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https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12680858 Department
PSD Data Science Staff: Outlier Group
About the Department
The Data Science Education Research Team (Outlier Research & Evaluation)
at the Data Science Institute is committed to improving educational
opportunities and outcomes for learners of all backgrounds, with
particular attention to those who have been less frequently represented
in STEM fields. Outlier works across a range of settings-including
public schools, universities, industry, and community organizations-to
examine a variety of STEM education topics. These range from elementary
afterschool programs to state-level high school data science course
policies and community college certificate program development. Grounded
in the study of implementation, scale, and sustainability, Outlier
conducts applied research and evaluation in close collaboration with
practitioners and subject-matter experts. Currently, the team\'s
research emphasizes data science and AI education.
The University of Chicago Data Science Institute (DSI) is a
collaboration of scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners
pursuing the methodological, societal, and domain-oriented challenges of
our increasingly data-centric world. The DSI is a research center that
sets the intellectual agenda for the field and is an innovator and
provider of data education at the undergraduate, graduate, and
professional levels. Integral to DSI\'s success is the rewarding
engagement outside the walls of the university through meaningful
partnerships with industry, government, and the community.
Job Summary
The Research Associate will support research and evaluation on
kindergarten-adult STEM education, with a focus on high school and
postsecondary data science education. The ideal candidate is an
organized, self-motivated individual who thrives in both independent and
collaborative environments, managing multiple projects simultaneously
with supervision. This role involves all stages of the research process,
including instrument development, data management, statistical and
qualitative analysis, and the preparation of reports and presentations.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with senior researchers, as well as colleagues at DSI
and partner organizations, to support the team\'s research and
evaluation agenda.
Conduct literature reviews to inform current and future research.
Collect, clean, and manage data from various sources.
Perform basic quantitative and qualitative data analysis and
contribute to insightful reports summarizing findings.
Lead Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions and modifications,
ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards.
Assist in developing and distributing survey instruments.
Provide technical and administrative support for research projects.
Contribute to the preparation of reports, manuscripts, and other
written deliverables.
Support senior researchers in developing and preparing funding
proposals.
Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting
with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with
developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases;
and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness
in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and
procedures, and relevant scientific field.
Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature
reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other
documents.
Perform other related tasks as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related
field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through
Certifications:
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor\'s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Education,
Psychology, Data Science).
Experience:
2-3+ years of progressively responsible research, program
evaluation, and/or STEM education work experience.
Preferred Competencies
Strong organizational skills with the ability to work independently in a
complex environment.
Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight
deadlines.
Proficiency with spreadsheet software (Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel).
Experience with statistical and/or qualitative analysis methods.
Experience with at least one of the following: SPSS, MAXQDA.
Basic familiarity with data science concepts and/or data science
education.
Knowledge of school and school district, state and federal system
operations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
