PhD-level Research Economist - Department of Health Care Systems Research

Why RTI

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science‑based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—including expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines—to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the U.S. and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

RTI International’s Department of Health Care Systems Research has an opening for a PhD-level Research Economist to serve as a task and project leader for evaluation, analysis, design, and implementation of innovative health care delivery policies, programs, and models. As a Research Economist, you will provide cutting‑edge analyses that will influence health care policy and health care system innovation, particularly within the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Using large health care datasets, you will design, evaluate, and support policies related to health care insurance, payment, and delivery models; managed care; health care financing, costs, utilization, and quality; health insurance coverage and access; prescription drugs; and risk and case‑mix adjustment through statistical analysis. You will lead analytic projects as an integral part of a team, apply an in‑depth understanding of critical health policy issues and methods, contribute to and lead proposals to funding entities, and publish and present on findings for scientific audiences.

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Opportunities exist for new and experienced Ph.D.’s and Masters, and economists and policy analysts with relevant experience in academia, government, industry, or consulting.

This position will start in Spring or Summer 2026.
Candidates may choose to work remotely within the United States or from RTI’s headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Please submit the following documents with your application:

• Letters of Reference
• Job Market Paper
• Cover Letter
• CV

• Lead and/or contribute to quantitative research and evaluation activities on a broad range of health policy and health services research topics.
• Specify and supervise descriptive and statistical analyses of large, complex datasets.
• Succinctly present results for a diverse technical and policy audience.
• Author technical reports, memoranda, articles, documentation, and regulations.
• Ensure high quality and accuracy of work products.
• Develop and manage budgets to achieve goals within available resources.
• Supervise and manage research staff in completing project tasks.
• Communicate and negotiate work plans, timelines, budgets, and results with clients.
• Lead and/or contribute to technical proposals including methodological designs.
• Collaborate with teams of mixed levels of technical skills and experience.
• Develop expertise in several health care policy, research methods, and health care data areas.

• PhD or PhD candidate (target defense in 2025/2026) in economics, health policy, health services research, actuarial science, operations research, finance, or a related quantitative field; or a Master’s degree in the same fields with at least 6 years of relevant experience.
• Completed coursework and experience with quantitative research.
• Experience with and skills in advanced micro‑econometrics, simulation analysis, and program evaluation.
• Experience with and skills in a variety of advanced causal and statistical inference methods.
• Ability to communicate (both written and verbal) complex ideas and information clearly and precisely to diverse audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Legal…