RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

The mission of the Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science (CBHDS) is to achieve excellence in Virginia Tech’s health- and medically-related research portfolio through fostering collaborations across biostatistics, data science, health analytics, computer science, engineering, bioinformatics, biology, database management and integration, project coordination, clinical practice, health economics, translation and public policy. To achieve this mission, CBHDS seeks to:

1. Identify, integrate and coordinate expertise and resources pertinent to the areas of biostatistics, statistics, health analytics, data science, epidemiology, data management, informatics, health economics, etc., to provide a central support hub for health- and medically-related research;
2. Promote the use and awareness of appropriate contemporary analytic methods in health- and medically-related research projects;
3. Provide training and mentorship to statisticians, analysts, and data scientists relative to
communication and collaboration with biomedical and health researchers;
4.Through effective interdisciplinary collaboration, gain an understanding of disease etiologies, adopt effective treatment and prevention strategies, and positively impact mental and physical health and quality of life.

Additional information can be found on our Center website: https://biostat.centers.vt.edu/
Our work is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, so the selected candidate will have opportunities to engage with Virginia Tech researchers across various organizations. In Roanoke, many of our collaborators specialize in addiction, mental health, and neuroscience, and thus the ideal candidate would have experience and interest in this area of health science research.

Under the mentorship of a senior statistician, the selected candidate will write statistical methods and power analysis sections for grant proposals; generate statistical analyses to support doctoral student and faculty research; engage in sophisticated data wrangling, including claims data; conduct appropriate statistical analyses using statistical languages (SAS, R, SPSS), including summarizing and disseminating analytic findings. He or she will lead and mentor research assistants in tasks involving statistical programming, data management, and the application of statistical methods, conduct research and apply novel analytic and statistical methods as appropriate, and write and edit statistical methods sections for abstract and manuscript submissions.

In summary, key responsibilities for the Research Associate include:

• Writing statistical methods and power analysis sections for grant proposals
• Generating statistical analyses to support doctoral student and faculty research
• Engaging in sophisticated data wrangling, including claims data and electronic health records
• Conducting appropriate statistical analyses using statistical languages (Stata, SAS, R, SPSS), including summarizing and disseminating analytic findings
• Assisting with the mentorship of research assistants in tasks involving statistical programming, data management, and the application of statistical methods
• Conducting research and applying novel analytic and statistical methods as appropriate
• Writing and editing statistical methods sections for abstract and manuscript submissions

• MS (or equivalent degree) in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience working in a consulting or collaborative setting
• Excellent programming skills in R and/or SAS
• Experience with Python, REDCap, MATLAB, Latex, Maple, and data manipulations using Microsoft Excel
• Demonstrated experience and skills working with large datasets
• Excellent organizational, communication, and collaborative research skills

• Experience working in an academic collaborative setting
• Experience working with and analyzing data from electronic health records
• Experience with preparation of abstracts, manuscripts, or other written summaries of analytic findings
• Evidence of strong work habits and ability to work independently

Restricted

October 15, 2022

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.