Who We Are
The University of Chicago Urban Education Lab seeks to improve our understanding of how to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth growing up in some of the most distressed urban neighborhoods in America and overseas. Our goal is to assemble a portfolio of rigorous experiments, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to generate new evidence about what works, for whom, and why, and to conduct benefit-cost analyses of different interventions to enable policymakers to prioritize resources for the combination of strategies that achieve the greatest social good per dollar spent. Urban Education Lab projects evaluate ways to improve outcomes for students, whether that is through student, teacher, or school-centered interventions. . In addition to carrying out RCTs and other research on education, the Urban Education Lab, since its inception, has also provided extensive pro bono technical assistance to government agencies in Chicago looking for rigorous data analysis and research support. The nature of our work as partners with city agencies requires adjusting to the pace of policymakers' work. This way of working is atypical for most research organizations, but gives us an unprecedented opportunity to partner with policymakers to help them maximize the positive impact of policies and programs that can improve lives. For more information about the University of Chicago Urban Education Lab, go to http://uel.uchicago.edu/.
Position Overview
The University of Chicago Urban Education Lab seeks a project associate to work on cutting-edge social policy research projects. This person will work closely with internal researchers as well as other public and private partners to evaluate programs focused on ensuring high quality educational opportunities for urban youth. The project associate will provide support on several Urban Education Lab projects that are in varying stages of implementation and evaluation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities may include managing project deliverables and IRB, overseeing fieldwork, coordinating with all partner organizations, performing data analysis, preparing memos, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting both policymakers and academic audiences.
Qualifications:
Education
Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Economics, Sociology or other relevant social science field required.
Experience
A minimum of one year of relevant research experience preferred (experience gained in school can be applied to the requirement).
Experience working with youth and/or in the education field preferred.
Experience managing datasets preferred.
Experience working on field experiments preferred.
Experience working with Stata or other statistical software packages preferred.
Competencies
Strong interest in social policy required.
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail required.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills required.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously required.
Knowledge and understanding of education research literature required.
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills required.
Ability to work both independently and as a team member required.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills required.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously required.
Knowledge and understanding of education research literature required.
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills required.
Ability to work both independently and as a team member required.
How to apply
To apply, visit https://jobopportunities.uchicago.edu and search for requisition 097019 and submit your resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a copy of your unofficial transcripts.