Department

BSD SUR - Research Services

About the Department

Operating since 1927 on a strong foundation of multidisciplinary clinical and academic excellence, the University of Chicago Department of Surgery's mission is to meet the most challenging and complex health problems on both a local and global scale. Many of our faculty members are known for their contributions to the advancement of groundbreaking surgical procedures and techniques, including minimally invasive surgery. In addition to our department's clinical work, our scientists pursue a diverse range of basic, translational, and clinical research projects, including studies on the gut microbiome, tissue bioengineering, stem cell research, cancer, and immunotolerance. This ongoing work and achievement would not be possible without the cohesive effort and commitment of the faculty and staff. We are looking for high energy, collaborative individuals who share our commitment to improving the health of patients in the community and beyond.

Job Summary

The Department of Surgery seeks a collaborative Senior Biostatistician to join its research enterprise. The Biostatistician will provide statistical design, analysis, and interpretation support for surgical clinical trials, outcomes research, quality improvement studies, and translational and health services research. The Biostatistician will develop objectives, designing sampling, randomization, and data collection procedures. Develops and implements new innovative procedures in the areas of data collection, quality control, statistical analyses, and presentation of results. The role partners closely with surgeons, physician scientists and data scientists to advance rigorous, publishable, and externally funded research, and contributes to a culture of methodological excellence within the department.

Responsibilities

Study Design and Grant Support:

 

• Consult with investigators on study design, hypothesis development, endpoint selection, and sample size and power calculations.
• Write statistical sections of grant proposals (NIH, PCORI, AHRQ, DoD, foundation, and industry), including analysis plans and power justifications.
• Contribute to protocol development, statistical analysis plans (SAPs), and IRB submissions.
• Provide input on randomization schemes, adaptive designs, and pragmatic and stepped-wedge trial designs.

 

Data Management and Analysis:

• Perform statistical analyses for prospective and retrospective studies using appropriate methods, including regression modeling, survival analysis, mixed-effects and longitudinal models, propensity score methods, and causal inference approaches.
• Analyze data from clinical registries and large databases (e.g., NSQIP, NCDB, SEER, institutional EHR data, and administrative claims).
• Work with data engineers and research informatics teams to extract, clean, validate, and curate datasets from the electronic health record and REDCap.
• Maintain reproducible, well-documented code and analysis workflows with version control.

 

Clinical Trial and Regulatory Support:

• Serve as the study statistician for investigator-initiated trials, including preparing interim and final analyses.
• Ensure analyses comply with applicable regulatory and institutional standards (ICH-GCP, FDA guidance, HIPAA).

 

Scholarship and Dissemination:

• Draft the methods and results sections of manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations, and respond to statistical reviewer comments.
• Create clear tables, figures, and visualizations for publication and presentation.
• Co-author peer-reviewed publications and qualify for authorship in accordance with ICMJE criteria.

 

Education and Collaboration:

• Lead or contribute to departmental research workshops, journal clubs, and methods seminars.
• Collaborate with the institution's biostatistics, epidemiology, and data science cores.

 

Other Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with researchers in designing, conducting, and publishing results from research projects and assumes primary responsibility for writing statistical design, methods, and analysis for research proposals.
• Designs tables and statistical procedures for specific research studies. Takes primary responsibility for writing the statistical design and documenting statistical considerations in grant proposals for faculty throughout the unit.
• May serve on committees, supervise project personnel, and coordinate quality control efforts to support the efforts and ensure success of research projects. Writes the results section of reports and publications.
• Develops and new innovative procedures in the areas of data collection, quality control, statistical analyses, and presentation of results. Reviews and improves statistical computer programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

 

Education:

• Master's degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, Epidemiology, or a closely related quantitative field.

 

Experience:

• Demonstrated proficiency in R and/or SAS; working knowledge of Stata or Python is a plus.
• Strong foundation in regression, survival analysis, and longitudinal data analysis.
• Experience with reproducible research practices (e.g., R Markdown, Git).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain statistical concepts to clinicians and non-statisticians.

 

​Preferred Competencies

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with flexibility.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse stakeholder needs.
• Ethical conduct of research and commitment to data integrity
• Self-direction, curiosity, and commitment to continued learning.

 

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

 

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required) 

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$100,000.00 - $140,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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