(Hybrid) Health Economist (Research Scientist) - Health Affairs Institute

The Health Affairs Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Health Economist.

About The Opportunity

The Health Affairs Institute within the WVU Health Sciences Center provides organizational leadership for collaborative activities involving the Health Sciences Center, the West Virginia Department of Health Services (DOHS) and other partners. These include, among others, providing data analytic support, program evaluation expertise, technical assistance, and project management support for the DOHS and other partners. With office locations in both Morgantown and Charleston, the Health Affairs Institute (HAI) employs over 80 full-time staff and engages numerous faculty and staff from other units of the University to fulfill its service mission to the state.

The Research Scientist in Health Economics is a key participant in the State-University partnership between the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center and the West Virginia Department of Health Services. Overarching responsibilities include working with the state to leverage their data and support analytic and policy needs, conducting relevant policy and evaluation research, participating in interdisciplinary research and evaluation teams, and providing oversight of associated data analysts. The health Economist is expected to design and conduct economic analysis of state programs and interventions, provide guidance to the teams on evaluations and support policy development efforts of DoHS. The successful Research Scientist in Health Economics will be data-driven with strong analytical skills and a proven record of finding insights in disparate data and effectively communicating that information to drive decision making.

Benefits

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs
  
  

What You'll Do

• This position conducts and oversees economic modeling, using claims data to assess economic outcomes and health system performance evaluations. The incumbent is expected to support data driven decision making for state health programs and policies. This role is expected to perform hands on data work and produce insights that drive operational improvements, translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for government and industry partners.
• Develop economic models to determine the efficient allocation of resources available to healthcare payers and providers, and develop appropriate communications for a variety of stakeholders.
• Work under the guidance of the Director of the Center for Measurement and Health Data Analytics to maintain sophisticated models to forecast the financial impact of health policies and policy changes.
• Conduct sensitivity analyses and stress testing on models to develop robust understanding on the range of potential outcomes under multiple scenarios.
• Develop knowledge repository of industry best practices and innovations.
• Proactively provide analytic guidance for financial and economic outcomes of policies and policy changes using conventional and predictive study designs.
• Accomplish comparative evaluations and retrospective studies to measure the actual economic outcomes against initial projections.
• Build repeatable and scalable analytic processes.
• Generate executive presentations for stakeholders
• Promote and shape HAI best practices concerning automation and documentation.
• Contribute to department initiatives around automation, Machine learning, AI use, and tooling improvements.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the responsible conduct of research and data security.
• Execute Health Economic Outcomes Research (HEOR) evidence generation including; cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis and budget impact models
• Analyze Medicaid and commercial claims data using SQL, SAS, R, or Python to identify trends, cost drivers, and utilization patterns.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams including data scientists, policy analysts, and state partners.
• Support grant proposals and project scoping with economic insights.
• Oversee/provide mentorship to other analysts as directed by the Director of the Center for Measurement and Health Data Analytics
• Develop and lead training modules as directed by the Director of Health Analytics.
• Lead data risk assessments to mitigate and/or expose data quality and/or security issues in collaboration with the HAI Program Development and Management Office (PDMO) and the Director of Health Information.
• Identify and troubleshoot unanticipated data problems or unexpected results and provide solutions to resolve identified concerns.
• Provide consultation and support for HAI project team members in data analysis and visualization best practices, and new and current technology.
• Participate in high-level stakeholder meetings to understand stakeholder priorities and develop potential solutions as required.
• Develop quality assurance processes and protocols in collaboration with the PDMO.
• Ensure that data analytic and research/evaluation activities are compliant with Health Affairs Institute and University-level policies for the responsible conduct of research as well as federal, and state policies.
• Provide consultation to faculty and government partners regarding preparation of research proposals, design and methodology, data analytics and interpretation of results.
• Identify opportunities for potential collaborations between the Health Sciences Center and the West Virginia Department of Human Services.
• Prepare reports as required by the University, the Health Sciences Center administration, and external agencies. Communicates results of analytic projects and program evaluations with relevant staff of the West Virginia Department of Human Services.
• Conduct or direct special projects as assigned. Act in other matters and capacities as delegated by the Director of the Center for Measurement and Health Data Analytics for the Health Affairs Institute.
  
  

• Doctoral degree in Economics, Health Economics, Public Policy, Biostatistics, or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience with proven track record of HEOR in the following:
• Relevant disciplines are those that demonstrate a high level of technical and mathematical ability, such as mathematics, economics, physics or computer science
• Proficiency in SQL, SAS, R, or Python for data manipulation and modeling.
• Strong applied econometric skills and experience with large datasets.
• Strong communication skills and ability to present findings to non technical stakeholders.
• Experience working with state agencies or healthcare organizations preferred.
• Ability to communicate policy implications clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, collaborative environment.
• Experience in government, consulting, or applied research settings preferred.
• Record of research and achievement in health outcomes and policy research (health services research, public health informatics, health policy, clinical outcomes) as evidenced by publications and a sustained research program.
• Experience conducting research/evaluation within the academic and governmental sectors
• Experience in conducting geo-spatial analysis and experience and predictive analytics using machine learning are desired.
• All qualfications must be met by the time of employment.
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proven track record of publishing in peer reviewed journals
• Ability to perform and formulate health economic outcomes research and develop innovative approaches to conduct economic evaluations of program outcomes
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including presentation skills to varied audiences
• Extensive knowledge in the United states healthcare systems
• Extensive knowledge and experience in utilizing large health databases for research, program evaluation, and policy development.
• Extensive knowledge in machine learning and in geo-spatial analysis is desired
• Ability to project and maintain a positive and collaborative attitude.
• Record of accomplishments in the area of health data analytics.
• Strong ability to communicate goals, methods, and results of research initiatives with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of standard software packages such as SAS or R
• Good knowledge in handling mortality data
• Experience working with Medicaid Claims data
• Training and facilitation skills
• Strong understanding of Data Security and Compliance – particularly with HIPAA and PHI data access and storage
  
  

Requirements

• Valid Driver’s License and ability to travel on an intermittent basis if/when required.
  
  

About WVU

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.

Job Posting

Jun 1, 2026

Posting Classification

FE/AP

Exemption Status

Exempt

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Schedule

Full-time