Senior Research Analyst, Quantitative

Department

UEI Consortium Research Porter

About the Department

For over 30 years, the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research (UChicago Consortium) has informed solutions to the most difficult problems facing urban schools. The UChicago Consortium is committed to better understanding the fundamental practices and conditions that advance student learning, promote attainment, and foster more equitable outcomes. We work in a highly collaborative environment that produces research of high technical quality to inform policy and practice in the Chicago Public Schools, as well as schools nationwide. A central component of our work is engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders and stimulating evidence-driven discourse about the vital issues facing schools. The UChicago Consortium has been described as the "gold standard" for education research-practice partnerships and has been replicated nationally. Our research has been an essential factor in improving outcomes for students and school staff, both in Chicago and in school districts across the country.

Within the UChicago Consortium, The Equitable Learning and Development Group (ELDG) conducts research in service of building knowledge and capacity to support learning and positive development for young people and the adults who work with them in education settings. We are explicitly concerned with addressing social and economic inequalities, supporting educators to change educational systems, and supporting young people's identity development, well-being, and academic trajectories. We seek to center and elevate the voices of students, families, and communities who have been marginalized in education settings.

For more information about the UChicago Consortium, see consortium.uchicago.edu

For more information about the ELDG, see consortium.uchicago.edu/equitable_learning_and_development

Job Summary

UChicago Consortium is seeking a Senior Research Analyst with strong quantitative research skills that will inform policy and practice and a passion for doing meaningful work to help schools become more equitable. This position may work on both ELDG and other Consortium projects. The Senior Research Analyst will be able to serve as principal investigator on studies, developing research plans, carrying them out, working with a team, writing results, and presenting findings. The successful candidate will have a commitment to urban education, be deeply curious, and be willing to learn new methods and topics. The Consortium is particularly interested in candidates with experience in quasi-experimental methods and expertise in measurement in the areas of social emotional learning, adolescent development, academic motivation, psychometrics, or measurement of student experience/learning conditions. Working in interdisciplinary and cross-methodological contexts is a plus.

The Senior Research Analyst position requires someone who is able to independently handle multiple concurrent tasks and work in a highly collaborative environment. The Senior Research Analyst will demonstrate expertise with conducting rigorous analyses of quantitative data and will have opportunities to share findings and work with other scholars and researchers, non-profit leaders, school practitioners, district administrators, and local policymakers. The ideal Senior Research Analyst candidate has experience successfully conducting and completing independent research, demonstrating strong communication and project administration skills, and demonstrating cultural literacy in their work. This position is in-person for the first six months and has an option to be hybrid after six months.

Responsibilities

• Takes a leadership role in designing and implementing quasi-experimental and descriptive research with a focus on student experience surveys and school culture and climate surveys.

• Serves as Principal Investigator on projects and be responsible for leading and managing research projects.

• Identifies and applies appropriate research techniques with independent judgment.

• Produces translational research products aimed at practitioners and policymakers.

• Prepares reports and manuscripts for publication in academic journals.

• Plays an active role in designing research studies, writing grant proposals and grant reports.

• Engages and communicates with a wide range of educational stakeholders.

• Develops ongoing relationships with partners, including funders, policymakers, individuals in Chicago schools, the University of Chicago, and state and national educational research organizations.

• Mentors junior staff.

• Provides advice on methods to colleagues.

• Contributes to the intellectual capacity of the organization and to creating a positive, collaborative environment.

• Uses subject matter and best practices knowledge to perform lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Works independently to assist with project design.

• Solves complex problems relating to the administration of projects, including planning new procedures, adapting existing procedures to the needs of the project, and making significant contributions to methodology.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in education, public policy, economics, sociology or other relevant social science or mathematical discipline.

• Doctoral degree in education, public policy, economics, sociology or other relevant social science or mathematical discipline.

Experience:

• 5 years experience post degree.

• 2 years experience using quasi-experimental methods to analyze large scale data.

• Coursework in statistics.

• Experience with conducting applied education research.

• Authorship on scholarly articles and/or research or evaluation reports.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge and demonstrated use of quasi-experimental methods.

• Advanced skills in SAS, Stata, and/or R.

• Cleaning large-scale data sets.

• Working with large-scale data with over 25,000 responses.

• Passion for improving educational outcomes and supporting actionable uses of research evidence.

• Commitment to understanding and improving outcomes for students of all backgrounds and experiences.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently, in collaboration as a team member, and in a supervisory role.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

• Writing Sample (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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