2026 PhD Graduate - Statistics and Data Science

About the role

We are seeking a new PhD graduate with expertise in statistics to support multi-disciplinary teams performing a variety of quantitative tasks for defense and national security applications. You will be joining a varied team of engineers, software developers, statisticians, data scientists, and analysts who are committed to advancing the state-of-the-art in performance evaluation of the nation’s strategic weapons systems throughout their lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams to support development of data collection, processing, and analysis efforts to assess the performance of a number of systems supporting the Navy and Air Force.
• Develop and evaluate statistical models for complex defense applications, including uncertainty quantification, inference, forecasting, and decision support.
• Apply statistical reasoning for data-driven studies, selecting appropriate methods (e.g., Bayesian or frequentist approaches) based on the problem.
• Quantify and communicate uncertainty, assumptions, and limitations to support sound decision-making in complex, real-world settings.
• Use internal funding opportunities to shape the direction of future research.
• Communicate technical knowledge by articulating ideas clearly through papers and presentations to technical staff, management, and government decision makers.

Qualifications

• Have a PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and on a team.
• Have strong foundations in statistical inference, probability, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Have experience using scientific programming tools such as Python, R, or similar languages for quantitative analysis.
• Have experience investigating and adapting modern statistical and computational methods to address emerging analysis challenges in sparse, noisy, or high-dimensional data settings.
• Demonstrate experience with statistical modeling, inference, or experimental design approaches such as Bayesian methods, regression, causal inference, or hypothesis testing.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in project management or leading technical teams.
• Experience in writing technical proposals, particularly to government research projects.
• Experience mentoring students, teaching, or communicating complex technical concepts in academic, research, or professional settings.
• Contributed to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or presentations in statistics, machine learning, applied mathematics, or related fields.
• Experience using probabilistic programming frameworks such as Stan, PyMC, or similar tools.
• Research or professional experience developing reproducible analytical workflows, computational research tools, or statistical methodologies for complex quantitative problems.

About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space, and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.