Social Sciences Data Project Researcher - 140828

The Rady School of Management provides business education through its degree programming (PhD and four Masters) undergraduate education, and executive business programs. In addition to these educational programs, the Rady School includes a number of Centers of Excellence, including the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Kroner and Koenigsberger Center for Financial Research, and the Brandes Center, among others.

The Rady School of Management advances business by generating meaningful research and educating principled, innovative leaders. The staff who work at the Rady School have created a highly participatory, high-energy, upbeat environment where providing excellent customer service to our students, faculty and fellow staff is a priority.

Under direct guidance of Rady School of Management faculty, the Research Data Analyst 2 applies acquired skills and knowledge of applicable research discipline to support social sciences research projects of small to medium size and intermediate scope and complexity.

This position assists Rady School of Management with research projects and suports those projects, with data collection, management and analysis. The research projects have a strong focus on topics in education, health, housing, inequality, and racial, ethnic, and gender disparities. The research also has direct impacts for policy and practice.

The primary responsibilities include cleaning research data, analyzing data and engaging in field research, such as contacting study participants and conducting interviews or reaching out to schools and community organizations to request administrative data, and transfer of data from a variety of sources.

The position also conducts literature reviews and summarizes current/recent findings available in journal articles, enters research data and information into spreadsheets and systems, may prepare and review data for publication, assists with grant applications, may contribute to writing research progress reports, and performs other general administrative tasks related to the research project.

The projects the research assistant may work on include:

• Evaluating the educational investments that improve health outcomes for children.

• Field studies investigating the impact of nudges on physical activity.

• General behavioral/experimental economics or behavioral finance topics.

• Studies documenting and quantifying the distributional impact of different policies related to (i) housing and (ii) voting along racial and ethnic lines, including the distributional impact arising from property tax policy and from the Voting Rights Act.

This position is hybrid; some time on campus each week is required.

• This is a 1-year position. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's or master's degree, and will be seeking hands-on research experience prior to pursuing further graduate studies in economics, business, finance or a related field.

• Experience in social science data collection and data entry. Experience cleaning data, troubleshooting data problems; experience analyzing social sciences data using Stata. Working skills in statistical analysis, systems programming, database design and data security measures.

• Experience or college coursework in research design, data collection and processing, data analysis. College coursework in social sciences research skills, data management and/or basic experience collecting or analyzing data on a research project (or course project) using Stata (statistical software)

• Experience conducting thorough literature searches; experience locating, evaluating and summarizing reliable, scholarly source materials.

• Working knowledge of research function. Theoretical knowledge to discern and document a pattern of results or cause/effect relationships. The theoretical knowledge to analyze results and data. Ability to stay up to date with changing requirements for research.

• Experience compiling, cleaning, synthesize, validating, and interpreting data and results. Experience conducting quality control actions.

• Working skills in analysis and consultation. Demonstrated ability to work independently and cooperatively. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail; time management skills. Prioritization skills. Experience meeting deadlines in a productive environment.

• Skills to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing. Collaboration skills, tact and diplomacy, and the ability to work with a diverse group of people. The ability to take direction and apply feedback from others. Ability to work with different populations. The judgement to keep team updated on progress or anticipated barriers to progress; participation in group discussions and problem-solving sessions.

• Meticulous record keeping and administrative skills. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. to produce graphs, tables, and other visuals for reports and presentations. Experience using Word/Google Docs to create documents, reports, spreadsheets, and track data such as expenses, hours worked, payroll/timekeeping details.

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business, Finance, Social Sciences, or related field; or, an equivalent combination of knowledge and experience.

PREFERRED

• Experience preparing data for grant applications and/or project summary reports for a funding agency.

• Previous education/interest/education in general behavioral/experimental economics or behavioral finance topics (examples among many topics: early education/educational investments that improve health outcomes for children; field studies investigating the impact of behavioral reminders on physical activity; the distributional impact of different policies related to (i) housing and (ii) voting along racial and ethnic lines related to property tax policy and from the Voting Rights Act)

• Interest in obtaining hands-on research experience prior to pursuing further graduate studies in economics, business, finance, or a related field.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.