Part- Time Research Data Analyst

Job Responsibilities

• Design the plan for and analyze observational and survey data regarding policymakers’ or researchers’ engagement in boundary-spanning initiatives, including longitudinal and multi-level analyses
• Extract, transform, clean, and maintain data from a variety of sources
• Develop and proactive upkeep of data sources (e.g., surveys in Redcap, observational data via a CRM)
• Contribute to the development of analytic plans for grants and publications
• Support analytic needs for grant writing and reporting (e.g., power analyses; interim impact analyses)
• Mentor undergraduate- and graduate-level interns and fellows on developing and executing analytic plans
• Juggle multiple projects and move ideas into action with attention to methodological and analytic details
• Support research planning by setting milestone goals and incremental internal deadlines to achieve goals

Skills And Traits Needed By Applicants

• Excellent analytic abilities and advanced quantitative statistical modeling skills (e.g., longitudinal, multi-level, over dispersed) of large, messy datasets
• Proficient with statistical programming software and languages (e.g., SAS, STATA, or R)
• Excellent attention to detail
• Applied research experience, such as large administrative datasets or real-world data
• Enthusiasm and commitment to accelerating the translation of science to policy
• Curiosity and a generalist attitude with interest in diverse social policy issues
• Ability to work on multiple simultaneous projects and prioritize work based on project scope, organizational need, and timeline
• Strong diplomatic communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong communication skills, such as seeking input early in design and escalating threats or problems to PIs
• Ensuring quality control of data collection, and alerting PIs as needed
• Strong writing skills that can produce written sections of methods and results for peer review publication
• Bipartisan mindset and ability to interpret findings from multiple viewpoints

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher; applicants may have their degrees from any department, but degrees in psychology, public health, human development, public policy, social work, or prevention science will be particularly good fits for the program.
• Preference will be given to applicants in Virginia within commuting distance of Washington, D.C. to support in-person data collection from congressional staff
• Applicants should review the list of states in which Penn State cannot support employment.
• Permanent residence must be established in an allowable state prior to position start date.