Research Scientist - Aging and Disability Economics, Evaluation, and Public Health Surveillance

Research Scientist - Aging and Disability Economics, Evaluation, and Public Health Surveillance

Job no: 503856 •
Work type: Regular Full‑Time •
Location: Chicago - 300 E Randolph St •
Capability Area: Public Health

NORC's Public Health Analytics Program conducts research and surveillance on age‑related chronic disease and disability. This role will engage in analytic work across the program’s portfolio, including projects such as the Dementia Data Hub, Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS), Sound Check Map  and fall prevention research. Work is funded through NIH grants, federal contracts, foundation support, and partnership with academic institutions, federal agencies, and industry collaborators.

This hybrid role is based in one of the following locations:
Chicago Loop, Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA or Cambridge, MA. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.

• Lead analyses of Medicare and Medicaid Fee‑for‑Service claims using the CMS Virtual Research Data Center.
• Develop, validate, and refine claims‑based case definitions and ascertainment models for dementia, vision impairment, hearing loss, falls, and related conditions.
• Conduct analyses using nationally representative longitudinal cohort studies and linkages to Medicare claims.
• Produce first‑author peer‑reviewed publications under PI mentorship and co‑author across the team’s portfolio.
• Contribute to NIH grant applications, federal contract deliverables, foundation‑supported research, and pilot grant activities.
• Generate reproducible, auditable analytic code that can be verified.

• PhD in economics, health services research, public policy, epidemiology, or a related quantitative field. Recent post‑doc or assistant professor experience preferred.
• Proficiency in SAS, R, or Python for analysis of large administrative claims and survey datasets (SAS preferred).
• Direct, hands‑on experience with Medicare claims data or comparable large administrative health datasets.
• Track record of scientific writing and ability to first author publications under mentorship.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical integrity.

• Expertise in dementia measurement across data sources.
• Knowledge of nationally representative longitudinal cohort studies relevant to aging (e.g., HRS, NHATS, NSHAP).
• Experience with the NIA LINKAGE data enclave and the CMS Virtual Research Data Center.
• Experience with epidemiologic estimation, machine learning, Bayesian regression, and econometrics.
• First‑author peer‑reviewed publications in health services research, epidemiology, or aging.

Salary range: $106,000 - $130,000. This position is classified as regular staff with comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement contributions, group life, disability insurance, paid time off, parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program. The role is bonus eligible; bonus payment is contingent on program terms and individual performance.

NORC is an equal opportunity employer and evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.