Job Description Summary
This role integrates biostatistics, data science, and data engineering to support and advance the Department of Neurosurgery's research and data infrastructure. The position serves as a core methodological collaborator in neurosurgical research while leading the development and stewardship of a centralized research database built upon Epic Clarity data. This role will play a key part in advancing the department's research strategy through modern data science and robust research infrastructure.
Position is contingent upon funding.
Job Responsibilities
Biostatistics and Data Science Collaboration
- Collaborate with faculty investigators, residents, and fellows on research projects across the full study lifecycle, from study conception through dissemination.
- Provide consultation on study design, cohort definition, feasibility assessments, and analytic strategy.
- Serve as statistical lead and analytic strategist across research projects, including development of analysis plans, selection of appropriate methodology, and communication of findings through written reports and presentations.
- Apply advanced statistical methods, machine learning, and data science techniques to address complex clinical and translational research questions.
- Identify research opportunities aligned with departmental priorities and translate clinical questions into rigorous research designs.
- Conduct and oversee data management and statistical analyses supporting departmental research initiatives.
- Provide methodological leadership and substantive intellectual contribution to manuscript development.
- Contribute to grant proposals and clinical trial design, including statistical sections, study design consultation, and power/sample size calculations.
Research Data Infrastructure and Engineering
- Lead the design, evaluation, and evolution of the department's centralized research data infrastructure supporting neurosurgical research, scalable analytics, and machine learning workflows.
- Assess existing datasets and workflows to identify inconsistencies, redundancies, and opportunities for improved data organization and accessibility.
- Architect and maintain data pipelines integrating Epic Clarity and other internal or external data sources.
- Govern data integrity, platform lifecycle, and scientific data stewardship for departmental research data assets.
- Develop curated analytic datasets and standardized variable definitions to support reproducible research.
- Enable investigators to access well-structured data resources for research and analytic projects.
- Collaborate with institutional data partners (e.g. Penn DnA) to align departmental data infrastructure with enterprise data strategy.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 4 to 6 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
