Research Scientist-Patient-Centered Outcomes Assessment

RTI International; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

RTI International seeks an early-career Associate Research Scientist to join the Patient-Centered Outcomes Assessment team. You will support study design, qualitative analyses, literature reviews, evidence generation, proposal development, and client communications while building expertise in patient-centered research and consulting.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s or PhD in a public health-related field, have strong analytic and communication skills, and thrive in multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in public health, epidemiology, health outcomes, psychology, sociology, biostatistics, health services research, or a related discipline.
• Internship or research/consulting experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Support project coordination: timelines, trackers, invoicing, and IRB activities.
• Develop slides, interview guides, and qualitative analysis plans with guidance from senior scientists.
• Perform qualitative coding and thematic analysis.
• Draft study protocols, reports, manuscripts, abstracts, and client deliverables.
• Conduct targeted literature reviews and synthesize findings into summaries and evidence tables.
• Ensure scientific quality and adherence to research methods and SOPs.
• Grow expertise in patient-centered outcomes research and consulting through increasing responsibility.
• Participate in initiatives to improve scientific methods and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Scientific writing

Project coordination

Team collaboration

MS Office proficiency

Education

Master's degree or PhD in public health or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

About the Hiring Group

We are seeking an early-career Associate Research Scientist to join our Patient-Centered Outcomes Assessment team. This role is ideal for someone with a strong foundation in health outcomes research, epidemiology, psychology, public health, or a related field who is eager to build expertise in patient-centered research and consulting.

Working alongside senior researchers and project managers on multidisciplinary teams, you will support study design and implementation, qualitative analyses, literature reviews, evidence generation, proposal development, and scientific communications. You will also gain exposure to client engagement, portfolio management, and consulting operations, with a structured development path toward independent scientific leadership.

What You'll Do

Essential Duties

• Support project coordination, including timelines, scheduling, project trackers, deliverable reviews, project files, financial tracking, vendor bids, purchase requisitions, invoicing, and IRB activities under PM/PL oversight.
• Develop kick-off meeting slides, interview guides, and qualitative analysis plans with guidance from senior scientists.
• Perform qualitative coding and thematic analysis using established methodologies.
• Draft sections of study protocols, reports, manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and client deliverables.
• Conduct targeted literature reviews and synthesize findings into clear scientific summaries and evidence tables.
• Ensure scientific quality and adherence to established research methods, SOPs, and quality standards.
• Build expertise in patient-centered outcomes research methodologies and consulting through progressively increasing responsibility and client engagement.
• Participate in internal initiatives that improve scientific methods, operational efficiency, and knowledge sharing.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate reliability, initiative, sound judgment, and responsiveness to feedback. You will take ownership of assigned work, communicate proactively, collaborate effectively with project and operational teams, and help keep work on track.

What You'll Need

• Master's degree or PhD in public health, epidemiology, health outcomes, psychology, sociology, biostatistics, health services research, or a related discipline.
• Related internship, graduate research assistantship, or consulting experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet project timelines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize scientific information and prepare clear correspondence and project deliverables.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Initiative, curiosity, and commitment to continuous learning.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and foundational knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

EEO & Pay Equity Statements

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is availablehere.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Equal Pay Act Minimum/Range

$60,000-$75,000.00