Jobs › University of Chicago

Data Scientist

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $70,000–$100,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at University of Chicago

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Have you helped write grant proposals? What did you contribute?

What they are checking: Their ability to support funding efforts, which the posting lists as a duty.

Tell me about a time you explained a complex result to clinicians who don't code.

What they are checking: Their ability to make technical findings useful to physicians and researchers.

How would you manage several projects in the program at once?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize and track work, since the role also manages the program's projects.

What would you do

You'd supervise trainees. How would you help a new student who writes code that works but nobody else can follow?

What they are checking: Their mentoring style and commitment to code quality across a team.

A collaborator asks you to add a new external computational tool to the pipeline. How do you evaluate it first?

What they are checking: Whether they test tools for validity and fit before adopting them.

You find that pathology data and the clinical database disagree on several patients. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they investigate data quality issues carefully and involve the right people to resolve them.

About the work

You'd build frameworks to house genomic, pathology and radiology imaging data for a breast cancer program. How would you design that so the data can be linked by patient?

What they are checking: Their ability to design multi-modal data structures with clean identifiers and sensible linking.

Walk me through a genomic analysis you've done from raw data to results. How did you make it reproducible?

What they are checking: Their hands-on genomics experience and use of version control, pipelines and documented environments.

How do you write a data dictionary that clinicians and programmers will both actually use?

What they are checking: Whether they see documentation as a tool for shared understanding across disciplines.

Tell me about a machine learning model you built on clinical data. How did you guard against overfitting or leakage?

What they are checking: Their rigor with real-world clinical data, where leakage and small samples easily mislead.

How do you handle protected health information in your analysis environment?

What they are checking: Their awareness of privacy rules and secure computing for patient data.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Chicago from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD MED - Hematology and Oncology - Howard Research Staff About the Department The Section of Hematology/Oncology has a proud and long tradition of excellence in research-based patient care and clinical discovery. Ranked among the finest cancer programs in the country, the Section is comprised of nationally and internationally known faculty with expertise in all major types of malignancies, blood disorders, and experimental therapies. Job Summary The Data Scientist will lead data science research efforts within breast cancer program in the Section of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine. Responsibilities • Manage the program’s projects. • Develop frameworks for housing multi-modal clinical data – including genomic, pathology, and radiographic imaging data. • Develop and code data dictionaries for discrete data. • Write, Implement, and develop efficient code and machine learning tools and pipelines for data processing and analysis. • Work with collaborators to implement emerging external computational tools for program data. • Draft grant proposals. • Develop training material. • Keep lab's knowledge-based trainings up to date. • Supervise trainees. • Perform reproducible genomic data analysis. • Calibrates data between large and complex research and administrative datasets. Guides and may set the operational protocols for collecting and analyzing information from the University's various internal data systems as well as from external sources. • Designs and evaluates statistical models and reproducible data processing pipelines using expertise of best practices in machine learning and statistical inference. • Provides expertise for high level or complex data-related requests and engages other IT resources as needed. • Analyzes moderately complex data sets for the purpose of extracting and purposefully using applicable information. • Provides professional support to staff or faculty members in defining the project and applying principals of data science in manipulation, statistical applications, programming, analysis and modeling. • Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Advanced degree in computer science. Experience: • Experience in python including torch and scikit-learn libraries strongly preferred. • Experience in working with image data or unstructured text data with large language models. Preferred Competencies • Proficiency in Linux/Ubuntu OS including basic file and user management, ssh. • Familiarity with tmux, SLURM. • Strong Analytical skills. • Problem-solving skills. • Organizational skills. • Verbal and written communication skills. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Application Documents • Resume (required) • Cover Letter (required) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Research Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $70,000.00 - $100,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Apply at University of Chicago

More data scientist roles