Post Doctoral Scholar - Surgery

The Pennsylvania State University; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, PA, seeks a post‑doctoral scholar to lead independent health outcomes research within a multidisciplinary team. The role emphasizes expertise in large data analyses and the application of machine learning to healthcare datasets.

Successful candidates will advance scientific collaborations and contribute to manuscripts, grants, and presentations. This is an on‑campus position requiring a recent PhD and strong methodological training in statistics and

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant health science or engineering field.
• Strong software skills in SAS, R, or Python.
• Experience managing large healthcare datasets is preferred.
• Excellent organizational, time-management, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct health outcomes research as part of an independent project.
• Manage and analyze data; implement machine learning on datasets.
• Conduct literature reviews and prepare manuscripts and grant submissions.
• Prepare presentations and assist with research protocols and data acquisitions.
• Mentor students and promote collaborations.

Skills

SAS/SQL

R

Python

Data management

Communication

Education

PhD in health economics/services research, biostatistics, epidemiology or computer engineering

Tools

SAS

R

Python

Job description

Position Specifics

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

Summary of Job

The Penn State College of Medicine, Division of Outcomes Research and Quality in the Department of Surgery, in Hershey, PA, is seeking a highly driven post‑doctoral scholar capable of executing independent research in a highly multidisciplinary team environment. Successful applicants will have expertise in health outcomes research and experience in large data analyses. Our program is a collaborative research effort that offers many opportunities for scientific interactions and advancement. This position is on campus, in person.

Duties

• Conducting health outcomes research
• Managing and analyzing data, implementing machine learning algorithms on data
• Conducting literature reviews
• Preparing presentations, manuscripts, and grant submissions
• Assisting with research protocols and data acquisitions
• Mentoring students and promoting collaborations

Specific Criteria

• Recent PhD (0 - 3 years) in a relevant health economics/services research, biostatistics, epidemiology or computer engineering discipline
• Strong software skills in at least one of the following: SAS (including macros and SQL), R, Python
• Experience managing large databases (preferably healthcare data)
• Strong time management and problem‑solving skills, rigorous training in statistical methods, and the ability to synthesize literature to generate novel hypotheses
• Excellent organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and good communication skills

Interested candidates should apply on‑line and provide a detailed CV with 2‑3 references.

Background Checks / Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.