Research Scientist,Senior

Duke University, Durham, NC 27710

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 works closely with Dr. Tomi Akinyemiju (PI) and collaborating faculty to advance the program’s scientific agenda, translating vision into high‑quality, methodologically rigorous research outputs. The position requires 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.

Scientific Contribution & Project Advancement: The Senior Research Scientist will contribute substantively to advancing rigorous and impactful science within the REGAL program by helping to define research questions, develop analytic strategies, and ensure projects align with overarching program priorities. This involves synthesizing emerging evidence, identifying opportunities for new grants and analyses, and contributing to the intellectual development of projects.

Advanced Data Management & Analytical Execution: The Senior Research Scientist will lead and execute complex data management and analytical workflows across multiple projects, ensuring data integrity, reproducibility, and methodological rigor. This includes developing and implementing data pipelines, overseeing data cleaning and harmonization, and conducting advanced statistical and computational analyses using large‑scale and high‑dimensional datasets.

Manuscripts, Grants & Scientific Productivity: The Senior Research Scientist will drive the program’s scientific output by leading the development of manuscripts, abstracts, and grant proposals, independently drafting and revising manuscripts, contributing to grant applications, and ensuring analyses are translated into clear, high‑impact scientific products.

Project Leadership & Coordination: The Senior Research Scientist will lead the day‑to‑day scientific execution of projects, coordinating across team members to ensure timely and high‑quality completion of deliverables. This includes developing analytic plans, tracking progress, troubleshooting challenges, and maintaining alignment between scientific objectives and project timelines.

Mentorship & Team Development: The Senior Research Scientist will provide mentorship and oversight to postdoctoral fellows, research analysts, and trainees, supporting their development in data analysis, study design, and scientific writing. This includes reviewing analytic code and outputs, providing structured feedback, and fostering a culture of rigor and continuous learning.

Collaboration & Integration: The Senior Research Scientist will work closely with faculty and external collaborators to support…