Senior Research Scientist

Job Summary:

The Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics has an opening for a full-time Senior Research Scientist. The Sr. Research Scientist will lead and support advanced data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence research in clinical and population health domains. The position emphasizes development of end-to-end analytical pipelines, AI-enabled research tools, and scalable data platforms to support multi-site studies, clinical research programs, and translational science initiatives.

The incumbent will collaborate closely with faculty investigators, clinicians, epidemiologists, and informatics teams to design, implement, and evaluate advanced computational methods, including machine learning, natural language processing, and large language model (LLM)-based systems. The role includes independent scientific contribution, methodological leadership, and mentorship of research staff and trainees.

Key Responsibilities:

* Research & Methodological Leadership

o Lead the design and implementation of advanced research analytics using machine learning, AI, and statistical modeling for clinical, epidemiologic, and multi-omic studies.

o Develop and optimize end-to-end data pipelines (ETL/ELT) for multi-source clinical, survey, and high-dimensional biomedical data.

o Apply modern ML/AI approaches including supervised learning, deep learning, NLP, and LLM-based systems (e.g., RAG, agentic workflows) to research questions.

o Conduct model evaluation, interpretability analyses (e.g., bias assessment, explainability), and validation to ensure scientific rigor and responsible AI use.

o Contribute substantively to study design, analysis plans, and dissemination of research findings (manuscripts, abstracts, technical reports, and grant materials).

* Software & Platform Development

o Architect and maintain scalable research software systems, including AI-enabled research assistants, data exploration tools, and reproducible analysis environments.

o Develop interactive data visualization and analytics applications (e.g., R Shiny or equivalent) to support investigators and stakeholders.

o Leverage high-performance and distributed computing environments to optimize computational efficiency for large-scale analyses.

o Implement software engineering best practices including version control, containerization, CI/CD pipelines, and documentation.

* Collaboration & Mentorship

o Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of faculty, clinicians, data scientists, and research staff across departments and institutions.

o Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior analysts, trainees, and research assistants.

o Serve as a technical and methodological resource for grant-funded research projects and institutional initiatives.

* Compliance & Research Integrity

o Ensure data security, privacy, and regulatory compliance (e.g., IRB, HIPAA as applicable).

o Follow university, sponsor, and departmental policies for responsible conduct of research.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

The Colorado School of Public Health is a collaborative endeavor involving the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), Colorado State University (CSU), and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). The Colorado School of Public Health is the first and only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top-tier faculty and students from across the country and providing vital contributions towards ensuring our region's health and well-being. Collaboratively formed in 2008 by CU Anschutz, CSU, and UNC, the Colorado School of Public Health provides education programs, including a Master's concentration in global health, innovative research that places the School in the top 20 in NIH funding among Schools of Public Health, and community service that addresses public health issues including chronic disease, healthcare access, climate, and environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, population mental health, ONE HEALTH and injuries for the Rocky Mountain region, nationally and globally.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 11/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

* Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Informatics, or a related quantitative field,

* Demonstrated experience applying machine learning, AI, or advanced analytics in applied research settings.

* Programming experience in Python and/or R; working knowledge of SQL.

* Experience developing reproducible data pipelines and analytical workflows.

* Evidence of scientific productivity and meaningful contributions to research projects.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Experience in clinical, biomedical, or population health research environments.

* Demonstrated expertise with modern ML/AI frameworks (e.g., PyTorch), NLP, and/or large language models.

* Experience building AI-enabled research tools such as RAG systems, agent-based workflows, or clinical decision-support applications.

* Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP), data warehousing solutions, and high-performance computing.

* Experience developing interactive analytics applications (e.g., R Shiny).

* Prior mentorship of analysts or trainees.

* Record of peer-reviewed publications, research software contributions, or publicly released datasets.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: David Conti, david.conti@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until May 12^th, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

$104,000 to $108,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.