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Research Data Analyst in Global Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Department and Project Overview
The Planetary Child Health & Enterics Observatory ( Plan-EO ) is an interdisciplinary research initiative and living evidence system based at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and founded and coordinated by Dr. Josh Colston.
Plan-EO works to systematically model, quantify, predict, and project the epidemiology and burden of enteric infectious diseases and their risk factors across low-resource regions of the world. The initiative makes its findings freely available to researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
The Plan-EO team integrates epidemiological data from broad-spectrum molecular diagnostics with climate and environmental data derived from Earth-observation satellites, nationally representative household surveys, and other sources. The team brings together expertise in epidemiology, hydrology, bioinformatics, software and systems engineering, knowledge management, and communications.
Plan-EO is a member of the SPRINGS Project , an international research consortium supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe program. The initiative has also received supplementary funding to estimate and project diarrheal disease burden and etiologies.
Position Summary
The University of Virginia School of Medicine seeks a Research Data Analyst to help advance Plan-EO's research on climate-sensitive infectious diseases in tropical and subtropical regions.
This position will play an important scientific and operational leadership role within Plan-EO. The Research Data Analyst will contribute to statistical analysis, data integration, scientific writing, knowledge management, grant development, and the coordination of interdisciplinary research collaborations. The position will also help oversee daily project activities, allowing senior leadership to focus on strategic direction and scientific oversight.
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and collaborative professional who combines analytical rigor and careful attention to detail with strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills. The individual must be comfortable working across disciplines, collaborating equitably with international partners, mentoring junior researchers, and representing Plan-EO at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
Responsibilities
Research and Analysis

• Collaborate with the research team throughout the scientific research cycle, including exploratory analysis, scoping and evidence reviews, statistical modeling, manuscript preparation, peer review, and dissemination.
• Analyze and interpret complex epidemiological, environmental, and health-related datasets.
• Contribute to scientific manuscripts, reports, presentations, and other research products.
• Translate technical findings into clear and engaging information for scientific, policy, and public audiences.

Data Integration and Infrastructure

• Develop, document, and oversee standardized data-processing systems and reproducible research workflows.
• Coordinate back-end data management within the project's secure, shared computing environment.
• Partner with UVA software developers to support the development and deployment of Plan-EO's interactive online dashboard .
• Promote consistent data-management, quality-control, documentation, and version-control practices across the project.

Knowledge Management

• Help maintain Plan-EO as a current and accessible living evidence system.
• Organize and manage the project's scientific resources, datasets, documentation, analytical products, and institutional knowledge.
• Establish processes that support effective collaboration and information sharing across an interdisciplinary and geographically distributed team.

Scientific and Information Governance

• Collaborate respectfully and equitably with international research partners.
• Support the responsible conduct of research and the appropriate stewardship of data contributed by studies and participants in low- and middle-income countries.
• Help ensure compliance with applicable research protocols, data-use agreements, privacy requirements, and ethical standards.

Project Representation

• Represent Plan-EO professionally at international conferences, workshops, stakeholder meetings, and online forums.
• Build and maintain relationships with researchers, funders, collaborators, and other stakeholders.
• Help strengthen the project's visibility, professional network, brand identity, and scientific impact.

Mentorship

• Serve as a secondary mentor to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers.
• Create opportunities for experiential learning, scientific development, and professional growth for UVA students and trainees.
• Provide guidance on research methods, data analysis, scientific communication, and project organization.

Grant Development

• Contribute to the development and submission of competitive proposals to intramural, federal, non-federal, and international funding programs.
• Support proposal writing, literature reviews, preliminary analyses, project planning, and the preparation of supporting materials.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master of Public Health or an equivalent graduate degree in a quantitative, public health, or health-sciences discipline.
• Graduate-level training in biostatistics, epidemiological methods, and the responsible conduct of human-subjects research.
• At least four years of relevant professional experience, including experience in an analytical role within an international research environment.
• Strong bioinformatics, quantitative analysis, or data-science skills, including proficiency with R and/or Python.
• Experience using geographic information system tools such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Demonstrated ability to review, synthesize, and communicate scientific evidence clearly and accurately to multiple audiences.
• Experience using citation-management software such as Zotero or EndNote.
• Exceptional organizational, written communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to take ownership of complex assignments.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the importance of equitable scientific partnerships between researchers and institutions in the Global South and Global North.
• Familiarity with project-management and communication platforms such as Slack, Notion, or comparable tools.
• Fluency in English and conversational ability in a second widely spoken language.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally for conferences, meetings, and project activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency or working knowledge of Spanish.
• Familiarity with Stata.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled research tools such as Elicit, Antigravity, Perplexity, or comparable platforms, including the ability to use these tools judiciously, ethically, and responsibly.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary position involving extensive use of desktop computers. The position occasionally requires travel to attend conferences, meetings, workshops, and other program activities.
Salary
The anticipated hiring range is $75,000-$90,000, commensurate with education and experience.
Position Type and Work Location
This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Additional information about UVA benefits is available on the UVA Human Resources website .
This is a two-year limited-term position. Continued employment beyond the initial term will depend on departmental need, satisfactory performance, and the availability of funding.
The position is based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is eligible for a hybrid schedule requiring three days per week on Grounds. Additional on-site presence may be required based on project needs and in accordance with UVA's remote-work guidelines.
About the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a nationally recognized public institution of higher education and an academic medical center committed to excellence in teaching, research, patient care, and public service. UVA offers a collaborative professional environment, competitive benefits, and opportunities to contribute to research with meaningful local and global impact.
Application Instructions
Please apply online through Online and search for R0086861 Complete the application and upload the following required materials:
Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website .

• Cover letter

• Resume

Reference-Check Process
References will be completed through UVA's standardized SkillSurvey process. Five references will be requested during the final phase of the interview process, with a minimum of three completed references required.
Additional Requirements
The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check before employment.
This position requires occasional travel. Employment is contingent upon the candidate's ability to meet any applicable travel, research-compliance, and data-security requirements.
For questions about the position or application process, please contact Bill Crane at 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.
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 .