Researcher, Kinder Institute for Urban Research

About the Role

The Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC), a program of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research (KIUR) at Rice University, is seeking a full-time Researcher to advance its mission of improving lives in Houston by bringing data and research to decision-makers. The ideal candidate has expertise in managing complex administrative datasets and applying advanced statistical methods—such as causal inference and quasi-experimental research designs—to answer policy-relevant questions.

The Researcher manages multiple projects simultaneously and works closely with HERC associate directors and Houston-area school district partners through a research-practice partnership (RPP) model. In addition to leading collaborative research projects, the Researcher translates findings for diverse audiences through reports, presentations, data visualizations, and other research products. The position also includes supervising small research teams and supporting external grant development in collaboration with HERC leadership.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute consists of five research centers focused on critical aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area, including housing, education, community and public health, economic mobility and inequality, and population dynamics. Each center collaborates across the institute on interdisciplinary, solutions-oriented research using a research-practice partnership (RPP) model.

Responsibilities

• Designs, plans, implements, and conducts independent and team-based research studies and specialized research projects.
• Effectively communicates and translates research findings for a variety of audiences through research briefs, papers, presentations, and data dashboards.
• Builds relationships with school districts and other community stakeholders, providing expertise in research methodologies and data analysis.
• Provides strategic insights and recommendations based on research findings to support school district partners’ decision-making processes.
• Mentors, supervises, and trains researchers by involving them meaningfully in ongoing research.
• Leads and develops research studies from start to finish, including managing a research team.
• Supports the development of applications for research grants.
• Stays updated on emerging trends, methodologies, and best practices in research and data analysis.
• Innovates methodologies and frameworks to optimize data acquisition and analysis processes.
• Conducts comprehensive gathering, interpretation, and analysis of intricate datasets sourced from diverse channels.
• Crafts detailed reports summarizing research findings, methodologies, and implications for various audiences.
• Utilizes advanced statistical and analytical tools to extract actionable insights and forecast trends.
• Develops sophisticated predictive models based on rigorous data analysis.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Sociology, Education, or a related field, and completion of a university-level course, thesis, or dissertation.
• 4+ years of experience in:
  • Managing, cleaning, documenting, and merging complex longitudinal administrative datasets.
  • Applying advanced statistical methods to answer policy-relevant research questions.
  • Quantitative statistical analysis.
  • Programming in R, Stata, or SAS.

Skills

• Proficiency in statistical analysis, data interpretation, and critical thinking to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets.
• Experience conducting research on topics in education and a deep understanding of the U.S. education system.
• Ability to translate the research needs of school districts into actionable research studies.
• Strong understanding of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, survey design, and experimental techniques.
• Ability to collect, organize, and manage large datasets efficiently while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate research findings effectively through comprehensive reports, presentations, and other media.
• Capability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously, including planning, coordination, and timely execution, while ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget constraints.
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and external partners to achieve research objectives.

Preferences

• Ph.D. with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in collaborative research with nonprofit organizations or school districts.
• Understanding of research-practice partnerships in education research.
• Experience developing and managing research projects, managing data, and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, and interviews.
• Experience as a Research Assistant as part of Ph.D. training.
• Ability to conduct and lead quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research.
• Ability to oversee various research projects while managing and mentoring other research staff.
• Ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Adaptability and the ability to think creatively to address issues.

Workplace Details

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work (3 days in-office/2 days remote). Occasional travel and periodic evening and/or weekend work may be required.

Pay

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with a hiring salary of $80,000 - $83,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Rice University offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more details, visit Rice University HR | Benefits.