Research Faculty, Director of BECCA* (Biostatistics, Evaluation, Collaboration, Consultation, &...
University of Pennsylvania

Research Faculty, Director of BECCA* (Biostatistics, Evaluation, Collaboration, Consultation, & Analysis Lab)

Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Open Date:
Dec 1, 2023
Description:

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, one of 12 Schools in a highly ranked institution, is dedicated to the integration of interdisciplinary research, education, and practice.

The School of Nursing seeks candidates for an associated faculty position on the non-tenure research track. We are seeking a statistician to provide advanced statistical expertise and assume the role of Director of BECCA* (Biostatistics, Evaluation, Collaboration, Consultation, & Analysis Lab). The Director is responsible for recruiting, managing, coaching, developing and retaining BECCA staff. As such, the Director supervises and evaluates BECCA staff, prioritizes and monitors projects across staff to ensure deliverables in agreed timelines, tracks effort distribution for funded and school-supported statistical work, and ensures the efficient operation of BECCA. The Director is responsible for building and maintaining strategic working relationships within Penn Nursing, with other Penn researchers, and with the broader statistical community at Penn. The Director will develop, along with the Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, strategic priorities for management of current and anticipated projects. The Director ensures compliance with Penn's research financial management requirements and reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Nursing Research for all financial aspects of BECCA. The Director serves as a collaborative generalist in the role of lead statistician to support Penn Nursing faculty and student researchers and drive statistical thinking, data interpretation, and disciplined, rigorous exploratory data analysis. The Director develops and implements novel statistical approaches for nursing science including data and precision science and consults with other experts within Penn as needed. The Director demonstrates the ability to evaluate alternative statistical approaches, to make recommendations based on sound statistical reasoning, and to influence non-statisticians to understand and consider the recommended analytical approach. Furthermore, the Director identifies emerging tools or methods and oversees the continuing education of the BECCA staff. The Director may teach seminars and classes within his/her area of expertise.

*BECCA includes a team of statisticians, a data analyst and student interns. It provides consultation to faculty and students within Penn Nursing related to research and statistical matters including study design, data management, statistical analyses and interpretation of findings. BECCA provides expert input in grant application development, including methodological design, rigor and reproducibility, power analysis, data management plans, planned statistical analysis and rationale for analytic plan and writing these components of grant submissions and publications. BECCA provides leadership for the design and implementation of complex statistical techniques and data processing systems to manipulate and analyze research data in rigorous approaches and write-up results for presentations and publications. BECCA ensures data confidentiality and security of protected health information.

We invite individuals with a PhD to apply to the associated faculty (research track). We seek candidates who meet requirements for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The candidate should have experience as an independent lead statistician with responsibilities on multiple simultaneous projects. Excellent project management, communication and writing skills. Knowledge of major statistical software (e.g., SAS, STATA, MPlus, R, SQL), database management (e.g., REDcap, Access, nQuery, PASS), and Case Study Report development. Maintains knowledge of new research methodologies and techniques. Experience with machine learning, evolving techniques in data science and consultation a plus. Experience in working with senior researchers as well as with junior faculty and students and a strong customer service orientation is necessary. Applicants will have demonstrated evidence of research productivity such as funding as a collaborative statistician on extramural grants and a record of data-based publications. Administrative/supervisory experience is preferred.

Interested persons should submit a cover letter and their curriculum vitae.

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.  Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street,  Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).