Senior Research Analyst

Department

AI RISC

About the Department

The Center for RISC is the brainchild of Steven Levitt, professor of economics at the University of Chicago and co-author of Freakonomics. We are not an academic group or research lab. Instead, we investigate today’s social issues by combining unconventional perspectives with empirical data, generating radical solutions with real-world relevance. We then test and scale those solutions through a mix of partnerships with academics, nonprofits, government agencies, international organizations, and private corporations.

Our team holds degrees from the world’s leading universities, and our Analysts have trained in the fields of data science, economics, political science, applied mathematics, and more. After their time at RISC, our alumni have continued their distinguished paths, pursuing further education, embarking on projects abroad, and taking on roles in tech, academia, philanthropy, and beyond.

Job Summary

The Center for Radical Innovation for Social Change (RISC) at the University of Chicago is seeking a Senior Research Analyst to join our fast-growing team. Analysts will be responsible for conducting quantitative and qualitative research on a wide variety of social problems and working with organizational partners to pilot creative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manages projects related to pressing social issues.
• Conducts background research, through academic literature reviews, conversations with experts, reading popular media, and data analysis.
• Identifies constructive approaches and presents findings to colleagues, partners, and funders.
• Works with organizational partners to pilot new and unconventional solutions ranging from applying cutting-edge technology to designing incentive structures to changing public opinion.
• Leads the planning and execution of our recruiting for new team members.
• Trains, coaches and develops our newest team members.
• Plans and executes events to enhance our team’s morale.
• Monitors analysts’ workloads and makes recommendations for re-balancing assignments across analysts.
• Takes an outsize role in ensuring that our new project pipeline is full.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated proficiency in data analysis, manipulation, and visualization, e.g., R, Stata, Excel, SQL, Python.
• Web and/or software development experience.
• Product, UX, and/or human-centered design experience.
• Communications and/or media skills (e.g., social media management, graphic design).
• Familiarity with RCT/experimental design and implementation in a social science field.

Preferred Competencies

• Self-starter, juggle multiple priorities with minimal oversight.
• Intensely curious, eager to dive into new issue areas and draw conclusions.
• Comfortable with ambiguity; break down large problems and identify new directions without clear right answers.
• Comfortable changing your mind i