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Researcher, Kinder Institute for Urban Research (Finance)



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About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. ]

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute is currently working to build out five research centers focused on critical aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five centers will research housing , education , community and public health , economic mobility and inequality , and population dynamics . Each center will investigate its particular topic area and will work across centers. To achieve this, each center is building interdisciplinary teams specializing in solutions-oriented research while using a research-practice partnership (RPP) model to jointly design, develop, and conduct research that values diversity in expertise and prioritizes the community in identifying and addressing some of the most pressing questions and challenges facing Houston and surrounding areas to inform decision-making and bring about systemic change

The Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC), a program of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research (KIUR) at Rice University,is seeking a full-time Researcher with expertise in quantitative and qualitative research who can design, plan, and implement complex and specialized research projects. The Researcher is involved in multiple research projects at a time and employs a research-practice partnership (RPP) framework to work closely with HERC's associate directors and Houston-area partner school districts. They effectively communicate research findings through research briefs and papers, presentations, and conferences to various audiences, including partners and stakeholders. In addition to conducting rigorous and sophisticated research, they also effectively translate research findings for broad and varied audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products to communicate findings, including (but not limited to) research briefs and papers, presentations, webinars, video recordings, data dashboards, and professional conferences. Researchers supervise and train small research teams and work in cooperation with HERC leadership and staff grant writers to pursue external research grants.

The ideal candidate excels in advanced statistical analysis, research methodologies, and data management, with strong communication and project management skills to deliver impactful research in collaborative environments.

Workplace Requirements

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. [3 days in-office/2 days remote)] Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring salary is $82,000 - $85,000 annually, contingent on qualifications and experience. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) in sociology, economics, other social science, public health, or related field and completion of a University-level course, thesis, dissertation
  • 4+ years of experience in the following:
    • Data maintenance and analysis;
    • Maintaining quality control standards;
    • Quantitative methodology; and
    • Stata, SAS, or R.
  • Skills
    • Knowledge of software statistical packages such as Stata, SAS, R, or HLM
    • Proficiency in statistical analysis, data interpretation, and critical thinking to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets.
    • Strong understanding of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, survey design, and experimental techniques.
    • Ability to collect, organize, and manage large datasets efficiently while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate research findings effectively through comprehensive reports, presentations, and other mediums
    • Capability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously, including planning, coordination, and timely execution while ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget constraints.
    • Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and external partners to achieve research objectives and foster a collaborative work environment

Preferences
  • PhD with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in collaborative research with non-profit organizations or school districts
  • Experience developing and managing research projects, managing data and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, and interviews
  • Mission-driven with a passion for social justice and advancing equity
  • Experience as a Research Assistant as part of the Ph.D. training
  • Able to conduct and lead quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research
  • Able to oversee various research projects while managing and mentoring other research staff
  • Able to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders
  • Adaptable to change and able to think creatively to address issues
  • Able to work well with many people and many personalities

Essential Functions
  • Designs, plans, implements, and conducts independent and team-based research studies and specialized research projects
  • Effectively communicates and translates research findings for a variety of audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products, such as research briefs and papers, presentations, and data dashboards
  • Communicates and builds relationships with community organizations and stakeholders, providing unparalleled expertise in research methodologies and data analysis.
  • Provides strategic insights and recommendations based on research findings to support our community partners' decision-making processes
  • Mentors, supervises, and trains researchers by including them in ongoing research in a meaningful manner
  • Leads and develops research studies from start to finish, including managing a research team
  • Supports the development of applications for research grants
  • Stays updated on emerging trends, methodologies, and best practices in research and data analysis to enhance skills, improve processes, and contribute to organizational growth and innovation.
  • Innovate methodologies and frameworks to optimize data acquisition and analysis processes.
  • Conducts comprehensive gathering, interpretation, and analysis of intricate datasets sourced from diverse channels.
  • Crafts detailed and comprehensive reports summarizing research findings, methodologies, and implications clearly and concisely suitable for various audiences, including stakeholders, executives, and decision-makers.
  • Utilizes advanced statistical and analytical tools to extract actionable insights and forecast trends.
  • Develops sophisticated predictive models based on rigorous data analysis.
  • Produces detailed reports, succinct summaries, and impactful presentations elucidating research discoveries.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University. Apply

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