Research Analyst, Project Unleaded

This position is fixed-term for two years with the possibility of extension based on funding availability and programmatic need. It is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is structured to drive global impact through academic departments, institutes, and the Sustainability Accelerator, which develops policy and technology solutions with worldwide partners. The school is dedicated to fostering a diverse community to create solutions benefiting all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, advances global sustainability through interdisciplinary research, convening programs, and leadership initiatives. It supports faculty, researchers, and students in investigating and advancing solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges.

The Center for Human and Planetary Health, launched in October 2024 and hosted at the Woods Institute, focuses on research, solutions, and education to improve health and sustainability. Its lead contamination research initiative, Project Unleaded, prioritizes policy-relevant research and engagement with local partners in affected countries to address lead poisoning at the source. Project Unleaded’s mission is to create a healthier world by:

• Identifying critical lead exposure sources linked with the human lead burden
• Developing, testing, and scaling interventions to eliminate sources of lead
• Advancing lead detection techniques

About the Role

Project Unleaded is seeking a Research Analyst to lead quantitative research projects focused on identifying and mitigating lead contamination in spices and other environmental sources. The Research Analyst will work with complex, multi-source datasets and apply advanced statistical methods, including complex survey designs, advanced regression techniques, spatial analysis, and probabilistic modeling. The role involves managing datasets, designing data collection tools (e.g., REDCap, SurveyCTO, Qualtrics), supporting real-time data quality control, and translating analyses into actionable insights for policy, intervention design, and scientific publications. This position may require some international travel and flexible working hours to accommodate partner time zones.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate research protocols and scientific activities with international partners in low-income country settings
• Manage study administration, including data use agreements and institutional review board protocols
• Conduct data cleaning, processing, and statistical analyses using epidemiologic and environmental datasets, primarily in R
• Design, document, and execute reproducible data-analysis pipelines applying relevant statistical methods
• Draft tables, figures, and written summaries of findings for scientific manuscripts, NGO, and government stakeholders
• Create and maintain databases/dashboards for quality control tracking during data collection
• Ensure data quality and analyze calibration data of quantitative measurements in real-time
• Synthesize information and conduct literature reviews to support manuscript preparation and scientific presentations
• Train research assistants and create documentation in a lab manual for current and future trainees

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of education and relevant experience in a quantitative discipline such as economics, finance, statistics, or engineering
• Experience with MS Office and analytical programs
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Ability to prioritize workload

Preferred Qualifications

• Statistical Theory: Strong understanding of complex survey designs, data collection tools (RedCap, SurveyCTO, Qualtrics), advanced regression techniques, and spatial analysis
• Programming Languages: Advanced proficiency in R (preferred) or other statistical programming languages (e.g., Python, Stata, SAS)
• Organizational Skills: Experience with automation, data engineering, data cleaning, scripting, and scalable technical solutions
• Domain Experience: Familiarity with environmental health, epidemiology, or global health datasets (e.g., Demographic Health Surveys, Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys)
• Clustered Data Analysis: Experience analyzing complex survey designs or multi-level and cluster-correlated datasets
• Probabilistic Modeling: Experience with simulation, modeling, and sensitivity analyses
• Geospatial Integration: Experience with GIS tools and spatial analysis
• AI & HPC Integration: Experience leveraging LLMs and computer clusters into data analysis pipelines

Core Duties

• Collect, manage, and clean datasets
• Interpret, analyze, and visualize multivariate relationships in data
• Create databases, reports, algorithms, and statistical models
• Perform statistical analyses appropriate to data and reporting requirements
• Identify data issues, suggest solutions, and develop corrective actions
• Develop reports, charts, graphs, and tables for publication and presentation
• Analyze data processes and provide documentation
• Collaborate with faculty and research staff on data collection and analysis methods
• Communicate with government officials, grant agencies, and industry representatives

Pay

The expected pay range for this position is $85,000 to $104,477 per annum.