Research Scientist: College of Nursing - UTK

The College of Nursing (CON) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, the state’s flagship research institution, seeks a Research Scientist to preform technical, analytical, and data science operations for active digital health and clinical informatics research projects under the direct mentorship of the Principal Investigator (PI). The Research Scientist will drive data science, machine learning, and systems engineering methodology under federal and institutional research grants. Key responsibilities include implementing predictive models, prototyping clinical decision support (CDS) workflows and establishing technical integrations with clinical platforms. 

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant. 

Predictive Modeling & Data Science 

• Execute and evaluate predictive models using various data models.

• Program and maintain complex data pipelines utilizing Python, R, or SQL to extract, clean, and analyze relevant research data.

• Conduct advanced statistical modeling to analyze research outcomes

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Prototyping & Technical Integration 

• Design, implement, and evaluate proof-of-concept/prototype CDS systems

• Perform technical evaluations of partner technology stacks, API endpoints, and messaging protocols to map secure data integrations.

• Build and validate simulation tools to train model prompts, evaluate data extraction accuracy, and test clinical CDS vignettes.

Knowledge Engineering & Ontology Development (15%) 

• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary co-investigators and specialists (e.g., computer science, clinical sciences, ontology teams) to refine, map, and translate clinical vocabularies, taxonomies, and knowledge representation frameworks.

• Maintain data security, IRB compliance, and access controls for datasets in secure academic computing environments.

Grant Writing & Academic Operations 

• Contribute to federal and foundation grant proposals by drafting and editing technical sections (specifically Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and Approach sections) under the direction of the PI

• Co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts and represent the research team at national biomedical informatics and clinical research conferences.

• Provide informatics, data science, and analytical guidance to junior faculty, postdocs, and graduate research assistants

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• PhD or advanced doctoral candidacy (ABD) in Biomedical Informatics, Nursing Informatics, Computer Science, Data Science, Quantitative Psychology, or a related computational/quantitative field.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Strong track record of scientific writing, including contributions to peer-reviewed publications and federal grant proposals (NIH preferred).
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to translate complex clinical workflows into structured engineering requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, R, and database querying (SQL).
• Hands-on experience developing and deploying machine learning or predictive models.
• Demonstrated familiarity with NLP, text mining, or clinical language modeling.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience:

• Experience analyzing clinical metadata, EHR documentation, claims, and operational clinical data
• Familiarity with clinical terminologies/ontologies (e.g., SNOMED-CT, LOINC, RxNorm) or knowledge representation frameworks.
• Familiarity with natural language processing, generative AI, and associated AI frameworks
• Experience collaborating with commercial digital health, medical device, or health tech vendors on system integrations, security agreements, or intellectual property protocols.

Work Location: This position can be distance/remote or onsite in Knoxville, TN. 

Compensation:

• UT market range: MR09
• Anticipated hiring range: $50,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

Application Instructions 

For best consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter and resume before August 3^rd, 2026.

About the College of Nursing 

With a longstanding tradition of excellence in nursing education, research, and clinical practice, we are proud to be a guiding force in healthcare education. We embrace innovation while honoring the values that have shaped our success. By offering cutting-edge academic programs, supporting impactful research, and forging strong community partnerships, we prepare healthcare professionals who deliver high-quality, culturally responsive care in a diverse and ever-changing world. Join the Vol Nurse Family! Get to know CON