Research Data Scientist

In the offices of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, a Research Data Scientist is positioned to advance microbiome research within the Office of Research and Development. This onsite role in Salt Lake City blends bioinformatics processing with collaborative analysis to support studies aimed at enhancing Veterans’ care through data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• Process raw microbiome sequencing data using established bioinformatics pipelines
• Perform sequence quality control, taxonomic and functional profiling, and prepare analysis-ready feature tables
• Conduct routine statistical summaries, including diversity calculations, simple group comparisons, and preliminary visualizations to support downstream modeling by senior team members
• Assist with transferring, merging, and validating microbiome outputs within the secure VA computing environment, ensuring consistency with clinical datasets prepared by the statistics team
• Work closely with the Senior Statistician to troubleshoot data issues, adjust preprocessing steps as needed, and produce preliminary figures and descriptive results for internal discussions
• Contribute to the preparation of study reports, abstracts, and manuscript supplements by generating tables and visual materials
• Support ongoing project needs by implementing minor analytical tasks, updating pipelines as new samples or methods become available
• Coordinate with investigators to ensure microbiome data products align with project requirements

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Subject to background and security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process; acceptable forms of identification are required for pre-employment documentation
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state IDs not REAL ID compliant cannot be used as acceptable identification for employment
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement

Technologies

• QIIME 2
• MetaPhlAn 4
• Python
• R

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Access to federal employee benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Evaluation based on how well you meet the stated qualifications; responses should be specific and verifiable, with references to your application materials
• Experience includes paid and unpaid work, including volunteer service; all qualifying experience will be considered
• VA pre-employment reference checks are employed to verify information and assist in selection
• Policy supports offering opportunities to individuals who have faced financial hardship or unemployment
• Veterans and transitioning service members have access to VA career tools and reintegration support

Agency Contact Information

• VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844) 456-5208
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Salt Lake City ORD VISN 19; 550 Foothill Dr; Salt Lake City, UT 84158; US

Next Steps

After you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. Applications, including all required documents, will be reviewed after the posting closes to verify qualification and eligibility. If eligible, a referral certificate will be issued and applicants will be notified by email; referred candidates may be contacted directly for further steps. You can check your application status anytime by logging into your USA Jobs account. Additional information is available in the USAJobs Help Center.

Overview

• Accepting applications
• Posted this month · Apply in 2 days
• Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 15, 2026
• Location: Salt Lake City, UT
• Telework eligible: No