Acumen, LLC / The SPHERE Institute provide government agencies with high-quality, impartial research to inform decision-making related to health care policy. We help make sure policymakers, health care providers, and the public have the best available evidence upon which to base their choices.

We leverage our unparalleled data access to generate analyses for a wide range of partners involved in the health care system. We work closely with our clients to understand their objectives and figure out how to turn data into actionable information for them. For example, our results are used by:

• the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare system
• the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor and assess the safety of drugs after they have been released onto the market
• the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to help local public health authorities prepare for and respond to emergency situations like hurricanes and floods
• the Center for Medicare (CM) to predict and quantify the effects of payment policy changes for health care services

At its core, our research offers an opportunity to use data to solve problems that matter.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Statistical Programming intern, you use data to create actionable research. Acumen has access to an immense amount of data, and the role of our research teams is to unlock information from these sources. This internship is a great opportunity for students interested in supporting fact-based decision-making in the national policy arena.

Programming will be a major component of your day-to-day responsibilities, but it is only part of a broader set of skills you will learn and employ at Acumen, LLC / The SPHERE Institute. Statistical Programming interns are integrated into a project team and learn about all facets of the research process:

• Data management techniques for working with large amounts of data
• Data analysis workflow in a professional setting
• Methods for researching policy context
• Application of research methods to answer specific policy questions
• Verification and validation of results
• Presentation of methodology and results for non-technical audiences
• Client and project management under tight timelines

We expect the role of the Statistical Programming intern to closely mirror that of a full-time analyst, meaning you can expect to gain professional experience performing the following responsibilities:

• Use statistical programming languages, such as SAS, STATA, and R, to perform econometric and statistical analyses of health care policy
• Collect, manage, and analyze large amounts of data
• Integrate statistical analysis into research summaries of health care policy
• Document methodology and results to support replicability
• Communicate research findings through a variety of mediums

This position is for a paid summer internship. In addition to developing skills for policy analysis and gaining exposure to client projects, you will receive formal training in statistical programming and hands-on mentoring from experienced analysts. The internship program also fosters a supportive team environment and hosts events throughout the summer for interns and their team members.

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for candidates who best exemplify the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree (in progress) in a quantitative, public policy, or related field, or_ _equivalent relevant experience 
• Strong analytical skills and experience with quantitative research methods
• Prior programming experience, preferably in SAS, STATA, or R
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work
• Good communication skills
• Familiar with one or more of the following technical competencies: statistical analysis, programming, data management, policy research, or study design
• Able to demonstrate initiative, critical thinking, and problem-solving
• Able to work in a team-oriented environment
• Able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated aptitude and enthusiasm for learning
• Demonstrated interest in public policy

_ _

Candidates will be selected based on their qualifications and matched to a specific project based on their skills and interests. 

ANY APPLICATION WITHOUT A COVER LETTER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. TRANSCRIPTS AND CODING SAMPLES ARE NOT REQUIRED; HOWEVER, THEY ARE HIGHLY PREFERRED AND MAY BE REQUESTED. WE ARE EXCITED TO REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION.

PLEASE NOTE, WE PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND INTERNS. WHILE WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT INTERNS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN-PERSON AT THE OFFICE FOR SUMMER 2021, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION AND MAKE A DECISION CLOSER TO THE START OF THE INTERNSHIPS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL BE IN-PERSON OR REMOTE.

Required Experience

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for candidates who best exemplify the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree (in progress) in a quantitative, public policy, or related field, or_ _equivalent relevant experience 
• Strong analytical skills and experience with quantitative research methods
• Prior programming experience, preferably in SAS, STATA, or R
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work
• Good communication skills
• Familiar with one or more of the following technical competencies: statistical analysis, programming, data management, policy research, or study design
• Able to demonstrate initiative, critical thinking, and problem-solving
• Able to work in a team-oriented environment
• Able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated aptitude and enthusiasm for learning
• Demonstrated interest in public policy

_ _

Candidates will be selected based on their qualifications and matched to a specific project based on their skills and interests. 

ANY APPLICATION WITHOUT A COVER LETTER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. TRANSCRIPTS AND CODING SAMPLES ARE NOT REQUIRED; HOWEVER, THEY ARE HIGHLY PREFERRED AND MAY BE REQUESTED. WE ARE EXCITED TO REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION.

PLEASE NOTE, WE PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND INTERNS. WHILE WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT INTERNS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN-PERSON AT THE OFFICE FOR SUMMER 2021, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION AND MAKE A DECISION CLOSER TO THE START OF THE INTERNSHIPS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL BE IN-PERSON OR REMOTE.