Research Analyst II

Duke University:

 

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

 

Occupational Summary 

Provide leadership and expertise in conducting complex research activities, including planning, organizing, conducting, and communicating research studies within the overall scope of a research project at Duke University. 

 

The Research Analyst II is a 12-month, full-time position, supporting a variety of projects on behalf of the Office of University Assessment.  The position helps guide the planning and implementation of assessment practices and projects at Duke.  The Research Analyst II will work as part of a team to strategize and communicate assessment objectives, serving a variety of clients across the university.  The position emphasizes the efficient implementation and management of assessment-supportive projects, systems, and tools, with the goal of creating sources of evidence that guide reflection and decision-making across the University.  The Research Analyst II is responsible for components of course evaluation and accreditation processes.  The incumbent also will oversee data queries and assembly of large datasets.   

 

Overall, the position provides intellectual input to a variety of assessment activities including, but not limited to, assessment policies and protocols, research design, and best practices.  In time, the Research Analyst II will liaise and consult with individual departments, units, and schools on assessment planning and projects.  The analyst also will provide expertise to faculty and other stakeholders to develop research projects and practices that accommodate short- and longer-term assessment needs.   

 

Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to the specific position
• Work requires five years of experience in research/data analysis or related position.

Preferred:

• Master's degree is strongly preferred.
• A related master's degree may offset required years of experience on a 1:1 basis, e.g. a two-year master's degree in lieu two years of experience. 

 

Required skills 

• demonstrated ability to learn software and web platforms quickly and effectively 
• advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel 
• intermediate proficiency in SAS (intermediate proficiency in SPSS or STATA coupled with an interest in learning SAS is permissible) 
• early proficiency in inferential statistics 
• strong organizational skills, including the ability to establish priorities and manage multiple demands and deadlines 
• strong communication skills, including proofreading and editing in English.  Working knowledge of APA style. 

 

Desirable skills 

• experience teaching and/or supervising undergraduate students 
• experience with library research and reviews of educational and social science literature  
• familiarity with principles and best practices of qualitative research 
• experience developing reports and data products in Tableau Software  

 

 

Work Performed 

 

Carry out the planning, design, implementation, analysis and reporting of a diversity assessment practices and projects. (25%) 

• Provide intellectual input to a variety of assessment activities including, but not limited to, assessment policies and protocols, research design, and best practices. 
• Coordinate regular and ad hoc assessment initiatives. 
• Consult with individual departments, units, and schools on assessment planning and projects.  Meet with faculty, staff, and administrators to discuss and explain report findings as needed and communicate suggestions and recommendations for future development based on these findings. 
• Prepare pre- and post-test administrations for Duke students. 
• Develop rosters and samples, as needed. 

 

Manage databases:  Matriculates, graduates, and College-level assessment results. (30%) 

• Design or replicate Peoplesoft queries to access student attribute data. 
• Thoughtfully and intentionally plan the assembly and organization of data to maximize the flexibility and adaptability of resulting datasets. 
• Clean, merge, manipulate, and o