Project Specialist

Position Summary

The USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics is seeking a Project Specialist to assist Professor Genevieve Kanter with research activities on health policy and economics projects. The role provides an opportunity to gain research skills in a collaborative team environment and is excellent preparation for graduate school or advanced research and policy positions. The position is initially a full‑time, 6‑month fixed‑term role with potential for a one‑year renewal and beyond, and in‑person, hybrid, or remote work options are available.

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

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

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

• 2 years of related experience.

• Economics, public policy, or other social science; or quantitative field such as engineering, computer science, or mathematics.
• Competency in at least one of the following programming languages:
  Stata, R, or Python.

• Master’s Degree.

• 3 years of related experience.
• Experience or coursework in health, the biological sciences, public policy, or political science is helpful.

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

• Cover letter.
• Resume/CV.
• Transcripts (unofficial 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.