Scientific Analyst, Psychology (Extended Temporary)

Posting Number

req25722

Department

Psychology

Department Website Link

Location

Tucson Campus

Address

Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

In the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, research in the Laboratory for Social Connectedness and Health focuses on close relationships and their implications for health. We examine how and why being embedded in high-quality relationships supports well-being, as well as how relationship disruptions (e.g., breakups and divorce) and social disconnection (e.g., loneliness and social isolation) serve as risk factors for poor health. Guided by open science principles, our work increasingly emphasizes causal inference using a variety of statistical tools and research methodologies.

The Laboratory for Social Connectedness and Health, directed by Dr. David Sbarra, in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, seeks a full-time Scientific Analyst to assist with data management and data analytic workflows on an active NIH-funded research grant. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in an analytic field (data science, AI, or bioinformatics) and demonstrate familiarity with R and Python to support established data workflows.

This is an Extended Temporary Employment (ETE) position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

Data management, data collection, and analytic support

• Assist with the maintenance of research datasets, including routine data cleaning, basic integration, quality control, and documentation using established procedures.
• Support data collection activities and monitor data for accuracy and completeness within established guidelines.
• Assist with conducting routine statistical analyses to identify basic patterns and trends in support of ongoing research projects.
• Under supervision, assist with the use and maintenance of established bioinformatic workflows and pipelines for processing and analyzing DNA methylation data (e.g., preprocessing, normalization, quality assurance).
• Support basic statistical modeling and data integration activities linking methylation, behavioral, and health outcomes.

Collaborate and provide statistical analyses to support faculty and trainees in the social and behavioral sciences:

• Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and research staff to support the implementation of established statistical methods and assist in interpreting results.
• Under faculty guidance, assist with applying predefined study design, analytic approaches, and data structures.
• Assist with troubleshooting routine analytic issues using established methods.
• Support the application of standard statistical techniques (e.g., regression, basic multilevel models) under supervision.
• Support adherence to established analytic and reproducibility standards.

Participate in laboratory activities, including manuscript preparation and research design:

• Assist with components of research studies, including supporting predefined study design elements, measurement selection, and basic analytic planning under supervision.
• Support manuscript preparation by contributing data summaries, tables, figures, and assisting with methods and results documentation.
• Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and research staff on assigned project tasks.
• Participate in regular lab meetings, project discussions, and research planning activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Proficiency in R and Python.
• Familiarity with API integration and automated workflows.
• Working knowledge of SQL for querying and managing relational databases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to document code and communicate basic analytic results to team members.
• Ability to write clear and well-documented code following established standards.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a collaborative research environment.
• Familiarity with tools such as R Markdown, Quarto, or Jupyter notebooks.
• Familiarity with analytic transparency and reproducibility practices.
• Ability to assist in preparing materials for presentation of findings.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty, trainees, and interdisciplinary teams.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in data science, AI, or bioinformatics.
• One year of experience in data analysis, statistical modeling, or computational research (academic or applied).
• Experience supporting basic statistical modeling, including linear regression, and exposure to methods such as multilevel models, generalized linear models, or machine learning approaches.
• Experience working with structured datasets and performing data management tasks (e.g., cleaning, merging, reshaping data).
• Experience producing reproducible analytic workflows (e.g., scripted analyses, notebooks, or markdown-based reports).
• Experience with structured and unstructured data sources.
• Experience with relevant libraries (e.g., tidyverse, lme4, lavaan, scikit-learn, pandas).
• Experience sharing code and data (e.g., OSF, GitHub).
• Experience working with behavioral, social, or health data.

FLSA

Exempt

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week

Job FTE

1.0

Work Calendar

Fiscal

Job Category

Research

Benefits Eligible

Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay

$53,039 -$66,299

Compensation Type

salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade

Compensation Guidance

The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.

Career Stream and Level

PC1

Job Family

Research & Data Analysis

Job Function

Research

Type of criminal background check required

Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies

Target Hire Date

Expected End Date

3/31/2028

Contact Information for Candidates

David A. Sbarra, Ph.D.

Professor, Psychology

***email_hidden***

Open Date

4/16/2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume and Cover Letter

Special Instructions to Applicant

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.

Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [email protected].