Department
SSD Psychology: Staff and Temporary Employees
About the Department
Job Summary
We study culture, social ecology, and well-being using large-scale digital-trace, geographic, and survey data. The lab seeks a research analyst to lead the validation and reproducibility of its computational research and to conduct supporting data analysis. This is a research-intensive professional position; administrative duties are minimal.
September 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027, reporting to Professor Shigehiro Oishi.
Responsibilities
- Validation - Reproduce and verify analyses on data for manuscripts; audit datasets and code for accuracy; identify and correct pipeline errors; document reproducible verification procedures.
- Software - Develop, test, and maintain analysis code and reproducible data pipelines in Python and/or R, including high-performance and cluster-computing workflows (e.g., Midway-3).
- Data curation - Clean, integrate, document, archive, and transfer large datasets; maintain metadata, geographic crosswalks, and version control.
- Formal Analysis - Apply statistical, spatial (e.g., nearest-neighbor distance, Moran’s I), and text/NLP methods; interpret and summarize results.
- Methodology - Develop and operationalize data-processing and measurement procedures (crosswalks, spatial joins, text scoring); contribute to study design.
- Investigation - .Collect data from external sources, review relevant literature, and document the research process.
- Coordination of data-collection activities and lab documentation.
- Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
- Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in computational social science, data science, statistics, computer science, psychology, or a related quantitative field.
Experience:
- Research experiences in a quantitative discipline; experience validating computational analyses, working with large-scale or high-performance-computing data, and geospatial or text analysis.
Technical Knowledge or Skills:
- Proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis and reproducible research.
- Working knowledge of applied statistics and version-control and reproducibility practices.
Working Conditions
- September 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027, reporting to Professor Shigehiro Oishi.
Application Documents
- Resume (required)
- Cover letter (required)
- References (3) (required)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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Skills Required
- College or university degree in a related field
- Less than 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline
- Bachelor's degree in computational social science, data science, statistics, computer science, psychology, or a related quantitative field
- Quantitative research experience
- Experience validating computational analyses
- Experience working with large-scale or high-performance-computing data
- Experience with geospatial or text analysis
- Proficiency in Python and/or R for data analysis and reproducible research
- Working knowledge of applied statistics
- Working knowledge of version-control and reproducibility practices
What We Do
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom draws pathbreaking scholars to our global campuses, where field-defining ideas are born that challenge and change the world. The University of Chicago has its main campus on Chicago's South Side and seven international campuses and centers throughout the world. Students can choose from 53 majors and 47 minors in the undergraduate College, with four divisions and seven professional schools for graduate study.







