Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

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, lecture 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 how 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 (KIUR) at Rice University is seeking a full-time Research Analyst to join its Houston Population Research Center Demography Team. The Research Analyst will collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of community-engaged scholars and local partners on a wide range of demographic topics.

The role involves contributing to multiple research projects simultaneously within a research-practice partnership framework, ensuring that findings are both rigorous and relevant to community needs. Responsibilities include developing research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting results to both academic and community audiences. The Research Analyst will also support the dissemination of findings at professional conferences and public forums and may supervise and mentor student research assistants.

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 topic area and will work across centers. To achieve this, each center is building interdisciplinary teams specializing in solutions-oriented research while using a partnership model of research. The partnership model works to jointly design, develop, and conduct research that values diversity in expertise and prioritizes the community in identifying and addressing the most pressing questions and challenges facing the Houston area. The goal is for the institute’s research to inform decision-making and bring about systemic change.    

Ideal candidates work well in a team environment, actively collaborate, and can motivate others. S/he has superior scientific and numerical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and accuracy. 

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.

Hiring Range: 

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary range is 67,000 - $69,000 annually, depending 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, or related field, and completion of a university-level course, thesis, or dissertation.
•  Two or more (2+) years of experience in the following:
  • Data maintenance and analysis
  • Maintaining quality control standards
  • Demographic methods.
  • Quantitative methodology; and
  • Stata, SAS, or R. 

Skills:

• Knowledge of software statistical packages such as STATA, SAS, R, or HLM
• Excellent analytical and research skills
• Ability to build reports
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proofreading
• Excellent presentation skills

Preferences

• Doctoral or Master’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in demography, psychology, sociology, or other social science, or related field, and one year of experience in the following: 
  • Data analysis
  • Demographic methods
  • Quantitative methodology; and
  • SPSS, Stata, SAS, or R.     

Essential Functions

• Assists with research projects, including in the design and planning of research questions, and collaborates in data collection and analysis, as well as in the dissemination and communication of findings
• Identifies, locates, and obtains data and information necessary for conducting research projects 
• Uses demographic, quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies from the social sciences 
• Maintains and implements quality control standards for varying research projects
• Facilitates planning, scheduling, execution, and completion of research projects
• Runs statistical analyses using standard statistical methods and techniques 
• Utilizes appropriate statistical software programs to conduct research  
• Verifies the accuracy and replicability of data analysis using scientific and numerical skills 
• Interprets and communicates research findings for various audiences and publications, including research briefs, journals, manuscripts, professional conferences, and data visualization graphics 
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Provides support for established research partnerships

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

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

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.

Link to apply: https://emdz.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2001/job/5066