WOC - Research Health Science Specialist

Full Job Description

Please note: There is no pay associated with this position. This position serves as Without Compensation (WOC) Research Health Science Specialist within the Office of Research and Development (ORD).

The VA Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experiences and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings, and to advance value-driven care by providing Veterans the highest quality care at the lowest financial burden.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/28/2026.

You may qualify based on your education and experience as described below: Education: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.

This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

AND Experience: (1) Experience conducting biomedical or clinical research, including performing laboratory methods, managing data and specimens, maintaining regulatory compliance, and supporting PI led research projects; (2) Experience analyzing large medical datasets using tools such as SAS or SQL, developing data queries and methodological approaches, validating data quality, and producing analytical reports using advanced statistical or AI/ML techniques; and (3) Experience collaborating on multidisciplinary, data driven healthcare or research projects, contributing technical expertise, supporting administrative processes, and communicating complex analytical findings to diverse stakeholders.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is predominantly sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work.

However, there will be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of items of moderate weight such as large binders, banker style file boxes, meeting materials, papers, books or small parts.

Hand and eye coordination for delicate testing procedures may be the only special physical demand required to perform the work. Major Duties:

The Research Health Science Specialist serves as a key contributor to VA-supported research by providing high-level technical expertise, operational support, and coordination for the implementation of VA research projects as directed.

There is no pay associated with this position.

Major Duties: Conduct research relevant to Veteran populations, including projects focused on stroke, vascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

Perform experimental methods and laboratory techniques; collect, organize, and analyze research data; obtain protocol specimens; and maintain accurate records and notes.

Coordinate and execute research collaborations with partners, ensure regulatory compliance, and assist the Principal Investigator in completing research projects.

Provide operational support for VA research projects, independently handling project questions and resolving issues in coordination with the PI.

Deliver high-level technical expertise for aggregating, collating, and analyzing data from databases, including developing, implementing, and updating data extraction queries.

Conduct data mining, develop strategies and action plans, modify and maintain data queries, and perform quality control and validation of collected data.

Develop methodological approaches and study designs, and prepare advanced written, verbal, and visual communications of study results and analytical outputs.

Contribute to the design of advanced data systems, software, and complex programming specifications.

Perform analyses that inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of healthcare administrative processes, including analyses of electronic health record data for predictive analytics and medical image processing.

Utilize high-impact AI technologies, such as deep learning, trustworthy AI, privacy-preserving AI, explainable AI, and multi-scale AI analysis.

Work with large longitudinal medical databases and statistical software such as SAS, and develop or execute structured query language (SQL) queries and visual programming tools.

Perform statistical and quantitative analyses using specialized software models or procedures.

Apply interpersonal communication, outreach, acquisitions, procurement, IT, and financial management skills to support research and operational functions.

Lead or consult with cross-functional teams consisting of federal employees and contractors in policy analysis, IT, data engineering, and project management to develop data-driven solutions for Agency challenges.

Adapt to changes in program emphasis and priorities as needed. Work Schedule: Intermittent (Without Compensation)