Careers
Do you believe we need deep, structural changes in health care and want to devote your knowledge and passion to creating a better system? The Lown Institute seeks an energetic and thoughtful individual to join our team as we seek to catalyze transformation in the US health system. The job applicant should have a passion for data, for improving the healthcare system, and for creating solutions that have impact. The successful candidate will spend time working both independently and as part of a highly collaborative team focused on specific deadlines. While this is an individual contributor role, the ideal candidate should be able to collaborate with others to solve complex problems.
About the Lown Institute
Founded in 1973 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Bernard Lown, MD, the Lown Institute is a think tank that believes a radically better system of health is possible. We are known for:
- The Lown Hospitals Index, the first ranking to assess the social responsibility of hospitals by applying measures never used before, like racial inclusivity and pay equity.
- The Shkreli Awards, which “honor” the most egregious examples of profiteering and dysfunction in health care each year.
- The Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility, given to a clinician who emulates the courage and humanitarian spirit of Dr. Bernard Lown.
- Leadership in the field of low-value care, including groundbreaking research on hospital overuse and overmedication among older adults.
About the position
The Lown Institute published in 2024 the first and only national database on hospitals’ financial assistance policies and billing and collections practices. This database requires ongoing maintenance to stay updated with the latest policies. This is an opportunity for a detail-oriented, proactive individual to hone their data collection skills. The primary responsibility of the research assistant is to collect and verify hospital data regarding their financial assistance policies and billing and collections practices. The research assistant will be supervised by a member of our data science team who led the effort in building the database.
This is a part-time position, up to 20 hours, to run approximately 12 months, or until the data collection process is complete, whichever is first. As an independent contractor, you set your own schedule. Because outreach spans both coasts, client contact must take place within standard hospital business hours across time zones—between 9:00 AM EST and 5:00 PM PST.
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree, preferably in information science, public health, or pre-med
- Detail-oriented, proactive, excellent research skills, and good phone etiquette
Core responsibilities and specific duties:
- Collect documents on hospital websites related to financial assistance policy and billing and collections practices
- Interpret technical wording in hospital policy documents
- Convert interpretations into discrete measures
- Record findings in existing database
- Conduct data confirmations with hospitals through email
Compensation, Benefits, and Work Schedule:
This is a part-time position at $25/hr, at 20 hours per week to begin during the month of January 2027. This is a 1099 Independent Contractor position, not a W-2 employee role.
To Apply:
Please apply by emailing your resume to info@lowninstitute.org. Please use the Subject Line: Part-Time Data Research Assistant. If you’re excited to work with us, but are not sure if you fit the qualifications, please apply! We want to hear from you.
The deadline to apply is Friday, November 13 or until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls or head shots please. We sincerely regret that we will not be able to respond to all applicants.
As an organization working for a more equitable health system, we promote a diverse and inclusive working environment and value differences in identity and lived experience.
We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, neurodiversity, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction. The Lown Institute is an equal opportunity employer.