Senior Research Scientist - Equity Research

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
 

Grade: Technical 409

Pay Range: $127,700.00 - $191,500.00

Job Description

What drives student belonging, success, and fairness—and what can we do about it?

At WGU, we believe data can change lives. Our Institutional Analytics & Research (IAR) team uses that belief to drive measurable student outcomes across the university. We’re now hiring a Senior Research Scientist to join our Equity Research team—leading studies that surface and solve for inequities across race, income, gender, geography, and more.

If you’re a systems thinker who can blend rigor with relevance—and you’re energized by the idea of improving access to education for underserved learners—this is the role to make a difference.

What You’ll Do

• Lead high-impact research projects focused on disparities in outcomes like retention, belonging, and completion
• Frame questions and findings through a systems-equity lens that challenges assumptions and reveals opportunity
• Partner with Data Engineering, EdTech, Academic Programs, and IR teams to embed equity insights into policy and practice
• Blend qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., SQL, Python/R, survey analysis, thematic coding) to tell clear, actionable stories
• Contribute to equity measurement frameworks, build research capacity, and mentor others
• Present findings through internal briefings, public conferences, or peer-reviewed channels

What You Bring

Required:

• Bachelor’s in Education, Sociology, Public Policy, Data Science—or related field
• 7+ years in applied research, educational equity, learning analytics, or social science inquiry
• Advanced skills in SQL and one statistical/programming language (Python, R, etc.)
• Proven track record of leading complex, equity-focused research projects
• Ability to translate findings for both technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred:

• Experience with mixed-methods or qualitative research (Recollective, Dedoose, Quirkos)
• Familiarity with belonging, motivation, or engagement survey constructs
• Prior work with higher ed institutions, research centers, or philanthropic partners
• Publication or presentation experience in external academic or practitioner venues

Work Location

• This is a full-time, in-office position at WGU’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT. You’ll work side-by-side with a multidisciplinary team of analysts, researchers, and educators committed to data-informed innovation.

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Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retiremen