New

Graduate Research Assistant - Biobehavioral Health

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
Aug 14, 2025
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS This Research Support position assists with statistical programming and data analysis for projects investigating the relationship between psychological well-being and a wide range of behavioral and health outcomes. The role involves working with large, nationally and internationally representative datasets-such as the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Global Flourishing Study (GFS)-under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and senior research staff. The graduate research assistant will support studies housed in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University, focusing on secondary data analysis. The primary responsibility will be to manage, clean, and analyze complex datasets to examine links between psychological well-being, behavioral patterns, and health outcomes across the lifespan. Candidates should have a strong interest in psychological well-being research, quantitative methods, and data science. SAMPLE WORK ACTIVITIES: Import, clean, and merge large-scale datasets (e.g., HRS, GFS) in R, Stata, or Python Conduct descriptive, inferential, and multivariate statistical analyses according to project aims Create and document reproducible analysis pipelines Manage code repositories and ensure data security in compliance with institutional and IRB requirements Assist in the preparation of tables, figures, and statistical summaries for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals Conduct literature searches and synthesize relevant findings related to psychological well-being and health outcomes Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to methodological problem-solving and workflow optimization Maintain detailed documentation of analytic procedures and data management decisions Perform other research-related tasks as assigned by the Principal Investigator PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Graduate-level training in biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, psychology, public health, or related field Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language (R, Stata, or Python preferred) Experience working with large, complex datasets Interest in psychological well-being, health behavior, and population health research Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research team BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines