Description

Causal Inference Data Scientist

VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, MA 02130

The VA Boston Healthcare System is a leading healthcare system in New England, serving as a premier referral center and a major recipient of research funding. The informatics Group is dedicated to leveraging data science and clinical data to conduct high-impact research aimed at expanding our understanding of human health and improving healthcare outcomes.

We are seeking a Data Scientist with expertise in causal inference to help design and lead rigorous research that informs real-world healthcare decisions. In this role, you will conceptualize research questions, design robust analytical strategies, and develop innovative approaches to determine how healthcare interventions truly affect patient outcomes. You will apply advanced causal inference methodologies to transform complex clinical data into actionable evidence that can guide clinical practice, policy decisions, and improvements in healthcare delivery for patients.

Working with one of the largest integrated medical records databases in the United States—containing comprehensive clinical information on more than 22 million patients—you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, statisticians, engineers, and data scientists to investigate pressing healthcare questions. You will design and implement studies using modern causal inference frameworks such as trial emulation, propensity score methods, instrumental variables, and difference-in-differences analyses, carefully aligning research designs with the conceptual foundations of causal reasoning, including association, intervention, and counterfactual thinking.

This role offers the opportunity to design impactful studies, develop rigorous analytical pipelines, and translate complex findings into insights that influence healthcare policy, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. Your work will contribute directly to evidence-based improvements in care for patients while advancing the scientific application of causal inference in large-scale healthcare data.

PRIMARY DUTIES:  

• Plan, design and execute rigorous statistical analyses to evaluate healthcare interventions, outcomes, and other clinical data using causal inference methodologies (e.g. trial emulations, propensity score matching, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences).
• Carefully design analyses that align with the three levels of causal inference understanding: association, intervention and counterfactuals.
• Organize, clean, and process large-scale clinical data. Ensure data quality and integrity throughout the project lifecycle.
• Work on priorities for multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely completion of project milestones.
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including data scientists, statisticians, engineers, and clinicians, to develop and execute research projects.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations of findings for various stakeholders, including research partners, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
• Participate in drafting and writing scientific manuscripts as applicable for project advancement.
• Provide support to team members on causal inference techniques and statistical methods.
• Stay up-to-date with advancements in causal inference methodologies and implement best practices to enhance the quality and efficacy of research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• MUST be a US Citizen and MUST clear a US government background check
• Resumes must clearly identify employment dates, whether each position was full-time or part-time, and the number of hours worked per week for all positions listed in the work experience section.
• Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.

– OR –

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

NOTE: Reference OPM website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/data-science-series-1560/

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated expertise in causal inference methods.
• Proficiency in R and other statistical programming languages (i.e. Python).
• Experience with SQL/relational databases.
• Experience with Git/Github.
• Previous experience with healthcare data and electronic medical records is highly preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to convey complex statistical concepts to non-statistical audiences effectively.
• Experience in reading and writing scientific manuscripts.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple collaborative research projects.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve complex problems independently.
• Passion for advancing healthcare research through innovative use of data.

NOTE: This posting is for candidate identification only.  Resumes will be reviewed, and a shortlist may be interviewed.  Any final recommendations for hire will be submitted to Human Resources for qualification review.

POINT OF CONTACT FOR POSITION:

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume/CV, and transcripts, indicating “Causal Inference Data Scientist” to Karlynn.Dulberger@va.gov

VA Boston Healthcare System does not discriminate in employment and follows federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.