Research Analyst

Department

Energy & Environment Research

About the Department

The University of Chicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth (ICSG) is a groundbreaking effort uniting faculty from across the University to advance society’s understanding of our energy and climate future. The Institute combines faculty insights in energy markets and policy, climate systems engineering, and energy technology to produce world-changing ideas while also investing in the next generation of energy and climate thinkers, leaders, and innovators through novel educational programs.
The University of Chicago Energy and Environment Lab (EE Lab) partners with agencies at the federal, state, and local level to identify, rigorously evaluate, and help scale programs and policies that reduce pollution and improve environmental outcomes, while ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy. The EE Lab applies rigorous evaluation and modeling methods, including natural and field experiments, randomized controlled trials, behavioral economics, and machine learning, to help policymakers identify and generate evidence on innovative approaches and policy solutions to their most pressing environmental and energy challenges.

Job Summary

The University of Chicago Energy and Environment Lab (EE Lab) is seeking a Research Analyst (RA) with strong research, methodological, and management skills to support large-scale environmental policy research projects. The RA will coordinate a growing portfolio of projects, including machine learning projects, designed to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of promising energy and environmental interventions. The RA will contribute to the design, implementation, and analysis of energy and environment research projects with direct applicability for policymakers. This role will work closely with U.S. government agencies, municipal governments, researchers, and a dedicated team of research analysts, data scientists, and staff, to support research projects led by the EE Lab and Faculty Director Michael Greenstone.
This position performs routine assignments related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Writes articles, reports and manuscripts. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.

Responsibilities

• Works with partners to identify analytical approaches to answer specific research questions and to provide analytical support to government partners.
• Constructs, trains, and deploys scalable machine learning algorithms for a variety of predictive analytics research projects.
• Coordinates data collection, econometric analysis and provides quality assurance for research projects.
• Contributes to research design, analysis, and implementation of policy-relevant research projects.
• Works closely with Principal Investigators to coordinate project teams and junior staff; leads task supervision and quality oversight.
• Prepares results for memos, presentations, and papers targeting both policymakers and academic audiences.
• Ensures compliance with institutional, state and federal regulatory policies and procedures as well as internal data privacy and security policies.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with University, IRB, and government policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Engages stakeholders and maintains strong research partnerships with government agencies and with Principal Investigators to coordinate research and technical assistance projects, including communications and project deliverables.
• Assists with writing grant proposals and managing grant reports.
• Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
• 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 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, statistics, computer science or related field.
• Master’s degree in economics, statistics, computer science or related field.

Experience:

• Coursework in statistics, econometrics, data science, and computer science.
• Strong background in applied statistics and econometrics. 
• Two or more years of related experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with R, Python, or Stata.
• Work with large and complex datasets.
• Apply machine learning algorithms in operational environments.
• Proficient with GitHub.
• Worki on field experiments / randomized controlled trials.
• Background with relational databases.
   

Preferred Competencies

• Explaining complex statistical ideas and/or research projects to non-experts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and present research concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong time management skills with a proven ability to multitask and to prioritize activities to successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
• Strong project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Work both independently, in a self-directed manner, and as a team member.
• Knowledge and understanding of energy and environmental policy topics.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)
• Writing Sample (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$58,650.00 - $69,000.00

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

Yes

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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