Research Associate

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

ID: 7136538 (Ref.No. BSU36379)
Posted: March 27, 2023
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Conduct original scholarly and policy related research and write policy briefs, business briefs and reports in collaboration with the Director, Research Director, other faculty members or staff; supervise student research projects; coordinate data collection, analysis and production for research projects and coordinate the work of graduate assistants and undergraduate students on various research projects; formulate and execute the long-term research and strategic plans of the Center, to include cross-campus collaboration; design and maintain standard operating procedures for data storage, data retrieval and project management structures for the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER); become familiar with and aid in the collection and organization of significant local, state and national economic data for research projects.

Position is subject to continued availability of funding. The individual hired will have an At Will assignment.

The Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University seeks a Research Associate to join our staff. The Center conducts relevant, timely economic and public policy research on a wide range of issues that affect Indiana and beyond. This full-time, professional position offers a supportive, innovative environment with opportunities for continued professional development and conference travel. The Research Associate will conduct original scholarly and policy-related research; collaborate with colleagues and university partners to produce briefs, white papers, and studies; work with an interdisciplinary team on a variety of projects with statewide impact; and mentor graduate and undergraduate students in data collection and research projects.

Job Function:

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, business management, sociology, urban planning or related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, business management or related discipline with an applied microeconomic focus such as state and local public finance, urban and regional economics, labor economics, environmental economics, education economics.

Minimum Experience:

At least one year of work experience with economic analysis, preferably in business, research center or think tank, including graduate student experience.

Preferred Experience:

Knowledge of SAS or other data management software; knowledge of advanced statistical software such as SAS, STATA, EVIEWS, R. Experience working with large datasets.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Engage in external negotiations with research clients and sponsors, identify research strategies for empirical research and develop long-term relationships with clients such as state and local agencies, not-for-profit organizations, partner colleges and universities and commercial vendors.
Research and write policy briefs, business briefs, and reports to be disseminated to the Center’s clients and the general public as appropriate; explain research findings of policy briefs, studies and business briefs to representatives of print, radio and TV media and on social media as appropriate; present research findings to clients and research sponsors and develop internal capacity to improve the Center’s communication of research findings through print and online media.
Develop research stream in a preferred area or areas that would lead to conference presentations and a publication stream in appropriate academic or practitioner journals, engage in scholarship with colleagues within and outside the university, teach, mentor students, and develop the reputation of BSU as a Research University.
Develop control features to maintain the integrity and quality of procedures and programs, especially those related to maintenance of large databases, and scheduled data and publication releases.
Train graduate and undergraduate students to assist in the completion of the foregoing responsibilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

At Ball State University, we recognize inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill our University’s mission and our strategic plan. We recruit, support, and retain a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We encourage and reward diversity of thought. We promote a work environment that encourages and rewards innovation and creativity. We pledge to keep Inclusive Excellence at the highest level of institutional importance and as a foundation in all that we strive to do. Our over-arching goal for Inclusive Excellence is to adopt a university-wide Inclusive Excellence approach to academic, administrative support, and service functions of the university. We believe Inclusive Excellence must be infused in every step we take.

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