Biostatistician II

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university a great place to work.  

As a community of Dornsife College “we are committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of fundamental knowledge in all its forms…as well as a lifelong passion for learning and a commitment to the betterment of society.”  The academic mission of Dornsife College can only be realized to its fullest potential when we build and protect a representative, equitable, inclusive culture of scholarship for students, faculty, and staff.  This is not done through initiatives but by embedding these values into the everyday interactions, relationships, policies, and practices of the College.  What is required is a seamless integration of the tenets of equity and inclusivity into every facet of academic life.  If we want our scholars, staff, and students to be able to give their very best, we must create an academic environment that portends success.  

Success is possible when every member of the Dornsife community owns their role as a steward of the culture in which we learn, research, and work; when we believe that it is because of who we are that we are able to do what we do: achieve excellence, together. 

Achieving a robust and inclusive academic culture requires more than just the completion of a task, but includes that person’s capacity to contribute positively to the relationships and culture of their office or department.  Therefore, any applicant seeking to advance the mission of Dornsife College should also be assessed on their capacities beyond the technical elements of their work, and demonstrate an understanding of their impact on others, and to articulate how they contribute positively to those around them.

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the University of Southern California has an opening for Biostatistician.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated full time Biostatistician, to lead and contribute to statistical analyses across diverse topical and methodological areas. work collaboratively with principal investigators and multidisciplinary teams to refine research questions, design studies, and develop robust analysis plans. This position offers the opportunity to lead work independently while playing a key role in advancing impactful research and publishing findings in high-quality venues. Duties will include:

• Select appropriate statistical tools for addressing a given research question
• Implement data analysis through statistical programming, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility
• Address missing data issues using imputation methods and other advanced statistical techniques
• Apply theoretical knowledge to solve complex problems
• Develop and implement protocol for quality control
• Summarize findings orally and in written form
• Participate in the preparation of papers for publication
• Assist in study design and assist with 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 position requires a Ph.D. in biostatistics, statistics or closely related field, in addition to several years of experience. The position requires excellent analytical skills, strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to lead projects and work as a member of multi-disciplinary teams, and a commitment to effecting change through empirical research. You will collaborate with a team of dedicated professionals in a dynamic and supportive environment where innovation and scientific excellence are valued.

CESR is an interdisciplinary institute in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (cesr.usc.edu/). Research areas at CESR include work on longitudinal data collection, aging, cognition, brain health, health and health disparities. CESR is a research-funded center, therefore positions are not part of the tenure system and Research Scientists are eventually expected to fund their research agenda.

Required Qualifications:

• Master in biostatistics, statistics, or related field such as epidemiology, psychometrics
• Proficiency in at least two of R, Stata, Mplus
• Expertise in missing data imputation
• Familiarity with multivariate 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:

• PhD in biostatistics, statistics, or related field such as epidemiology, psychometrics
• 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 $100,000 - $140,000. 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 peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.  

This is a grant funded position.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file).
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Education: Master's degree Or Master's degree Biostatistics Or Master's degree Statistics Or Master's degree in related field(s) Or Additional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years Minimum Skills: Experience in biostatistics, statistics, biometry or related field. Experience in statistical programming using standard statistical packages (e.g., SAS, R, STATA). Working knowledge of regulatory Data Standards (e.g., CDISC/ADaM). Knowledge of clinical research regulatory requirements (e.g., Good Clinical Practice [ICH / GCP], FDA / CFR). Ability to interact productively as part of a research team. Ability to present ideas clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. Preferred Education: Master's degree Preferred Experience: 5 years Preferred Skills: Prior experience as a biostatistician in a medical research environment.