Research Scientist,Senior

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The REGAL (Research to Eliminate Global Cancer Disparities) team at Duke University seeks a Senior Research Scientist to serve as a key scientific contributor within a high-impact, data-intensive research program focused on cancer health equity. This role is designed for an experienced and analytically rigorous investigator who combines strong methodological expertise with the ability to execute and drive complex research projects forward. The Senior Research Scientist will work closely with Dr. Tomi Akinyemiju (PI) and collaborating faculty to advance the program’s scientific agenda. While overall scientific direction is led by the PI and faculty, this role carries significant responsibility for translating that vision into high-quality, efficient, and methodologically rigorous research outputs. The position requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution, including advanced data management, statistical analysis, and leadership of manuscripts and grant development. REGAL is a multidisciplinary research program focused on understanding and eliminating cancer disparities through integrated, multi-level approaches spanning biological, clinical, and structural determinants of health. The program leverages large-scale cohort studies, registry data, and multi-omics platforms to generate rigorous, actionable evidence across the cancer continuum. The team includes faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, analysts, and trainees working collaboratively in a highly analytical and mission-driven environment. Duke University provides a highly collaborative and resource-rich environment for interdisciplinary and computational research. The Department of Population Health Sciences and Duke Cancer Institute offer access to extensive data resources, advanced analytic infrastructure, and strong collaborative networks across epidemiology, biostatistics, genomics, and clinical disciplines.

Requirements

• PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related quantitative field with substantial postdoctoral or equivalent experience
• Advanced expertise in statistical modeling, data management, and computational analysis
• Strong experience in cancer epidemiology, genomics, and/or social determinants of health
• Strong track record of leading manuscripts and contributing to grant development
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively to move projects forward
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to rigorous, reproducible science

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with large-scale or high-dimensional datasets
• Familiarity with causal inference methods and/or machine learning approaches
• Strong proficiency in R, SAS, STATA, Python, or similar tools
• Experience mentoring trainees or junior analysts

Responsibilities

• Contribute substantively to advancing rigorous and impactful science within the REGAL program by helping to define research questions, develop analytic strategies, and ensure that projects are aligned with overarching program priorities.
• Take ownership of key scientific areas and move them forward efficiently, while working in close coordination with the PI and faculty.
• Synthesize emerging evidence, identify opportunities for new grants and analyses or extensions of existing work, and contribute to the intellectual development of projects within the program’s strategic framework.
• Lead and execute complex data management and analytical workflows across multiple projects, ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and methodological rigor.
• Develop and implement data pipelines, oversee data cleaning and harmonization, and conduct advanced statistical and computational analyses using large-scale and high-dimensional datasets.
• Lead the development of manuscripts, abstracts, and grant proposals.
• Independently draft and revise manuscripts, contribute to grant applications, and ensure that analyses are translated into clear, rigorous, and high-impact scientific products.
• Manage multiple writing and analytic timelines simultaneously and move projects from data to dissemination efficiently.
• Lead the day-to-day scientific execution of projects, coordinating across team members to ensure timely and high-quality completion of deliverables.
• Develop analytic plans, track progress, troubleshoot challenges, and maintain alignment between scientific objectives and project timelines.
• Provide mentorship and oversight to postdoctoral fellows, research analysts, and trainees, supporting their development in data analysis, study design, and scientific writing.
• Review analytic code and outputs, provide structured feedback, and foster a culture of rigor, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Work closely with faculty and external collaborators to support interdisciplinary research efforts and collaborative projects.
• Contribute knowledgeably and respectfully to team discussions, support cross-institutional initiatives, and represent the program in scientific exchanges as appropriate.

Benefits

• Access to extensive data resources
• Advanced analytic infrastructure
• Strong collaborative networks across epidemiology, biostatistics, genomics, and clinical disciplines

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree