The Biostatistics Division in the Department of Public Health Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral research associate. The research associate will (i) work with Dr. Hong Zhu and a multidisciplinary research team in development and implementation of novel methods for comparative effectiveness research (CER) using complex observational healthcare data, with application to cancer studies; and (ii) collaborate on and support multiple interdisciplinary research projects funded by a multi-institution, NCI-funded, U54 Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, under the supervision of Dr. Hong Zhu, Co-Director of U54 Biostatistics and Data Management Core.

The work for this position will include (i) For CER project: Model multilevel survival data in the presence of confounding and missing data, machine learning approaches as appropriate; Develop computing programs and software; Apply new methods to real-world healthcare data; and (ii) For U54 projects: Plan and conduct database development and data management; Design and perform reproducible statistical analyses for interim and final reports; Assist with abstract and manuscript preparation; Develop and implement innovative procedures in data collection, data management, presentation of results, and statistical analyses. The selected candidate will be expected to participate in the development of publications for peer-reviewed journals and grant proposals to funding agencies.

Postdoctoral employment is temporary and is normally limited to an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years and who will be involved in full-time research or scholarship at the University. Employment as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the training period.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates must have a PhD in biostatistics, statistics, or a related quantitative field, by the appointment start date. 

Preferred Qualifications

Strong background and experience in survival analysis, missing data methods, causal inference, machine learning, and clinical biostatistics are preferred, including proficiency in R, SAS/STATA, Python, and/or Markdown. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability. This is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.

To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application review will begin after May 2, 2026.

Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0082712. Complete an application with the following documents:  

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF.   Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Internal applicants: Search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website. 

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required. 

For additional information about the position, please contact Hong Zhu, Professor, at hzhu2m@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Bill Crane, Senior Recruiter, xer5ff@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.