal: to improve social welfare by informing and influencing decision-making in the public and private sectors. Along the way, we are leading a creative revolution in how scientists conduct social science and economic research through the use of innovative technology.

About the USC Schaeffer Institute

TheUSC Schaeffer Institute develops evidence-based solutions to address the nation's most pressing policy issues. It serves as a policy laboratory to develop and test ideas generated by the USC academic community, fosters civic engagement, and provides a forum to reach federal policymakers.

Established by an historic gift from Leonard D. Schaeffer in 2024, it houses three flagship programs: theUSC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service, and the Center for Civic Society. Schaeffer experts have testified before numerous Congressional committees and are regularly sought out by media outlets-including the New York Times, NPR, Stat, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post-to provide insight on policy issues.

The Schaeffer Institute is home to more than 150 scholars and staff, including three Nobel Laureates and seven members of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It has offices at USC in Los Angeles and at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, DC.

About the Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. The school is composed of overlapping disciplines that generate innovative approaches to critical issues ranging from health-care policy to homelessness, and sustainability to congestion - to name a few. A wide-ranging curriculum, including extensive experiential learning, prepares our graduates to navigate problems that demand multi-layered solutions driven by critical, informed thinking.

The Price School, founded in 1929, is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Real Estate Development, and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. The School's rigorous academic programs provide students with the knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience and led by some of the world's most renowned faculty in their fields, our students establish a clear pathway to successful careers.

Our academic programs are augmented by numerous research centers, institutes and initiatives that provide additional research expertise and experiences, notable among them are: The Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public; The Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy; The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate; The METRANS Transportation Consortium; The Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics; and The Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. Together, they account for over $100 million in externally funded research grants and contracts.

Together, these departments and research enterprises provide unmatched breadth and depth to tackle an enormous range of challenges facing our country and the world. Price graduates hold leadership positions across diverse sectors - public, private, and nonprofit - championing the advancement of the common good. They come from around the world and from a variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to create a rich intellectual environment that celebrates, supports and benefits from a variety of backgrounds and opinions.