Biostatistician - Friedman School of Nutrition

Overview

The Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University leads the nation in efforts to advance research, practice, and policy around Food is Medicine, including evidence generation, training of leaders, patient care, community engagement, and advocacy. Food Is Medicine is a set of food-based nutrition programs and interventions integrated into the health care system to advance specific health needs and health equity in different populations. The Institute acts as a catalyst to drive change, enhance health, reduce health disparities, and build a more equitable and resilient healthcare system that recognizes the power of nourishing food. More information can be found at: https://tuftsfoodismedicine.org.

What You'll Do

The Staff Biostatistician at the Food is Medicine Institute will support the design, analysis, and reporting of quantitative research across the Institute's research portfolio of clinical, community-based, simulation, and health services studies. This is a grant-funded, 2-year limited-term position, with renewal possible based on performance, funding availability, and Institute needs and priorities. This is an in-person position located in downtown Boston at the Tufts Health Sciences campus, with some flexibility for hybrid work days.

• Conduct statistical analyses using appropriate methods for clinical, survey, simulation, and administrative data
• Support database development and manage data cleaning, validation, and quality assurance for specific studies, in collaboration with research staff
• Interpret results and translate findings into clear, accessible tables, figures, and written summaries for both scientific and non-technical audiences
• Document and maintain reproducible analysis workflows, including well-annotated statistical code, version-controlled scripts, clear data dictionaries, and organized file structures that support transparency and replication
• Contribute to the design of clinical trials, observational studies, and program evaluations, including development of study protocols, analytic plans, and sample size calculations
• Assist with preparation of grant applications by contributing statistical sections and analytic justifications
• Support ongoing study tasks including IRB submissions, enrollment tracking, and interim analyses
• Additional responsibilities include collaborating on manuscripts and reports, assisting with data visualization, and ensuring analyses align with ethical, regulatory, and sponsor requirements. The Staff Biostatistician will also provide ongoing consultation to faculty and study teams on analytic approaches and data-related questions.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Master's Degree biostatistics, statistics, epidemiology, public health, or a related quantitative field
• 2+ years of experience conducting statistical analyses in a research or applied health setting (academic, nonprofit, government, or industry)
• Strong quantitative training, experience applying statistical methods in health or clinical research settings, and an interest in advancing rigorous, equity-centered research related to food, nutrition, and health that has real-world impact and makes a difference in people's lives
• Collaborative, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across multiple projects simultaneously, with excellent skills in written and spoken communication
• Proficiency in at least one statistical software (e.g., R, SAS, Stata), and/or other programming language (e.g. Python, SQL), with a demonstrated interest in expanding analytic and technical skill sets
• Familiarity with using artificial intelligence in support of statistical tasks
• Familiarity with reproducible research practices (e.g., well-documented code, version control, analytic workflows)
• Solid understanding of study design principles, including experimental and observational designs, sampling strategies, and sources of bias and confounding
• Experience analyzing clinical, survey, or observational data; additional experience with simulation modeling or cost-effectiveness analysis is a plus
• Working knowledge of clinical research principles, human subjects protection, and IRB requirements
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and quantitative reasoning skills
• Demonstrated ability to learn new methods, tools, and subject matter efficiently in a fast-paced research environment
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders, including junior and senior faculty, trainees, research staff, and external partners
• Comfort taking direction, feedback, and prioritization guidance from staff and faculty at multiple levels of seniority
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to balance multiple projects and shifting priorities
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain statistical concepts to non-technical audiences

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for professional growth, skill-building, and mentorship in applied biostatistics or health research
• Prior experience working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment
• Interest in applied, policy-relevant, or equity-centered research
• Experience contributing to manuscripts, reports, presentations, or grant applications under the guidance of senior researchers
• Experience working with large or complex datasets (e.g., electronic health records, claims, or administrative data)
• Willingness to take initiative while also seeking guidance and clarification as needed

Pay Range

Minimum $72,500.00, Midpoint $90,700.00, Maximum $108,900.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.