Associate Research Scientist

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Associate Research Scientist for the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. The Associate Research Scientist independently leads defined neuroimaging research portfolios within the Willette Lab. This position is responsible for end-to-end execution of secondary data research across large-scale biomedical cohorts, including analytic strategy development, data harmonization, statistical modeling, interpretation of findings, and preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and scientific presentations (i.e., posters/talks).

The Associate Research Scientist reports directly to the Principal Investigator and is accountable for project timelines, scientific deliverables, and quality assurance within assigned research initiatives. The role provides functional leadership and technical direction to research assistants, student trainees, and volunteer staff to ensure methodological rigor and timely completion of research objectives. Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Leads a defined neuroimaging research portfolio, including development of analytic aims, statistical modeling plans, and interpretation of findings.
• Exercises independent judgment in analytic design, statistical approach selection, and interpretation of results within established research objectives.
• Manages project timelines and ensures completion of key deliverables, including manuscript submission, conference abstracts, and grant deliverables.
• Serves as first author or co-author on peer-reviewed publications arising from assigned projects.
• Provides technical direction, task assignment, and methodological oversight to research assistants, temporary staff, and student trainees.
• Reviews analytic outputs for accuracy and compliance with established protocols.
• Coordinates project workflows to maintain continuity and productivity across lab personnel.
• Oversees preprocessing, harmonization, and quality control of neuroimaging datasets.
• Establishes and enforces standardized preprocessing and quality control procedures across research projects.
• Contributes scientific sections to grant proposals, including analytic design and methodological justification.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is distinguished in its many efforts to advance health and wellness, and its broad reach, diversity, and expertise provides opportunities to address a wide array of health challenges. The Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research ( IFH ) facilitates collaboration among the social and behavioral sciences, clinical disciplines, basic sciences and related fields to promote research on critical population health issues.

Tobias Gerhard serves as the director of IFHand brings together scholars across and beyond Rutgers into a vibrant interdisciplinary network that advances high quality research in core areas:
Behavioral Health Health Economics Social and Cultural Determinants of Health Pharmacoepidemiology Violence Prevention Health Disparities Aging Research State Health Policy Health Services Research