How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The letter should address your:
- Specific interest in this position, and;
- Skills and experience which directly relate to this position
Note: In order for the career portal system to accept the cover letter, please include this as the first page of your resume document, so that you are submitting only ONE combined document. This combined document will be reviewed to assess how you meet the stated qualifications, including your written communication skills.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology is seeking a statistician to support research studies conducted by faculty within the school. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Research, this individual will be responsible for planning and conducting data analyses for multiple projects, providing an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research across a variety of domains. Research areas range from basic health sciences (e.g., preclinical data with multi-omics outcomes, RNAseq, and related analyses) to studies examining how community environments affect physical activity (e.g., large, longitudinal, clustered data sets). The ideal candidate will be proficient in a diverse range of advanced statistical techniques, such as mixed models, machine learning, and mediation analyses, and will have the ability to write data analysis sections for manuscripts and grant proposals. The successful candidate will have experience working both independently to solve analytical problems and collaboratively to explain analytical strategies and results to research teams. Participation in career development seminars and workshops is supported and encouraged.
Who We Are
The School of Kinesiology is currently the fourth largest school at the University of Michigan - the top public research institution in the country. Currently, we have three undergraduate majors, five graduate degree programs, and 30 research labs and centers. We are proud to occupy the fully renovated School of Kinesiology Building, a 221,600 gross square foot space adjacent to the Diag. It is an exciting time to be in the School of Kinesiology; check out our facts and figures here!
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Maternity and parental leave
- University commitment to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities
Responsibilities*
Note: (EF) = Essential Function
The primary purpose of this role is to provide support for faculty in the School of Kinesiology in the areas of data management and statistical analysis. This is a new role in the school, and the responsibilities and effort percentages as outlined below may change over time.
- Develop and implement programs using coding and statistical software to clean, manage, merge, and analyze data that may be large, complex, high-dimensional, longitudinal, and/or from multiple sources. (EF) (40%)
- Participate in meetings with researchers to define research questions, discuss methodology, and present results (EF) (15%)
- Contribute to the preparation of grant proposals and publications, including writing and editing statistical methods, results, tables, and figures (EF) (15%)
- Determine appropriate statistical testing/modeling approaches in accordance with project design (EF) 10%
- Support faculty presentations by providing appropriate analyses and visual representation of data and results, editing language, and providing feedback on style (EF) 5%
- Advise on the statistical design of research projects, including performing power analyses (EF) 10%
- Prepare and maintain technical documentation of data and analysis files (EF) 10%
- Other duties as assigned 5%
Required Qualifications*
- Demonstrated competency in statistics, including analyses such as mixed models, machine learning, and mediation analyses
- Demonstrated experience with multiple coding languages (e.g., Python, C++, R, etc.) and statistical programming software (e.g., RStudio, SAS, SPSS, Stata, etc.)
- Bachelor degree in a recognized field of science or learning which is directly related to the duties of the position. Strong preference for a Masters degree or PhD
- Minimum of 10 years (minimum of 7 years at the Staff Specialist level) of professional experience in data management, statistical analysis, and independent programming required
- Experience planning, conducting, and explaining complex data analyses that necessitate the application of innovative approaches
- Experience working with large datasets, complex data structures, and integrating data from multiple sources
Required Competencies
- Proven success with contributing to a positive workplace culture, and ability to consistently demonstrate our school's Core Values
- Ability to represent the school in external discussions and technical forums
- Ability to work both independently and within a team on multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to anticipate problems and take appropriate initiative
- Ability to prioritize, organize, and efficiently work on multiple projects simultaneously, including consistent follow-up to keep stakeholders informed about progress
- Proven track record of successfully meeting project goals and deliverables in a timely manner
- Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts to diverse audiences in an easy-to-understand manner
- Skilled in developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different stakeholders
- Demonstrated success in building positive and effective relationships and partnerships with all levels and populations of employees
- Proven record of attention to detail and accuracy, with a low rate of errors
- Experience setting priorities and adapting successfully as priorities shift
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive employee and business information with utmost confidentiality
- Ability to work under pressure in a complex environment and maintain a calm and professional demeanor
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Underfill Statement
This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.
Additional Information
The general salary range for this position if filled at the Statistician Expert level is $120,000 - $132,000 (a lower range will be used if filled at the underfill Staff Specialist level), with eligibility to participate in the school's 2026 merit program. An offer may be extended outside of this range based on equity, experience, knowledge, and skills for the position. You are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor understanding and transparency throughout the recruiting process. Benefits are included with this position.
This position is onsite full-time for at least the first 6 months. After that period, there is potential for a hybrid schedule with a remote option up to 2 days/week (with Wednesdays being a required in-office day). Remote work agreements are reviewed annually and are subject to change dependent on the business needs of the hiring department, throughout the course of employment.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.