Senior Research Scientist

Humana; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Humana is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to apply statistical, epidemiologic, and causal inference methods to large healthcare datasets for evaluating clinical program performance and informing strategic decisions.

The role will design rigorous outcomes studies, diagnose program performance, and translate analytical findings into actionable recommendations for clinical, operational, and business partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Epidemiology or related quantitative field.
• 3+ years applying quantitative methods to large healthcare datasets.
• Strong foundation in causal inference and observational study design.
• 3+ years Python, PySpark, R, SAS or equivalent tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with rigor and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute outcomes studies evaluating clinical, utilization, and financial performance.
• Apply causal inference and epidemiologic methods to estimate program impact.
• Conduct deep-dive analyses using medical and claims data to identify performance drivers.
• Translate questions into well-defined analytical designs and hypotheses.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate insights into clinical strategy and performance improvement.
• Develop analytical reports, presentations, and executive readouts.
• Communicate complex methods and limitations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Determine appropriate analytical approaches in complex situations.
• Manage multiple analytical priorities with rigor and reproducibility.
• Align analytical work with department and enterprise strategies.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Independent work

Cross-functional collaboration

Healthcare domain interest

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Economics, Statistics, Health Services Research, Clinical Informatics, or related quantitative discipline

Tools

Python

PySpark

R

SAS

Job description

Become a part of our caring community

The Senior Research Scientist applies statistical, epidemiologic, and causal inference methods to large, complex healthcare datasets to evaluate clinical program performance, identify drivers of outcomes, and inform strategic and operational decisions.

This role will be part of the Quality & Cost Strategy Analytics team supporting the performance management and evaluation of clinical programs. The Senior Research Scientist will design and execute rigorous outcomes studies, conduct deep-dive analyses to diagnose program performance, and translate complex analytical findings into clear recommendations for clinical, operational, and business partners.

The role requires strong analytical judgment, structured problem solving, and the ability to independently navigate complex and ambiguous business questions.

Humana's Quality & Cost Strategy Analytics team is seeking a Senior Research Scientist (Remote) to support the evaluation and performance management of clinical programs.

At Humana, we are focused on transforming the healthcare experience by improving health outcomes, managing healthcare costs, and advancing operational excellence. The Quality & Cost Strategy Analytics team operates at the intersection of clinical strategy, analytics, and enterprise value , using rigorous research and advanced analytics to inform clinical priorities and improve outcomes for our members.

Our team partners across the organization to identify opportunities, evaluate and optimize clinical solutions, and generate actionable insights that support high-value care. We apply rigorous performance measurement and research methods to understand what is working, for whom, and why , and translate those insights into opportunities for continuous program improvement.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute rigorous outcomes studies to evaluate the clinical, utilization, and financial performance of clinical programs using observational and experimental methods.


• Apply causal inference, epidemiologic, and statistical methods to estimate program impact and generate credible evidence for decision-making.


• Conduct deep-dive analyses using medical and pharmacy claims, enrollment, and operational data to identify key performance drivers, diagnose performance gaps, and uncover opportunities for improvement.


• Translate broad or ambiguous clinical and business questions into well-defined analytical questions, hypotheses, and study designs.


• Partner with clinical, operational, financial, and business stakeholders to translate analytical insights into recommendations that inform clinical strategy, program design, contracting, and performance improvement.


• Develop high-quality analytical reports, presentations, and executive-level readouts for internal and external stakeholders.


• Translate complex methodologies and findings into clear, actionable business insights, communicating both implications and analytical limitations to technical and non-technical audiences.


• Independently determine appropriate analytical approaches and make sound methodological decisions in complex or ambiguous situations.


• Manage multiple analytical priorities while maintaining high standards for methodological rigor, accuracy, and reproducibility.


• Understand broader department, segment, and enterprise strategies and connect analytical work to key operating and strategic objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Economics, Statistics, Health Services Research, Clinical Informatics, or a related quantitative discipline.


• 3+ years of experience applying statistical, epidemiologic, econometric, or related quantitative methods to large, complex datasets.


• Strong foundation in causal inference and study design, including observational studies, comparative effectiveness research, and randomized controlled trials.


• 3+ years of experience manipulating and analyzing large datasets using Python, PySpark, R, SAS, or comparable analytical tools.


• Strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business or clinical problems into rigorous analytical approaches.


• Ability to select and apply appropriate analytical methodologies to moderately complex to complex research and business questions.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex methodologies and results into clear business insights and recommendations for non-technical audiences.


• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.


• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal guidance while collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams.


• Strong interest in healthcare and a passion for improving health outcomes and healthcare value.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in health insurance, managed care