ProPublica is seeking an experienced statistician or data scientist to advise us on our complex data-journalism projects.

Our data science adviser will serve a role similar to that of a dissertation adviser. On our largest projects they will help us develop plans, get us through snags or problems that arise as we are working, and help us draw sound conclusions. On smaller projects, they could be a pair of eyes that makes sure we haven’t overlooked something.

We estimate the time commitment will be about 35 hours per quarter for the remainder of 2017, though the nature of journalism is such that there are likely to be short periods of concentrated work, so time flexibility is crucial.

Because our work is so varied — we’ll be using biostatistics for one project, economics for another — it’s impossible to find one person with all the skills necessary. The person in this position should have a large personal network and be able to help us find other experts willing to help. He or she will also help make sure that the work of the experts is being done properly and that we’re communicating well together.

This person would be available to help us respond when our work is questioned by research communities, such as making sure we’re prioritizing our responses properly and that our arguments are sound. They would also work with ProPublica’s editors to create standards for our data projects for things such as attribution, data integrity and bulletproofing.

This a paid contract position. Our office is in New York but our adviser can work from anywhere.

A PhD or equivalent degree in a quantitative field is required.

Our ideal candidate would not need to have journalism training, but they should be mentally flexible enough to understand that we need to be accessible to readers, and therefore some techniques might be more appropriate than others. They should also understand that the story is the end goal and the math is just the means to a greater end.

You can apply using this form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The last day to apply is Sunday, May 7.

ProPublica is dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. Therefore, we are committed to diversity and especially encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

Have questions? Email [email protected].