What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Scientist position at Vanderbilt University?
The Data Scientist applies advanced statistical methods, machine learning techniques, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence approaches to characterize, predict, and optimize research findings. This role collaborates with interdisciplinary research teams to develop analytical solutions, create reproducible data pipelines, and communicate results through scientific visualizations, technical reports, and data-driven recommendations.
About the Work Unit:
The internationally renowned Department of Psychology houses several award-winning professors who are distinguished scholars in their respective fields and who are dedicated to providing world-class education and training to our undergraduate and graduate students. While our course curriculum encompasses all the sub-disciplines of Psychology, the research of our faculty centers around three major areas: Clinical Science, Cognition and Cognitive Neurosciences, and Neuroscience.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Conducts advanced computational analyses of human behavioral and neuroscience datasets to support research initiatives.
Performs data preprocessing, cleaning, organization, quality assessment, and transformation to prepare data for statistical and computational analysis.
Applies advanced statistical methodologies, machine learning algorithms, and AI models to identify patterns, generate predictions, and evaluate research outcomes.
Develops computational models and analytical frameworks to characterize relationships between human data and artificial intelligence-based models.
Designs, implements, and maintains data workflows, analytical pipelines, and reproducible computational processes.
Analyzes datasets to identify trends, opportunities, and insights that support institutional and research goals.
Creates scientific figures, data visualizations, and analytical summaries to communicate complex findings effectively.
Documents analytical methodologies, computational approaches, code, and research workflows.
Produces detailed technical reports describing analysis results, interpretations, and recommendations.
Collaborates with faculty researchers, laboratory personnel, and interdisciplinary teams to define project objectives and deliver analytical support.
Communicates findings and recommendations to key stakeholders, research partners, and university leadership.
Coordinates moderately complex analytics projects by managing timelines, deliverables, and communication across research teams.
Provides weekly project updates summarizing completed analyses, progress toward objectives, challenges, and upcoming goals.
Recommends improvements to data systems, analytical processes, and research methodologies based on benchmarking and performance evaluation.
Ensures compliance with data privacy standards by working exclusively with appropriately anonymized human research data.
Shares relevant code, analytical tools, and computational pipelines developed through research activities with collaborating laboratories.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively to the Administrative Manager and functionally to the PI.
Education and Certifications:
Master’s or PhD degree in data science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Psychology, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
Experience and Skills:
4 or more years of experience performing data analysis, statistical modeling, machine learning, computational research, or related technical work
Basic data science and statistics
Key Characteristics of a Successful Team Member in this Work Unit:
Analytical and Detail Oriented
Autonomous
Creative Thinking and Independent Problem Solving
Honest and Transparent
Resilient