What is a Data Engineer at NYU Langone Health?

As a Data Engineer within the research and clinical data ecosystem at NYU Langone Health, you are the critical bridge between cutting-edge medical research and actionable health insights. While traditional data engineering often focuses strictly on backend software infrastructure, this specialized role within the NYU Grossman School of Medicine is deeply intertwined with clinical research operations, electronic health record (EHR) extraction, and primary data collection.

Your work directly impacts high-profile, longitudinal studies focusing on children's health and environmental factors, such as the NYU Children's Health & Environment Study (NYU CHES) and Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO). By building electronic study forms, cleaning complex clinical datasets, and managing database operations, you ensure that principal investigators and medical scientists have accurate, reliable data to shape the course of medical history.

Expect a highly dynamic environment that blends technical database management with hands-on clinical research. You will not only manage databases and generate critical reports but also interact directly with research participants, requiring a unique blend of technical acumen, meticulous attention to detail, and deep empathy. This role is essential to NYU Langone's mission of improving the human condition through scientific research and direct patient care.

Common Interview Questions

While you cannot predict every question, interviews for data and research roles at NYU Langone Health follow distinct patterns. The questions below represent the types of inquiries you should be prepared to answer, focusing on your technical data skills, clinical process adherence, and behavioral competencies.

Data Management & Technical Proficiency

These questions test your hands-on experience with databases, data cleaning, and reporting.

• Walk me through your experience using Microsoft Access and Excel to manage large datasets.
• How do you approach cleaning a dataset that contains multiple errors or missing fields?
• Describe a time you had to generate a complex report under a tight deadline. How did you ensure the data was accurate?
• What is your experience with extracting data from Electronic Health Records (EHR)?
• How do you design electronic forms to minimize user error during data entry?

Protocol Adherence & Meticulousness

These questions assess your ability to follow strict guidelines and maintain high accuracy in a regulated environment.

• Tell me about a time you identified a discrepancy in a record or dataset. What steps did you take to resolve it?
• How do you organize your workflow to ensure no steps are missed when following a complex protocol?
• Describe your experience handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Can you share an example of a time you had to adapt quickly when a standard procedure failed or was interrupted?

Behavioral, Communication & Empathy

These questions evaluate your bilingual communication skills, participant interaction, and teamwork.

• Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex or sensitive topic to someone who was confused or frustrated.
• How do you handle a situation where a research participant is hesitant or non-compliant with study requests?
• Describe a time you had to collaborate with a diverse team of professionals (e.g., doctors, lab techs, administrators) to complete a project.
• How do you balance the need for strict data accuracy with providing a warm, accommodating experience for study participants?
• Why are you specifically interested in supporting research related to children's health and environmental factors at NYU Langone?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for this interview requires a balanced approach. You must demonstrate both your technical ability to handle sensitive medical data and your interpersonal skills for navigating clinical environments. Your interviewers will evaluate you across several core competencies:

Clinical Data Management Interviewers want to see your ability to handle complex, multi-modal data. This includes everything from EHR extraction (such as cord blood and postnatal records) to managing databases in Access or Excel. You can demonstrate strength here by discussing specific instances where you built data collection forms, cleaned messy datasets, and ensured data integrity.

Process Adherence and Accuracy In medical research, protocol is everything. You will be evaluated on your ability to meticulously follow study scripts, safely transport biospecimens, and maintain flawless records. Showcasing your organizational skills and your commitment to operating under tight deadlines with high accuracy will set you apart.

Communication and Empathy Because this role requires bilingual fluency (Spanish and English) and direct interaction with study participants, your communication skills are paramount. Interviewers will assess your ability to obtain informed consent, conduct follow-up calls, and maintain a positive, accommodating relationship with both the study team and the participants.

Problem-Solving in Ambiguous Environments Clinical data collection rarely goes perfectly according to plan. You will be tested on how you handle scheduling conflicts, missing data points, or logistical challenges like specimen delivery. You can excel by providing examples of how you troubleshoot data entry issues or adapt to changing participant needs while maintaining data quality.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for data and research roles at NYU Langone Health is thorough and highly collaborative, reflecting the institution's emphasis on teamwork and precision. You will typically begin with an initial phone screen with a recruiter or HR representative, focusing on your high-level background, your bilingual capabilities, and your basic technical proficiencies.

Following the screen, expect to meet with the hiring manager or a principal investigator. This conversation dives deeper into your experience with database management, data cleaning, and your understanding of clinical research protocols. The final stage usually involves a panel interview with various members of the research team, including other data associates, clinical coordinators, and scientists. This stage assesses your cultural fit, your ability to handle the day-to-day rigors of the role, and your communication skills through scenario-based questions.

Throughout the process, the underlying theme is trust. The team needs to know they can trust you with sensitive patient data, strict research protocols, and the public face of the institution when interacting with participants.

This timeline outlines the typical progression from your initial application to the final panel rounds. Use this visual to pace your preparation, ensuring you are ready to discuss your technical data skills early on, while saving your deepest behavioral and scenario-based examples for the final panel discussions.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Database Management and Data Integrity

At the core of this role is the ability to manage, clean, and report on data effectively. You must be comfortable navigating databases, performing data entry, and utilizing software packages to maintain accurate records.

• Electronic Study Forms – Your ability to design and implement forms for data collection.
• Data Cleaning – Identifying anomalies, correcting errors, and ensuring datasets are ready for analysis.
• Reporting – Generating actionable reports used for participant scheduling, follow-up, and research milestones.
• EHR Extraction – Navigating electronic health records to abstract necessary clinical data securely.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through your process for cleaning a messy dataset before generating a report."
• "How do you ensure accuracy when performing high-volume data entry or chart abstraction?"
• "Describe a time you had to create a database or tracking system from scratch. What tools did you use?"

Protocol Adherence and Clinical Operations

Data engineering in a clinical setting requires strict adherence to regulatory and study-specific protocols. You will be evaluated on your ability to execute operational tasks without compromising data integrity.

• Informed Consent – Understanding the ethical and legal requirements of enrolling participants.
• Biospecimen Handling – The logistics and safety protocols of collecting and transporting biological samples.
• Clinical Measurements – Obtaining and recording data such as body measurements, DXA scans, and blood pressure.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to follow a strict protocol or procedure. How did you ensure you didn't miss any steps?"
• "Imagine a participant is hesitant to provide a biospecimen sample after initially consenting. How do you handle this?"

Bilingual Communication and Stakeholder Management

Because this specific role requires bilingual fluency in Spanish and English, your ability to communicate complex research concepts to diverse populations is critical.

• Participant Interaction – Scheduling, confirming appointments, and conducting follow-up calls with empathy and clarity.
• Cross-functional Collaboration – Maintaining positive relationships with principal investigators, lab technicians, and clinical staff.
• Documentation – Keeping comprehensible records of all interactions in the call center database.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Can you provide an example of how you successfully communicated a complex process to someone without a technical or medical background?"
• "How do you prioritize your work when balancing participant follow-up calls with urgent data cleaning deadlines?"

Key Responsibilities

As a Data Engineer/Research Data Associate, your day-to-day work is a dynamic mix of technical data management and clinical operations. You will spend a significant portion of your time performing database management activities. This includes creating and updating electronic study forms, cleaning incoming data streams, and generating detailed reports that guide the study team's scheduling and participant follow-up efforts.

Beyond the screen, you are actively involved in the primary data collection pipeline. You will abstract charts and extract delivery and postnatal data directly from Electronic Health Records (EHR). You will also administer study assessments, including diet and physical activity questionnaires, and obtain vital clinical data such as body measurements and blood pressure.

Collaboration and communication are constant. You will utilize your bilingual skills to obtain informed consent from participants, carefully following study scripts. You will manage a high volume of participant interactions, scheduling appointments, conducting follow-up calls to ensure accurate questionnaire data collection, and meticulously logging these interactions in the call center database. Additionally, you will be responsible for the safe collection and transport of biospecimen samples to the lab, ensuring the physical data pipeline is as secure as the digital one.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for this role at NYU Langone Health, you must blend technical data proficiency with strong interpersonal skills tailored for a healthcare environment.

• Must-have skills

  • Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English.
  • An Associate's degree plus at least one year of related experience (or equivalent combination).
  • High computer literacy with proficiency in database and software packages (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access).
  • Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and rigorous attention to detail.
  • Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills for participant interaction.

• Nice-to-have skills

  • A Bachelor's degree plus 1-3 years of related experience in healthcare, research, or an educational environment.
  • Prior experience with Electronic Health Record (EHR) extraction and chart abstraction.
  • Familiarity with clinical research protocols, including informed consent and biospecimen handling.
  • Advanced experience creating electronic study forms and cleaning complex datasets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How technical is the interview for this Data Engineer / Research Data Associate role? The technical assessment focuses heavily on applied data management rather than advanced software engineering. Expect to be tested on your proficiency with Excel, Access, database maintenance, data cleaning methodologies, and your ability to learn EHR extraction systems, rather than intensive coding or algorithm design.

Q: Will my bilingual skills be tested during the interview? Yes. Because bilingual fluency in Spanish and English is a strict requirement for communicating with participants and obtaining informed consent, you should expect a portion of the interview (often a role-play scenario or standard questions) to be conducted in Spanish.

Q: What is the culture like within the research teams at NYU Grossman School of Medicine? The culture is highly mission-driven, collaborative, and fast-paced. Teams are deeply committed to improving health outcomes and equity. However, the environment also demands high accountability, strict adherence to deadlines, and flexibility, as clinical research often requires adapting to participant schedules.

Q: How should I prepare for the scenario-based questions? Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Focus heavily on the "Action" and "Result" phases, ensuring you highlight your attention to detail, your adherence to protocols, and the ultimate impact on data quality or patient/participant experience.

Other General Tips

• Highlight Process Improvements: NYU Langone values efficiency. If you have ever streamlined a data entry process, improved a database structure, or created a better reporting template, make sure to highlight these achievements.
• Showcase Empathy: This is not a back-office role. You will be interacting with families and children for longitudinal studies. Demonstrate that you view data points as real people, and emphasize your patient-facing soft skills.
• Be Ready to Discuss Flexibility: Acknowledge the requirement for evening, weekend, and travel hours early on. Expressing your willingness to be flexible for the sake of the research study demonstrates your commitment to the team's success.
• Connect with the Mission: Review the specific studies mentioned (NYU FIRST, NYU CHES, ECHO, Pediatric Obesity). Mentioning these by name and expressing genuine interest in environmental impacts on children's health will strongly differentiate you from other candidates.

Summary & Next Steps

Securing a role as a Data Engineer / Research Data Associate at NYU Langone Health is a unique opportunity to blend technical database expertise with impactful, on-the-ground clinical research. You will be at the forefront of gathering and refining the data that empowers the Grossman School of Medicine to make groundbreaking discoveries in children's health and environmental medicine.

To succeed in your interviews, focus on demonstrating a flawless attention to detail, a strong command of data cleaning and database management, and the empathetic communication skills necessary to engage diverse participant populations. Remember that your interviewers are looking for a reliable, highly organized professional who can manage both digital records and human interactions with equal care.

The compensation and benefits package at NYU Langone Health is highly competitive and designed to support your holistic well-being. When reviewing the salary and benefits data, factor in the robust support system offered, including generous time-off, financial security benefits, and comprehensive wellness programs covering physical, mental, and preventive care.

Approach your preparation with confidence. By aligning your past experiences with NYU Langone's core values of equity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, you will position yourself as an invaluable asset to their research team. For further insights and to continue refining your interview strategy, explore the additional resources available on Dataford. You have the skills and the drive to excel—now it is time to show them.