Associate Data Scientist

About the role

The Department of Health Services Research conducts high-quality health services research aimed at optimizing cancer care delivery and improving patient outcomes. MD Anderson Cancer Center, a leading institution in cancer care, research, education, and prevention, seeks a Health Services Research Associate Data Scientist to develop and maintain mathematical and simulation models, implement optimization algorithms, perform statistical analysis, and prepare reports related to cancer disease progression and medical decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Develop mathematical and optimization models to support cancer-related research.
• Implement optimization algorithms to solve analytical models to optimality.
• Validate analytical models using data from national and regional cancer registries and clinical trials.
• Maintain and update models to reflect evolving clinical practices.
• Learn and apply new optimization and approximation methods for efficient model solving.
• Build microsimulation or Monte Carlo simulation models of disease progression and cancer care processes.
• Validate simulation models using observational registry data and clinical trial data.
• Maintain and update simulation models as clinical standards evolve.
• Perform basic and advanced statistical analyses under guidance from statistical analysts.
• Aid faculty in the development of statistical methods for risk assessment and prediction.
• Manage datasets from national and regional cancer registries, clinical trials, medical billing systems, national surveys, and large claims databases including IBM MarketScan, Optum Clinformatics, and Medicare.
• Cook up and maintain multiple concurrent projects efficiently.
• Conduct literature reviews and learn relevant medical terminology.
• Support selection of study design, cohort definition, data analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Present at monthly lab meetings and assist in training trainees to use models and code.
• Prepare tables, figures, text summaries, memos, and components of scientific manuscripts.
• Develop computer code for data analyses, mathematical models, and simulation models using Julia, R, and Python.
• Create and maintain online code repositories using GitHub.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Computational Biology, or related field.
• Two years of scientific software or industry development/analysis experience.

Qualifications

• Experience with Markov decision processing or Monte Carlo simulation/modeling is preferred.

Skills

• Proficiency in Julia, R, and Python programming languages.
• Strong background in statistics and data analysis.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.

Benefits

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition assistance, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition. This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening.