Data Scientist

University of California - San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California - San Francisco is seeking a Data Scientist for the NeuroAI Lab to support research in AI and cognitive neuroscience. The successful candidate will work on developing AI systems for neurodegenerative diseases and maintain robust data pipelines.

Applicants should have strong programming skills, a degree in a relevant field, and experience with machine learning. This role offers excellent opportunities for professional growth with world-class clinical collaborators.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python with experience in data analysis and machine learning.
• Experience with building and maintaining data pipelines.
• Familiarity with version control and collaborative software development.

Responsibilities

• Plan long-term statistical studies.
• Analyze, prepare, and summarize data.
• Develop systems for organizing data and managing databases.
• Participate in data security policy development.

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Machine learning

Statistical modeling

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related area

Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Git

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Cloud computing platforms

Job description

Job Summary:

The NeuroAI Lab at UCSF, led by Assistant Professor Pedro Pinheiro‑Chagas, invites applications for a Data Scientist to support and advance our research initiatives at the intersection of AI and cognitive neuroscience. The successful candidate will contribute to a multidisciplinary team developing cutting‑edge AI systems for the discovery, diagnosis, and care of neurodegenerative diseases. The Data Scientist will work across the lab’s core research areas, including: (1) foundation AI models that leverage large‑scale clinical databases to identify disease subtypes and risk factors; (2) agentic AI decision support systems that synthesize multimodal patient data for specialist‑level diagnoses; and (3) AI conversational agents for scalable clinical assessments. The role involves designing and maintaining robust data pipelines, curating and analyzing complex multimodal datasets (clinical notes, neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging), developing and evaluating machine learning models, and contributing to research publications. The ideal candidate will have strong programming skills and experience with generative AI and traditional ML algorithms, a passion for translational research, and the ability to work effectively across disciplines. This position offers exceptional opportunities for professional growth at the forefront of health AI, with direct exposure to world‑class clinical collaborators and the potential to impact real‑world patient care.

Department Description:

The NeuroAI Lab operates at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center—Department of Neurology—Weill Institute for Neuroscience. It is also affiliated with the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and the Center for Intelligent Imaging (ci2).

Key Responsibilities

• Plan long‑term statistical studies, including the preparation of proposals, design of survey instruments, and determining sampling procedures.
• Gather, analyze, prepare, and summarize the collection of information and data; recommend statistical approaches, trends, sources, and uses.
• Prepare data for presentation.
• Identify multivariate strategies.
• Prepare reports of studies for internal validation and cross‑validation studies.
• Analyze the interrelationships of data and define logical aspects of data sets.
• Develop systems for organizing data to analyze, identify and report trends.
• Manage database of research data for projects.
• Review new software instruments and potential effects on statistical testing. May make programming modifications.
• Participate in development and implementation of data security policies and procedures.
• Keep abreast of technical advances in storage, documentation and dissemination of computerized data.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience or training.
• Proficiency in Python, with demonstrated experience in data analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling.
• Experience building and maintaining data pipelines, integrating APIs, and working with large‑scale datasets.
• Familiarity with version control (Git) and collaborative software development practices.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Biomedical Informatics, Computational Neuroscience, Biostatistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience with large language models (LLMs).
• Familiarity with clinical, cognitive, or health‑related datasets (e.g., electronic health records, neuroimaging, neuropsychological assessments).
• Knowledge of data security, privacy, and regulatory standards for clinical applications (e.g., HIPAA compliance).
• Experience with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) and cloud computing platforms.
• Track record of peer‑reviewed publications or contributions to open‑source projects.
• Interest in or experience with agentic AI architectures, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), or multi‑agent systems.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary research environment.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.