Senior Research Scientist

Drexel University; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Drexel University's Urban Health Collaborative in Philadelphia seeks a full-time Research Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team examining eviction, health, and Medicaid utilization. The role focuses on statistical analysis, data management, programming, and scientific writing.

The ideal candidate has a PhD and at least two years of experience on large projects, with strong skills in R or Stata and causal inference methods.

Qualifications

• PhD or doctorate in public health, epidemiology, sociology, economics, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience on large, collaborative teams.
• Strong statistical coding and modeling/analysis, and scientific writing.

Responsibilities

• Statistical coding, analysis, & data preparation
• Scientific writing and communication
• Collaboration and support for other scientific team members
• Support grant progress reporting and maintaining human subjects protocol requirements

Skills

Statistical coding

Modeling/analysis

Scientific writing

Collaborative research

Education

PhD or Doctorate in Public Health, Epidemiology, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, or related field

Job description

Job Summary

The Urban Health Collaborative (UHC) at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health is seeking a full-time Research Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team studying the impact of eviction on health and healthcare utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries. The Research Scientist will work under the supervision of Gabriel L. Schwartz, PhD, and collaborate with a nationwide team of researchers with expertise in housing epidemiology, health policy, and Medicaid. The Research Scientist will play a key role in the scientific activities of the project. Primary responsibilities will include statistical analysis; data management, preparation, and programming; scientific writing; and communication and dissemination of research findings. Proficiency in R or Stata is strongly preferred. The primary grant supporting this position begins in fall 2026 and is expected to continue through summer 2031. Subject to continued funding and organizational needs, there may be opportunities to remain with the UHC and contribute to other research examining health in cities, particularly projects related to housing, neighborhoods, social policy, the criminal legal system, and extreme weather. Candidates with experience applying econometric and causal inference methods, including instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, or related approaches, and/or experience analyzing Medicaid claims or other large administrative healthcare datasets are especially encouraged to apply. Candidates should also demonstrate a strong interest in research at the intersection of housing and health. The preferred candidate will be able to work in person in Philadelphia at least three days per week. However, highly qualified candidates seeking a remote work arrangement are also encouraged to apply.

About the Urban Health Collaborative

The Urban Health Collaborative (UHC) is a multidisciplinary research center within Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health focused on improving health in cities. Since its launch in 2015, the UHC has developed a broad portfolio of research, training, and community‑engaged activities addressing urban health, health equity, and environmental sustainability in the United States and globally. The UHC brings together faculty, staff, students, community partners, public health practitioners, and research networks to generate evidence, build capacity, and translate research into action. Its work spans a range of urban health issues and emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, rigorous research, and meaningful partnerships with communities and practitioners.

This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.

Essential Functions

• Statistical coding, analysis, & data preparation
• Scientific writing and communication
• Collaboration and support for other scientific team members
• Support grant progress reporting and maintaining human subjects protocol requirements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in Public health, epidemiology, sociology, economics, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience
• Statistical coding and modeling/analysis, scientific writing, experience completing research projects on larger collaborative teams, and ability to pursue quantitative work independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using econometric causal inference methods (e.g., instrumental variables analyses, difference-in-differences), or training in that area; and/or experience analyzing healthcare claims data, especially from Medicaid

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade L. Compensation for this grade ranges from $69,070 to $103,600 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position will vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.