Data Scientist -Wisconsin Reading Center

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Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:

Data Scientist I

Job Summary:

The Wisconsin Reading Center and A-EYE unit is looking for a key role in the research team to participate in data analytics in health sciences with a focus on ophthalmology. This involves working with large datasets from various sources, collaborating with ophthalmologists and researchers to develop predictive models to aid in the detection, diagnosis, and management of patients with ocular diseases. This is a great opportunity to work on interesting projects in a highly collaborative environment with a goal of implementing big data analysis in preventing and curing blindness.

• It is anticipated that this position will be remote and requires work be performed at an offsite, non-campus work location.

• This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding. ​

Some of the key responsibilities of this position include:

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Develop reproducible workflows, analyses, dashboards, and reports to support research and operational decision-making.

• Research Documentation & Methodology: Document analytical methods and maintain reproducible research workflows and standards.

• Advanced Analytics & AI Solutions: Apply statistical analysis, machine learning, AI, and data mining techniques to identify patterns, answer research questions, and solve operational problems.

• Process Automation: Design and implement automated data preparation, analysis, and reporting processes to improve efficiency and scalability.

• Data Management & Quality: Prepare, clean, validate, transform, and integrate datasets for research, grading, and AI applications while ensuring data quality and integrity.

• Other duties: Participate in national and international meetings for the dissemination of research. Assist faculty with the education and mentoring of research students.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Composes and assembles reproducible workflows and reports to clearly articulate patterns to researchers and/or administrators

• Prepares data sets for analysis including cleaning/quality assurance, transformations, restructuring, and integration of multiple data sources

• Documents approaches to address research questions

• Implements appropriate data science techniques under the guidance of other data scientists, statisticians, and/or other researchers to find data patterns and answer research questions chosen by the lead researcher including data visualization, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining

• Organizes and automates project steps for data preparation and analysis

• Assist the principal investigator in the hiring, training, and supervision of students and staff.

Department: School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Wisconsin Reading Center.

The Wisconsin Reading Center (WRC) is a core retinal image reading lab within the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS). The WRC was founded on the enduring principles of intellectual honesty, quality, relevance, innovation, and staff satisfaction. Incepted in 1970 to support the seminal NIH-funded trials of laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR), the WRC has broadened its scope to the evaluation of many retinal diseases, including dry AMD, atrophic AMD, neovascular AMD, DME, retinal vein occlusion, posterior uveitis, inherited retinal disease, AIDS-related ocular disease, and cataract.

Why Join Us?

We provide flexible work schedules, comprehensive benefits, and professional development. Our team is passionate about making a positive impact on eye disease, and we are looking for individuals who share that commitment. 

Travel Expectations

It is required that employees come to Madison, WI on quarterly preset dates. It will be the employee's responsibility to cover expenses for this trip.

Working Conditions

There could be occasional night and weekend events.

Compensation:

The starting salary/hourly wage for the position is $65,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. 

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage.

• SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026

Required Qualifications:

• Two years of statistics or machine learning in professional and/or staff setting.

• Proficiency with Python, Linux, and general programming, especially in statistics and machine learning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with PyTorch or similar deep learning library, Docker, Neural Networks for Image Recognition and Segmentation.

• Healthcare related experience

Education:

Master Degree required; focus in Machine learning, statistics, data science, applied mathematics or related.

How to Apply:

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To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.

 • Cover letter required
 • Resume required
 

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected

Contact Information:

Beth Reuter, [email protected], 608-263-3680.

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
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