Behavioral Scientist

About the role

The Behavioral Scientist will advise the strategic growth of the Global Muslim Studies Division and support the execution of empirical research exploring the religious, social, and psychological dynamics of Muslim populations worldwide. Reporting to the Director of Global Data Studies, this role requires a self-starter who can manage deadlines and deliverables, leveraging quantitative and qualitative methods to generate data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• Research Design & Data Collection
• Design and execute experimental studies and surveys from scratch, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate religious and social phenomena.
• Lead complex data gathering initiatives, including long-form qualitative interviews, focus groups, and the collection of data.
• Analysis & Methodology
• Apply advanced statistical knowledge to large datasets and utilize data visualization.
• Lead product/program evaluations to assess impact and efficacy through rigorous scientific standards.
• Publication & Deliverables
• Academic Writing: Author and co-author high-level deliverables including academic papers, journal articles, curriculum standards, white papers, and books.
• Collaboration: Work simultaneously on multiple projects, collaborating with the "Books & Reports" squad to ensure research aligns with long-term publication goals.

Qualifications

• Education Required: PhD or Master’s degree in Sociology, Economics, Epidemiology, Psychology, Criminology, Islamic Studies, or Education.
• Technical Proficiency
• Statistical Software: Strong proficiency in working with statistical software, specifically Stata, SPSS, MPlus, R, or Python.
• Research Tools: Expertise in using Qualtrics for survey design and Shamela/Academic Libraries for literature reviews.
• Core Competencies
• Islamic Literacy: Understanding of foundational Islamic ideas, concepts, values, and principles is essential for contextualizing research findings.
• Academic Rigor: Demonstrated ability to produce work that meets the standards of peer review and academic credibility.
• Strategic Alignment: Ability to distinguish between "knowledge generation" (Research) and "delivery optimization" (Product), ensuring work focuses on validity, authority, and shifting public narrative.

Success Metrics

• Publication of peer-reviewed papers and journal articles.
• Citations and recognition within the academic community.
• Contribution to shifting the public narrative regarding Muslims through evidence-based description.