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Details

**Open Date** 10/08/2025

**Requisition Number** PRN43164B

**Job Title** Research Associate

**Working Title** Senior Research Associate (Quantitative)

**Career Progression Track** A00

Track Level

**FLSA Code** Professional

**Patient Sensitive Job Code?** No

**Standard Hours per Week** 40

**Full Time or Part Time?** Full Time

**Shift** Day

Work Schedule Summary

**VP Area** Academic Affairs

**Department** 00162 - Educational Leadership&Policy

**Location** Campus

**City** Salt Lake City, UT

**Type of Recruitment** External Posting

**Pay Rate Range** $100,000 - $120,000

**Close Date** 12/23/2025

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The forthcoming center on prison education research and leadership in the College of Education at the University of Utah seeks a Senior Research Associate with expertise in quantitative methods. The Center does research that advances educational justice for people and communities harmed by incarceration. We envision a world where colleges and universities lead the way in fostering greater access to opportunity for all people, including those directly impacted by the legal system.

The Senior Research Associate ( SRA ) will undertake a wide range of strategic, academic, and capacity-building activities aimed at enabling and enhancing research on prison higher education and reentry. In collaboration with institutional and program leaders, the SRA will oversee strategic research advancement, communicate research opportunities and findings, foster collaboration within the team, and engage a leadership role on research projects. The person who fills this position will be responsible for training other researchers, supervising research staff, and overseeing graduate assistants, and will serve as primary research liaison to the Center, the University, and other external partners. The SRA will work under the supervision of the Center Director. We strongly encourage applications from individuals directly impacted by incarceration and punishment systems.

Responsibilities

+ Serve as the lead/co-lead researcher on multi-PI research projects

+ Lead all phases of research design, planning, and execution of quantitative research projects. This includes reviewing literature, developing research plans, developing data collection instruments and tools, piloting and validating data, analyzing quantitative data, and drafting and editing research reports and scholarly manuscripts

+ Serve as senior liaison with stakeholders including state agencies and higher education institutions

+ Oversee IRB protocols, data use agreements, and compliance monitoring across multiple institutions and jurisdictions

+ Lead regular cross-site meetings to align stakeholders

+ Coordinate secure data transfers and compliance across states and data providers

+ Maintain detailed documentation of data processing pipelines, codebooks, and metadata

+ Ensure appropriate data cleaning, harmonization, transformation, and documentation across diverse data sources

+ Apply advanced statistical models and quantitative research designs (e.g., regression, propensity score matching, longitudinal modeling, fixed/random effects, regression discontinuity, instrumental variable estimation, difference-in-difference)

+ Design and oversee data linkage strategies across disparate administrative datasets

+ Interact with stakeholders, partner institutions/organizations, political, governmental, funders, and corporate leaders related to research initiatives

+ Develop and present research results, in the form of technical reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, briefs, presentations, webinars, etc., to inform internal and external stakeholders of research projects

+ Mentor, train, and supervise a team of researchers

+ Other research related activities as assigned by the Center Director

Minimum Qualifications

+ PhD in education, social sciences, or related field or comparable professional experience

+ Advanced knowledge of the field of higher education

+ 5+ years of experience in quantitative research, including longitudinal or administrative data analysis

+ Demonstrated experience conducting applied social science and/or educational research, including implementing experimental and quasi-experimental research designs, survey techniques, and program evaluation

+ Demonstrated experience with data cleaning, data migration, and management of multiple administrative data sets

+ Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge about educational equity and justice

+ Ability to work well with and across diverse teams of people

+ Strong project management experience coordinating communications and associated logistics on a multi-site research project

+ Advanced knowledge of Excel, Python, R, or other data analysis tools to conduct data analytics, statistical analysis, survey tools, and research techniques

+ Proven experience leading teams and managing deadlines;

+ Experience working both independently and as a collaborative team member

+ Excellent written communication, verbal communication, and organizational skills; and attention to detail

Preferences

+ Knowledge of the landscape of postsecondary education in prison

+ Advanced experience working with institutional and state-level postsecondary data systems

**Type** Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Applicant Documents Directions:

1. **Writing Sample** : Attach a writing sample of one scholarly paper or technical report where you are lead author or major contributor demonstrating quantitative research skills.

2. **Example of Research: S** pecifically highlights experience leading multi-site research projects and using quantitative/statistical analyses. _No more than two pages._

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.