Department Overview

The Planetary Child Health & Enterics Observatory (Plan-EO) is an interdisciplinary research initiative and living evidence system founded and coordinated by Dr. Josh Colston and based at UVA School of Medicine. Its aim is to systematically model, quantify, predict, and project the impacts of hydrometeorological and environmental factors on the epidemiology and burden of enteric pathogens across low-resource regions globally, and make these findings freely accessible to the research and stakeholder community.

The Plan-EO research team integrates epidemiological data from molecular diagnostics with climate and environmental data derived from satellite Earth observations, household surveys, and other sources. The initiative brings together expertise across hydrology, bioinformatics, software and systems engineering, knowledge management, and communications. Plan-EO is a member of the SPRINGS Project, an international consortium supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe program.

Position Summary

The Research Data Analyst will serve in a key leadership role within Plan-EO, advancing cutting-edge research on climate-sensitive infectious diseases in tropical and sub-tropical regions. This role requires a highly motivated and dynamic individual who is invested in the project’s vision and capable of representing the initiative in international forums while maintaining strong analytical rigor and attention to detail.

The position carries significant leadership responsibility, including supervising scientific and operational activities, and offers autonomy to support project execution while enabling senior leadership to focus on strategic priorities. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research collaboration and grant proposal development across multiple funding sources.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on scientific outputs across the full research lifecycle, including exploratory analysis, statistical modeling, manuscript development, and dissemination
• Develop and oversee data processing infrastructure and workflows, including front-end visualization tools and backend computing environments
• Lead knowledge management efforts to maintain Plan-EO as a living evidence system and organize scientific resources
• Ensure responsible data stewardship and compliance with ethical, privacy, and regulatory standards in collaboration with international partners
• Represent the project at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder engagements to enhance visibility and partnerships
• Mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers, supporting professional development and experiential learning
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development across diverse funding sources

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent graduate degree in quantitative or health sciences
• Graduate-level training in biostatistics, epidemiological methods, and responsible conduct of human subject research

Experience:

• Significant experience in an analytical role within an interdisciplinary and international research environment

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong bioinformatics and data science skills, including proficiency in R, Python, Stata, and GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Ability to synthesize and communicate scientific evidence clearly to diverse audiences using citation tools (e.g., Zotero, EndNote)
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and teamwork skills with strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative and ownership of work
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of equitable global research partnerships
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Notion)
• Fluency in English and proficiency in an additional widely spoken language

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Doctoral degree in population health sciences

Experience:

• Experience conducting structured literature reviews using tools such as Covidence

Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of Spanish
• Familiarity with AI-enabled research tools (e.g., Elicit, Antigravity, Perplexity)
• Experience with Stata

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary position. The employee will be expected to perform standard office-related tasks.

Salary Range

The anticipated hiring range is $65,000–$90,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt-level, benefited position
• This position has a term limit of 2 years after which continued employment will depend on department need and funding
• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days on Grounds per week, with additional on-site presence as needed

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after 4-6-26.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future

How to Apply

Please apply online through Online and search for R0081994 . 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

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For questions about the 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. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.