Assistant Research Professor of Pediatrics

Position Summary

Dr. Matthew Aalsma, Vice Chair of Health Services Research and Director of the Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program in the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), is currently seeking applications from highly motivated, team-oriented candidates for a research scientist with expertise in statistics. The research scientist will be embedded within a research lab focused on improving behavioral health outcomes among vulnerable individuals including children, youth, and individuals involved in criminal justice systems. The research scientist will serve as a key liaison between investigators and senior statisticians, supporting investigator-initiated research across the project lifecycle.

The research scientist will help translate complex, discipline-specific research questions into clearly defined analytic problems, ensuring that study aims, hypotheses, and data structures are appropriately aligned with proposed statistical methods. They will work closely with investigators and senior statisticians to facilitate effective communication around analytic strategy, data quality, and methodological strengths and limitations. Responsibilities include reviewing analysis datasets for adherence to analytic assumptions and troubleshooting data-related issues that could impact interpretation of findings. The role also involves meticulously documenting investigator decisions and changes to the analytic plan over time, promoting rigor, efficiency, and reproducibility in research outcomes. The research scientist will also work closely with senior statisticians to draft methods and results sections of scholarly manuscripts.

Responsibilities

• Support investigator-initiated research across the project lifecycle
• Translate complex, discipline-specific research questions into clearly defined analytic problems
• Ensure study aims, hypotheses, and data structures are appropriately aligned with proposed statistical methods
• Facilitate effective communication around analytic strategy, data quality, and methodological strengths and limitations
• Review analysis datasets for adherence to analytic assumptions
• Identify and troubleshoot data-related issues that could impact interpretation of findings
• Meticulously document investigator decisions and changes to the analytic plan over time
• Draft methods and results sections of scholarly manuscripts

Qualifications

• PhD in any field is accepted

Contact Information

Department Contact for Questions: Matthew Aalsma, PhD Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics Director, Adolescent Behavioral Health Research Program HITS Building | Suite 2000 410 West 10th Street Indianapolis, IN 46202

Additional Information

Indiana University is a multi-campus public research institution, and a world leader in professional, medical, and technological education with an annual operating budget of $2.1 billion. IUSM is the largest medical school in the United States with a student body that includes over 43% women and 36% ethnic minorities. IUSM scientists and physicians were awarded over $217 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2021, setting a school record for research funding for the sixth straight year. Additionally, IUSM provides an interdisciplinary and interactive scientific environment with many multidisciplinary centers and state-of-the-art core facilities. Indianapolis is a diverse, centrally-located city that lies within 3 driving hours of other major population centers such as Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville. It is 14th largest city in the United States and is growing and thriving economically thanks to a strong corporate base anchored by the life sciences. Indiana is home to one of the largest concentrations of health sciences companies in the nation, which contribute over $44 billion annually to the local economy. Our dynamic downtown is a bustling commercial center, entertainment destination and residential neighborhood. The growing residential base is supported by rich amenities and quality of life – the city possesses a variety of professional sports, arts venues and outdoor recreation areas. For additional information on life in Indy, visit http://medicine.iupui.edu/AboutIndy/.

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Priority Application Review Deadline

N/A

Expected Start Date

N/A

Posting Number

IUSM-02423-2026

Supplemental Questions

How did you hear about this position? Are you a dual career partner (your partner or spouse is already being recruited)?