Statistician / Data Scientist Mental Health Research

Job Title: Statistician / Data Scientist Mental Health Research
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Statistician / Data Scientist to support ongoing and future Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health research studies and federally funded grants. The selected candidate will provide advanced statistical analysis, data management, and methodological expertise to support clinical research focused on veteran mental health outcomes, treatment effectiveness, and program evaluation.
This role requires familiarity with VA systems, VA data environments, and federal research compliance requirements.
Location: San Francisco, CA

Key Responsibilities
Statistical Analysis & Research Support

Design and implement advanced statistical analysis plans for VA-funded mental health research studies.

Perform descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using appropriate methodologies (e.g., regression modeling, multilevel modeling, survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis).

Support power analysis, sample size calculations, and research design development.

Conduct data cleaning, validation, and quality assurance processes.

Interpret findings and translate statistical results into actionable research insights.

Data Management & Systems

Work with VA data systems (e.g., VINCI, CDW, Corporate Data Warehouse, CPRS extracts, or similar VA datasets).

Manage large administrative and clinical datasets, ensuring HIPAA and VA data security compliance.

Develop reproducible workflows and maintain clear data documentation.

Support database development and management as needed.

Grant & Publication Support

Contribute statistical methodology sections for federal grant applications (e.g., VA HSR&D, NIH, DoD).

Provide statistical language and justification for research proposals.

Collaborate on manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.

Support reporting requirements for funded grants.

Collaboration & Communication

Work closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), clinicians, and interdisciplinary research teams.

Present statistical findings to clinical and non-technical audiences.

Provide guidance on study design and analytic strategy during project planning phases.

Required Qualifications

Master's or PhD in Statistics, Biostatistics, Data Science, Epidemiology, or related quantitative field.

Demonstrated experience supporting VA or federal health research projects.

Familiarity with VA data systems and secure research environments.

Proficiency in statistical software such as:

R

SAS

STATA

Python

Experience with mental health research methodologies.

Knowledge of federal research compliance standards (HIPAA, IRB, VA research policies).

Experience performing advanced statistical modeling and longitudinal analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting VA HSR&D, CSR&D, or QUERI grants.

Familiarity with mental health outcome measures (e.g., PTSD, depression, suicide prevention metrics).

Experience working within VINCI or CDW environments.

Demonstrated grant-writing support experience.

Experience collaborating with clinical investigators in behavioral health research.

Key Competencies

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

Ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Detail-oriented with strong data governance practices

Ability to work independently within secure federal environments

Clearance & Compliance

Ability to obtain or maintain VA research credentials.

Familiarity with federal contracting environments preferred.

U.S. Citizenship required.