Researcher

Department
 

Harris School Pre-Docs, Temps and Non-Student Research Assistants

About the Department
 

Why Policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact.

Job Summary
 

Professor Guillaume Pouliot, Harris School of Public Policy, is seeking a part-time research assistant with strong technical skills to work on large-scale social policy research projects.

The position involves conducting research focused on the development and creation of statistical software tailored for applied public policy. The role will include designing and implementing statistical tools to address real-world policy challenges, ensuring that the software meets the needs of researchers and policymakers. In addition, the position will require running simulations to evaluate and establish the performance and effectiveness of the proposed software. This work will contribute to improving decision-making processes in public policy through the use of advanced statistical methodologies.

The successful candidate will have experience with statistical software and with designing and implementing statistical tools. From project inception to delivery, the research assistant will contribute to all facets of data collection and cleaning, model development, and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Prepares project memos, summaries, presentations and manuscripts targeting both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers, academic researchers and other stakeholders

• Prepares sections of research results, including proofing, formatting and creating tables and graphs.

• Assists with managing project deliverables.

• Documents internal and external meetings.

• Assists with data collection, management, and analysis including cleaning and assembling the files for data analysis.

• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects.

• Designing and implementing statistical tools.

• Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.

• Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.

• 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 < 2 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 economics, sociology, public policy, statistics, computer science, or a closely related field. 

Experience:

• Experience working with statistical programming languages.

• Strong interest in public policy,.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Experience in data analysis.

• Strong quantitative skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.

Preferred Competencies

• R or Python experience strongly preferred.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

• Ability to work carefully with sensitive and confidential data.

• Candidates are encouraged to highlight experience in the following areas: 

• Working with large, complex, and/or administrative datasets.

• Program evaluation methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, propensity

• score matching, regression discontinuity).

• Creating data visualizations.

• Conducting predictive analyses using random forest or related

• algorithms.

• Imputing missing data.

 Working Conditions

• Researcher will be based out of Chicago, IL.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

• Reference Contact Information (2) (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
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

25

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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