Health and Clinical Outcomes Research Intern (Master's/PhD Students)

Cigna; Bloomfield (CT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cigna Group is seeking an intern to support advanced analytics and evidence-based research that informs health care decisions and improves outcomes. You will collaborate with Evernorth and Cigna Healthcare teams to conduct real-world research addressing complex healthcare questions.

You will apply study designs, conduct analyses, and communicate findings to clinical and business audiences while developing deliverables that convey research methods and implications.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate in health services research or related field with 3+ years of healthcare research experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage research projects and present to relevant audiences.
• Experience with large health data sets.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to impactful research addressing complex healthcare questions and evaluate clinical and financial impact of products and services.
• Apply research methodology, study design and statistical analysis to real-world projects.
• Partner with research and business leaders throughout the research lifecycle.
• Collaborate across disciplines to advance research initiatives.

Skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Team player

Self-directed

Time management

Education

Master's or Doctorate in health services research

Bachelor's degree in health/public health

Tools

R

SPSS

Job description

Are you excited to use advanced analytics and evidence-based research to solve complex healthcare challenges and help make healthcare more affordable?

At Evernorth and Cigna Healthcare, we’re driven by a shared purpose: improving health and making health care more affordable, accessible and effective for the people and communities we serve. As part of the Evernorth Research Institute, you’ll help bring that purpose to life by supporting research that generates meaningful insights, informs health care decisions and helps improve outcomes. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, contribute and be part of work that can make a real-world impact.

What You Will Do

• Contribute to impactful research addressing complex healthcare questions, evaluating the clinical and financial impact of Evernorth and Cigna Healthcare products and services, and identifying opportunities to improve healthcare value and outcomes.
• Apply research methodology, study design and statistical analysis to the development and execution of real-world research projects, while expanding your expertise through collaboration with clinical, research, payer and provider teams.
• Partner with research and business leaders throughout the research lifecycle, including defining research questions, developing study designs and methodologies, conducting complex analyses, interpreting findings and communicating results to clinical and business audiences.
• Collaborate across disciplines and functions within Evernorth and Cigna Healthcare to advance research initiatives, contribute diverse perspectives and deliver high-quality work.

Essential Intern Functions

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support literature reviews, research design and methodology, and development of research proposals.
• Conduct statistical analyses and other data analytics to support research objectives and generate meaningful insights.
• Coordinate and track research activities, including project documentation, work plans, timelines and cross-functional dependencies.
• Synthesize and present research findings to internal clinical, research and business audiences.
• Develop high-quality project deliverables that effectively communicate research methods, findings and implications.

Examples of Past Intern Projects

• Treatment initiation factors and patterns in newly diagnosed Crohn's Disease patients
• Weight-loss GLP-1 coverage, pharmacy cost trends, and utilization drivers
• Medication adherence among GLP-1 new users: A group-based trajectory model
• Cardiovascular disease among high-risk pregnant women
• Utilization of vaccinations in high and low social determinants of health areas
• Emergency room utilization in the United States
• Non-behavioral health related healthcare utilization among 5-18 year olds diagnosed with reactive stress disorder
• Characteristics driving GLP-1 for weight loss utilization and coverage among large carrier-groups from 2022-2025
• Assessment of diabetes medication trends pre and post COVID 19 pandemic
• Characteristics of very high-cost users among Medicare part D Beneficiaries

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate in health services research, health economics, health outcomes, pharmacy administration, public health, social sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics or other similar quantitative/qualitative fields. Posess a Bachelor’s degree in public health, pharmacy, health administration science or other health discipline, and 3+ year of applied healthcare research experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage research projects and experience in developing and giving presentations suitable for relevant audiences.
• Prior experience managing and working with large health data sets
• Proficiency in R, SPSS or similar 4th generation statistical analysis programming language
• Good communication (written and oral), presentation skills, and the ability to effectively communicate technical and other data to broad audiences.
• Proven team player - flexible, collaborative
• Self-directed
• Ability to manage, document and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Eager to learn skills to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Peer-reviewed publication experience
• SQL programming and relational database skills
• MS Office Suite experience
• Some experience with medical and pharmacy claims data
• Working knowledge of medical diagnosis, procedure, and other pharmacy coding schemas.

Additional Information

• Location: Bloomfield CT, Houston TX, Morris Plains NJ, St Louis MO, Raleigh/Charlotte NC
• Schedule: You must be available to work 40 hours/week for 10-12 weeks beginning May 2027. Working hours are Monday – Friday.
• Work Authorization: This position is open only to individuals who are eligible for employment in the United States and who would not require visa support including H-1B or CPT/OPT/STEM, etc., now or in the future.
• Compensation: For this position, we anticipate offering an hourly rate based on experience and education.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email [e-mail] for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.