Behavior Scientist Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position overview
Position title: Public Health Project Scientist
Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $80,200 - $129,100. The posted 2026-2027 UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position: Project Scientist
Application Window
Open date: July 21, 2026
Next review date: Thursday, Aug 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Jul 21, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego is committed to academic excellence within the faculty, staff, and student body and invites applications for an Assistant, Associate, or Full Project Scientist position in Health Services Research, Health Policy, and Implementation Science.
The HWSPH has focal areas of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Climate & Environmental Health, Community Health Services and Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Equity and Justice, Global Health, Health Behavior, Health Policy, Public Mental Health, and Technology & Precision Health and offers six degree programs: BS in Public Health, MPH, MS and PhD in Biostatistics, a Joint doctoral program with SDSU, and PhD in Public Health. The first concentration of the School's new PhD in Public Health program is in Health Services Research and Implementation Science. Further, the School has a Preventive Medicine Residency program. The School has extensive collaborations with the School of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, Rady School of Management, Jacobs School of Engineering, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Skaggs School of Pharmacy, and with other partners across the UC San Diego campus. Partnerships with the community and health agencies are fundamental to the School. The School comprises more than 125 primary faculty and academics, 25 secondary faculty, and 150 staff members and provides instruction and mentorship to 850 BSPH majors and 225 postgraduate students, and the School's faculty and academics hold ~$255M total awarded grants and contracts.
Position Duties: The Project Scientist will contribute to NIH- and state-funded research projects focused on digital health interventions, wearable/mobile sensing, and adaptive behavior change systems. The role will involve evaluating the design, deployment, and effectiveness of personalized intervention systems using computational modeling and analysis of real-world datasets generated through experimental and optimization-based intervention research. The Project Scientist will contribute to the development and evaluation of scalable digital health platforms, the design, implementation, and refinement of Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) protocols, and the recruitment and retention of human participants. The role will include the use of data science, behavioral science, and optimization methods, including idiographic and within-person modeling, adaptive control approaches, AI-supported decision-making systems, and real-world evidence generation and analysis across the intervention lifecycle. The Project Scientist will also contribute to scientific writing, manuscript preparation, grant development, and dissemination of findings related to digital health, health behavior change, and adaptive intervention science, with the hope and expectation that they request and receive a PI exemption, such that they may seek funding both collaboratively with others at EPARC and independently.
At UC San Diego, Project Scientists are academic researchers who are expected to make significant and creative contributions to a research team, but are not necessarily leaders of the research team. They are not required to carry out independent research or develop an independent research reputation, but will publish and carry out research or creative programs with supervision by a member of the Professor or Professional Research series. University and public service are encouraged but not required, and they do not have formal teaching responsibilities.
Appointments and duration vary depending on the length of the research project and availability of funding. Appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Project Scientist level will be based on the candidate's background and experience.
A link to the full description of the series is provided for your review:
Project Scientist
School: https://hwsph.ucsd.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Candidates must have a doctoral degree or its equivalent in a related field of study.
Candidates must have at least 5 publications demonstrating experience in disseminating findings through professional publications and presentations.
Candidates must have at least 3 plus years of demonstrated experience providing professional scientific and/or educational presentations.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Candidates must have at least 3 years of Postdoctoral or equivalent experience by the time of the start of the appointment.
Preferred qualifications
• At least 3 plus years of demonstrated experience in at least one advanced experimental, adaptive, optimization-based intervention research designs (e.g., micro-randomized trial, system identification/control systems engineering approaches, JITAI design)
• At least 3 plus years of demonstrated experience using advanced computational, statistical, machine learning, and, ideally, mixed-methods approaches that leverage both qualitative and quantitative data related to real-world behavioral, physical activity, wearable/mobile sensing, or health outcome data.
• At least 3 plus years of strong scientific writing experience, including manuscript preparation, research protocols, grant-related materials, or dissemination products for interdisciplinary research teams.
• At least 3 plus years of proven record of peer-reviewed publications experience in digital health, behavioral science, physical activity, mobile health, real-world evidence, or adaptive intervention research.
Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF04569
Help contact: ssmadsen@health.ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a university employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf . This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
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• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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Job location
San Diego, CA