Research Scientist - USC Schaeffer Center

In order for your application to be considered, you must attach a cover letter and CV to your employment application.

The Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy and Government Service has been established by a historic gift from USC Trustee Leonard D. Schaeffer. It houses two existing programs under one umbrella—the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service.

The USC Schaeffer Center is a collaboration of the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Sol Price School of Public Policy with the mission to measurably improve value in health through evidence-based policy solutions, research excellence, and private and public sector engagement.

The Schaeffer Institute is seeking a Research Scientist who plan, design, and execute research projects.  A particular focus will be on research and policy analyses related to COVID-19 policy, housing and health, and health care financing.   

This position is a two-year appointment with the possibility of renewal dependent on the ability to secure continued external funding and demonstrated success at developing and executing a research portfolio.

Key duties include, but are not limited to:

• Planning, designing, and conducting of highly specialized, technical, and complex research projects independently

• Creating long-term research goals and objectives and contribuing to the development of advanced concepts, techniques, and standards

• Identifying, researching, compiling, and evaluating data sources, background information and/or technology related to area of specialization

• Analyzing and evaluating research data and providing interpretations requiring significant knowledge of a specialized area of research

• Developing research documentation for publications and preparing papers that show independent thinking and leadership in scholarly writing

• Making presentations at academic conferences

• Providing leadership, direction, and guidance to staff and/or student workers

Minimum Education:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate

Minimum Experience:

5 years directly related education and experience in research specialization with highly advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures, analysis methods, principles, theories, and concepts.

Must have demonstrated leadership in developing new ideas and ability to publish in academic outlets (i.e., first authored publications, conceptual leadership in the development of publications generated alone or with others, and/or writing of first drafts of publications and/or single authored publications).

Compensation

Commensurate with experience and qualifications. The annual base salary range for this position is $98,836.15 - $119,497.99. 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.

Position is 100% FTE, hybrid work arrangement

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

Required Documents

Cover letter Resume/CV

About the USC Schaeffer Institute

The USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy and Government Service was established by an historic gift from USC Trustee Leonard D. Schaeffer in 2024.  Its mission is to develop and promote strong public leaders; support civic engagement; amplify the reach and impact of USC scholarship, and offer evidence-based policy solutions to the nation’s most pressing political, social, and economic challenges.  It houses two programs under one umbrella—the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and the Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service.

About the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics

Since its establishment in 2009, the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics has served as an intellectual hub for health policy and health economics research at USC. The Schaeffer Center’s mission is to measurably improve value in health through evidence-based policy solutions, research excellence, and private and public sector engagement. As the home to about 150 faculty, staff, and fellows—including 3 Nobel Laureates—the Center produces some of the leading academic research in its field. The Center ranks 4th in the world in health economics, and we have become a trusted resource for Congress, federal agencies (including CMS, FDA, CBO, and NIH), and organizations such as the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

In 2023, Schaeffer-affiliated faculty testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Senate Finance Committee; and the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. Center experts are regularly sought out by media outlets—including the New York Times, NPR, Stat, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post—to provide insight on health policy issues. As of June 2024, the Schaeffer Center has received approximately $115 million in federal funding, mostly from the NIH. Additional information on the Center and our successful policy efforts can be found in our latest Annual Report.

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. Founded in 1929, the Price School is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Estate Development; and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. 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.

The academic programs are augmented by several highly visible research centers and  institutes 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, 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 diverse people and opinions.

About the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is located on the USC Health Sciences Campus, which includes the Keck Hospital of USC, the Norris Cancer Hospital, Doheny Eye Institute, and the flagship LAC+USC Medical Center, along with directing five university- and community-based pharmacies, adding a sixth in South Los Angeles in 2023. Ranked by US News and World Report as the #1 private pharmacy school in the United States, and the #2 overall school according to World Scholarship Forum, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is recognized for its more than century-long reputation for innovation and leadership in pharmaceutical education, practice, research, and service to the community and to the profession. The school uniquely spans the entire spectrum of pharmaceutical development and clinical care – from drug discovery to regulatory approaches that promote safety and innovation, from delivery of contemporary patient care services to evaluating the impact of care provision on patient outcomes and costs. The school’s dynamic faculty is involved in all levels of pharmacy education: from undergraduate majors to multiple MS and PhD graduate programs, from the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program with dual degree options to a wide variety of advanced clinical residency and fellowship training, and from laboratory to bedside learning experiences. The school has recently received a $50 million endowment from the Alfred E. Mann Foundation to name the school and to support student scholarships, faculty development and recruitment, and integrated biomedical innovation.

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 Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

Minimum Education: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Skills: Directly related education and experience in research specialization with highly advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures, analysis methods, principles, theories and concepts. Demonstrated leadership in developing new ideas and ability to publish in appropriate academic and practitioner outlets. Demonstrated independent thinking and leadership in scholarly writing according established criteria (e.g., first-authored publications, conceptual leadership in the development of publications generated alone or with others, writing of first drafts of publications and/or single-authored publications).