Biostatistician II

The USC Keck School of Medicine, Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI), located in San Diego, California, is an academic institute focused on advancing the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias through innovative clinical trials. The ATRI Biostatistics Section provides statistical leadership for clinical trials and studies managed by ATRI.

We are seeking a highly trained and motivated Biostatistician II with strong statistical, programming, and scientific communication skills who is interested in building a career in clinical trials biostatistics in an academic research environment. This position is suited to a biostatistician with prior clinical research experience who can contribute with a high degree of technical independence while working as part of an experienced and collaborative biostatistics team.

The Biostatistician II will join an established group of statisticians and work closely with senior biostatistics staff, biostatistics postdoctoral fellows, faculty biostatisticians, study investigators, and other research collaborators. Under the direction and statistical oversight of senior biostatistics staff and faculty biostatisticians, the Biostatistician II will serve as the lead statistical analyst and manage the day-to-day biostatistical activities for assigned clinical trials and studies. The individual will serve as the primary biostatistics contact for routine study activities, coordinate statistical deliverables, and provide guidance to junior biostatistics staff working on the study. Senior biostatistics staff and faculty biostatisticians will continue to provide oversight and guidance on study design, statistical strategy, complex methodological issues, and major scientific decisions.

The Biostatistician II will:

•       Manage the day-to-day biostatistical activities for assigned clinical trials and research studies under the direction of senior biostatistics staff and faculty biostatisticians.

•       Perform and oversee statistical programming and analyses for clinical trials and related research studies.

•       Apply appropriate statistical methods to longitudinal and other complex clinical trial and research data.

•       Conduct sample size, power, and related design calculations to support clinical trials and research studies.

•       Contribute to study design and the development of statistical approaches, including study objectives, endpoints, analysis strategies, and statistical analysis plans.

•       Prepare, manage, and evaluate analysis-ready datasets, statistical analyses, tables, figures, and other statistical outputs.

•       Coordinate statistical activities and deliverables across assigned studies, including timelines, analyses, quality control activities, and documentation.

•       Provide guidance and technical support to junior biostatistics staff working on assigned studies and review their statistical programming and analytical work as appropriate.

•       Lead or contribute to quality control and quality assurance of statistical analyses and programming.

•       Contribute substantively to statistical methods and results sections for study reports, abstracts, presentations, and scientific manuscripts.

•       Communicate statistical concepts, study design considerations, analytical approaches, and results clearly to investigators and multidisciplinary research collaborators.

•       Present statistical results in study team meetings and contribute to the interpretation of findings and scientific discussions.

•       Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of assigned clinical trials, including study design, protocol, endpoints, data structure, analysis objectives, and statistical responsibilities.

•       Identify statistical or study-specific issues, propose potential approaches, and engage senior biostatistics staff or faculty biostatisticians when additional methodological guidance or decisions are needed.

•       Manage multiple study responsibilities while maintaining high standards for accuracy, reproducibility, documentation, organization, and timely delivery.

Education and Experience

•     Master’s degree in biostatistics, statistics, or a closely related quantitative discipline.

•     3–5 years of relevant professional biostatistics or statistical research experience following the graduate degree.

•     Demonstrated experience applying statistical methods in clinical trials, clinical research, or other complex biomedical research.

 

Requirements

•     Strong training in statistical theory, study design, and statistical methods.

•     Excellent R programming skills and demonstrated ability to independently implement and validate complex statistical analyses.

•     Demonstrated experience conducting sample size and power calculations and applying statistical principles to clinical study design.

•     Experience analyzing longitudinal and other complex clinical or biomedical research data.

•     Experience developing or contributing substantively to statistical analysis plans and study-specific analysis specifications.

•     Ability to manage the day-to-day statistical activities and deliverables for assigned clinical trials or research studies within a senior-led biostatistical team structure.

•     Ability to provide technical direction and guidance to junior statistical staff and review statistical programming and analytical work.

•     Excellent scientific communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain study design, statistical methods, assumptions, limitations, and results to both statistical and nonstatistical collaborators.

•     Strong scientific writing skills and experience contributing statistical content to reports, presentations, abstracts, or manuscripts.

•     Strong attention to detail, organization, and commitment to high-quality, reproducible statistical work.

•     Ability to exercise sound judgment regarding when issues can be addressed independently and when input from senior biostatistics staff or faculty biostatisticians is appropriate.

•     Initiative, accountability, and ability to adapt to changing study priorities.

Strongly Preferred

•     Experience supporting clinical trials.

•     Experience with clinical trial design, analysis, and reporting.

•     Experience working collaboratively with investigators and multidisciplinary clinical research teams.

•     Experience contributing substantially to scientific manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, or reports.

•     Experience providing technical guidance or oversight to junior statistical programmers or biostatisticians.

•     Demonstrated interest in developing a long-term career in academic clinical trials biostatistics.

•     Experience in Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological clinical research is desirable but not required.

Work Location

This position requires regular on-site presence at ATRI in San Diego three days per week. Candidates should apply with the expectation that this is an ongoing requirement of the position.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $104,390.76–$132,636.23. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Career Development

This position is designed for an experienced early-career biostatistician who wants to develop deeper expertise in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials and assume progressively greater statistical responsibility. The Biostatistician II will work closely with senior biostatistics staff, biostatistics postdoctoral fellows, and faculty biostatisticians while developing greater expertise in clinical trial design, statistical methodology, analysis, scientific communication, and study-level statistical coordination.

Successful Biostatistician II staff are expected to demonstrate increasing independence in managing study biostatistics activities, developing and implementing statistical approaches, communicating with multidisciplinary study teams, contributing to scientific products, and guiding junior biostatistics staff.

USC Fair Chance Statement

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the https://policy.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Background-Screening-Policy-Appendix-D.pdf. for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

Minimum Education:
Master's degree Or
Master's degree Biostatistics Or
Master's degree Statistics Or
Master's degree in related field(s) Or

Additional Education Requirements
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:
3 years

Minimum Skills:
Experience in biostatistics, statistics, biometry or related field.
Experience in statistical programming using standard statistical packages (e.g., SAS, R, STATA).
Working knowledge of regulatory Data Standards (e.g., CDISC/ADaM).
Knowledge of clinical research regulatory requirements (e.g., Good Clinical Practice [ICH / GCP], FDA / CFR).
Ability to interact productively as part of a research team.
Ability to present ideas clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.


Preferred Education:
Master's degree

Preferred Experience:
5 years

Preferred Skills:
Prior experience as a biostatistician in a medical research environment.

                                                  

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

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