Project Specialist

In order for your application to be considered, you must attach a cover letter and resume to your application. The Schaeffer Center is seeking a Project Specialist to assist Professor Genevieve Kanter with research activities, working on health policy and economics projects. This position provides the opportunity to gain research skills and knowledge in a collaborative team environment, with access to excellent academic and computing resources, and is excellent preparation for graduate school or advanced research and policy positions.

• Collaborating in the design, execution, and documentation of data collection protocols using online sources and documents.
• Writing code to extract data, clean and manipulate datasets, and conduct statistical analysis.
• Preparing manuscripts for academic and policy publications.
• Drafting documentation, status reports, IRB submissions, grant applications, and other research deliverables.
• Preparing charts, tables, statistics, text, and visuals for presentations.
• Conducting literature searches using databases such as Pub Med, Econ Lit, and Google Scholar, and maintaining citation databases.
• Supervising students and trainees in research protocols.

• Good organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Good communication skills, oral and written.
• Resourcefulness and excellent web search and literature search skills.
• Independent and self‑motivated.
• Facility with computer programming (interest and experience in agentic AI a plus).

Bachelor’s Degree (combined education/experience may substitute).

2 years.

Economics, public policy, or other social science; or quantitative field such as engineering, computer science, or mathematics.

Stata, R, or Python.

Master’s Degree.

3 years.

Experience or coursework in health, the biological sciences, public policy, or political science.

The hourly rate range for this position is $30.25 – $32.68. 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.

• Cover letter
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
• Writing sample
• Names and contact information of two references

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 screening implications for the position for which you are applying. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at , or by email at uchr.