Student Research Assistant - School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences - Faculty of Science
$18.70 per hour, plus 4% vacation pay
June 15 – October 15, 2026
This position supports a research project that develops mathematical models of healthcare decision-making, focusing on how insurers determine which patients should receive treatment under outcome-based reimbursement agreements.
The project studies how screening rules (treatment eligibility thresholds) and verification costs influence treatment access, pricing and reimbursement decisions, and overall system performance.
The work involves building and analyzing models where decision-makers must balance selecting patients who are more likely to benefit and the increasing cost and complexity of screening and verification.
The student will contribute to both analytical work (mathematical derivations) and computational analysis (simulation and numerical exploration).
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Read and interpret research papers in health economics and operations research
- Assist in developing mathematical models involving probability distributions, threshold-based decisions, and optimization problems
- Support analytical derivations, including first-order conditions and comparative statics
- Implement and run numerical simulations (e.g., Mathematica, Python, or MATLAB)
- Analyze how model outcomes change with key parameters (e.g., screening cost, thresholds)
- Prepare figures, tables, and written summaries of results
- Assist in organizing material for research reports or academic papers
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must be a current UPEI student
- Undergraduate student in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, or a related field
- Solid understanding of calculus (including differentiation and optimization)
- Solid understanding of probability (distributions and expectations)
- Ability to follow and work with mathematical arguments and formulas
- Experience with at least one programming environment (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or R); familiarity with symbolic computation software (such as Mathematica) is preferred
- Ability to read and understand technical material with guidance
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with optimization or game theory
- Experience with mathematical modeling
- Experience with Mathematica or symbolic computation tools
- Experience implementing numerical experiments
Skills Developed
- Mathematical modeling and analytical reasoning
- Computational simulation and data analysis
- Academic writing and research communication
- Understanding of healthcare policy and decision-making
Priority will be given to University of Prince Edward Island students in accordance with Recruitment, Selection, Hiring and Employment Policies and the Procedures manual.
Please submit electronically a cover letter, quoting the competition number, a resume and reference list to be received no later than the closing date via the link below.
If you are unable to apply online, you can drop off your resume to the Human Resources Department, Kelley Building, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3, Fax Number 902-894-2895.
UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute. UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. If you require accommodation in any part of the process, please direct your inquiries, in confidence, to our HR Officer, hrofficer@upei.ca. Applications will not be accepted via email.
Only those applicants who are invited to an interview will be acknowledged.
Note that this site is not compatible with some mobile browsers (e.g. iPad, iPhone). Upon successful submission of your application, you will receive an auto-reply to your email address advising your application has been received. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder and/or try submitting your application via a different web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc).
