Position Overview

The Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR) is a designated research center for the social sciences, supporting social science researchers at the University of Kansas. IPSR supports faculty-led research centers, their directors, and a network of more than 100 affiliates, and staff.

The Associate Researcher supports the Center for Science, Technology & Economic Policy (CSTEP). The Associate Researcher’s primary responsibilities include data preparation, queries, documentation, analysis, report preparation, and student training. These tasks are performed to support CSTEP’s mission of research related to science policy, science labor markets, education policy, state and local economic development and economic policy. The Associate Researcher must handle competing deadlines and be able to prioritize and balance competing demands with guidance from the Director of CSTEP.


Job Description

45% - Analysis, Interpretation, Writing

Design and perform descriptive and econometric analysis for research projects. Create variables for analysis from administrative and survey data. Create graphs and cross-tabulations as part of exploratory analysis. Design data collection tools (such as survey questions) when necessary. With guidance from principal investigator and work team, develop and test econometric models. Interpret research results, write research reports, and present results. Write research and evaluation reports for clients both internal and external.

40% - Data Queries and Documentation

Prepare, test, and document complex economic datasets for sponsored research: Combine data from multiple sources. Combine data from multiple years to create longitudinal datasets. Recode data from Census, NSF, and other sources so that variables have common codes and interpretations over time, so that longitudinal analysis may be performed. Test created datasets for consistency, outliers, and missing values. Document code to make updating and revision easier. Work performed as part of a research team. Programming languages used include SAS, Access, and Stata. Communicate with principal investigator and work team to prepare data for further use.

5% - Student Training

Train student researchers to find relevant data and to use SAS and other statistical programs to re-structure and analyze large datasets: Help students to understand the structure and contents of datasets such as Current Population Survey, Census PUMS, and NSF Survey of Doctoral Recipients. Teach students basic programming skills.

10% - Proposal Drafting & Other Duties

Assists in writing research proposals. Performs other duties as assigned.


Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in economics, business, statistics, or related social science field and 3 years of additional experience in the field/area of research.
At least one year of experience in a research environment as evidenced by application materials.
Experience creating tabular and graphical displays of quantitative information using Microsoft Excel, Word, and other software as evidenced by application materials.
Experience with research writing under competing deadlines as evidenced by application materials.
Experience collecting data from both published and on-line sources as evidenced by application materials.
Experience creating and managing data sets using SAS, STATA, Excel, Access, or other similar software programs as evidenced by application materials.
Demonstrated understanding of econometric or statistical tools and techniques as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

PhD degree in economics, business, statistics, or related social science field.
Experience with evaluation of policy issues in economic development and education.
Experience making oral presentations.
Experience developing data collection protocols for interviews and surveys.
Experience in successfully developing, leading, and managing sponsored research projects.
Experience training others in statistical, econometric methods, and/or data use and methods.