Research Scientist- Aging and Disability Economics, Evaluation, and Public Health Surveillance

AlzForum Foundation Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a research scientist with expertise in aging and disability economics, evaluation, and public health surveillance. The role focuses on analytic work across Medicare claims and survey data to measure disease burden and inform policy.

The position offers a hybrid, full-time arrangement based out of Chicago Loop, Washington, DC, Atlanta, or Cambridge, MA, with opportunities to publish and build a substantial research portfolio within a well-funded

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in economics, health services research, public policy, epidemiology, or a closely related quantitative field. Recent postdoc or assistant professor equivalent experience preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in SAS, R, or Python for analysis of large administrative claims and survey datasets. SAS is preferred; strong R or Python candidates will be considered.
• Direct, hands-on experience with Medicare claims data or comparable large administrative health datasets.
• A track record of scientific writing and the ability to first-author publications under mentorship.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a strong instinct for when something is not quite right in the data or the analysis.
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Skills

SAS

R

Python

STATA

SPSS

Education

Ph.D. in economics, health services research, public policy, epidemiology, or closely related quantitative field

Tools

SAS

R

Python

STATA

SPSS

Job description

Research Scientist - Aging and Disability Economics, Evaluation, and Public Health Surveillance

Posted 03 Jul 2026

Employer

NORC at the University of Chicago

Location

This is a full-time, hybrid role based out of one of our office locations: Chicago Loop; Washington, DC; Atlanta; or Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Contact

More information about the position and a link to apply are available at: https://careers.norc.org/en-us/job/503857/research-scientist-aging-and-disability-economics-evaluation-and-public-health-surveillance .

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a research scientist with expertise in aging and disability economics, evaluation, and public health surveillance.

Position summary: NORC's Public Health Analytics Program conducts research and surveillance on age-related chronic disease and disability. The program's portfolio includes the Dementia DataHub (DementiaDataHub.org), the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS), SoundCheckMap, fall prevention research, and additional projects on aging-related conditions. The work is funded through NIH grants, federal contracts, and foundation support, and is conducted in partnership with academic institutions, federal agencies, and industry collaborators. The program uses Medicare claims, national surveys, and other secondary data to measure disease burden, identify disparities, and inform policy.

The research scientist is meant to play a central analytic role across this portfolio. The role suits an early-career Ph.D. scientist who wants to publish, build a research portfolio, and contribute to a long-running, well-funded program of work.

This is a full-time, hybrid role based out of one of our office locations:Chicago Loop; Washington, DC; Atlanta; or Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in economics, health services research, public policy, epidemiology, or a closely related quantitative field. Recent postdoc or assistant professor equivalent experience preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in SAS, R, or Python for analysis of large administrative claims and survey datasets. SAS is preferred; strong R or Python candidates will be considered. STATA and SPSS proficiency alone is not sufficient.
• Direct, hands-on experience with Medicare claims data or comparable large administrative health datasets.
• A track record of scientific writing and the ability to first-author publications under mentorship.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a strong instinct for when something is not quite right in the data or the analysis.
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.