Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application. We suggest the documents be in a PDF format to avoid formatting issues. To be considered for this position, all supplemental questions must be answered.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. 

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research is an interdisciplinary research organization that works in direct partnership with community agencies and organizations that use its research, data, and policy analysis to implement solutions to critical challenges facing the Houston region and beyond. The institute aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. It consists of (and is developing) five centers that conduct research on housing, education, public health, economic mobility, and population dynamics. Centers conduct research that focuses on their particular topics, as well as research that intersects across centers, through interdisciplinary teams that specialize in solutions-oriented, community-engaged research. 

Position Summary

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research (KIUR) at Rice University is seeking a full-time Researcher with expertise in quantitative and qualitative research who can design, plan, implement, and conduct complex and specialized research projects. The Researcher is involved in multiple research projects at a time and employs a research-practice partnership framework to work closely with local community organizations in areas such as non-medical drivers of health/social determinants of health, mental health, immigrant health, maternal health, community health needs assessments, chronic illness, wellness/well-being among marginalized communities, and access to healthcare. In addition to conducting rigorous and sophisticated research, the researcher will effectively translate research findings for broad and varied audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products to communicate findings, including (but not limited to) research briefs and papers, presentations, webinars, video recordings, data dashboards, and professional conferences. Researchers supervise and train small research teams and work in cooperation with our staff grant writers to pursue external research grants.

Ideal candidates work well in a team environment, actively collaborate, and can motivate others. The researcher should have superior scientific and numerical skills, meticulous attention to detail and accuracy. Spanish language proficiency is preferred. 

Workplace Requirements 

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work within Harris County and surrounding counties to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring salary is $82,000 - $85,000 annually, contingent on qualifications and experience. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. 

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in health or social science, such as psychology, public health, epidemiology, sociology, or related field, and completion of a University-level course, thesis, dissertation AND  Four years of experience in the following: Data maintenance and analysis; Maintaining quality control standards; Quantitative methodology; and Stata, SAS, SPSS, MPLUS, R, or MAXQDA. In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.  Skills Knowledge of software statistical packages such as Stata, SAS, SPSS, MPLUS, R or MAXQDA Proficiency in statistical analysis, data interpretation, and critical thinking to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets. Strong understanding of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, survey design, and experimental techniques. Ability to collect, organize, and manage large datasets efficiently while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate research findings effectively through comprehensive reports, presentations, and other mediums Capability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously, including planning, coordination, and timely execution while ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget constraints. Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and external partners to achieve research objectives and foster a collaborative work environment

Preferences

PhD with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in partnership research Experience developing and managing research projects, managing data and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, and interviews  Mission-driven with a passion for community health and equity  Experience as a Research Assistant as part of the Ph.D. training Able to conduct and lead quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research  Able to oversee various research projects while managing and mentoring other research staff  Able to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders  Adaptable to change and able to think creatively to address issues  Able to work well with many people and many personalities Bilingual - Spanish

Essential Functions

Designs, plans, implements, and conducts independent and team-based research studies and specialized research projects  Effectively communicates and translates research findings for a variety of audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products, such as research briefs and papers, presentations, and data dashboards   Communicates and builds relationships with community organizations and stakeholders, providing unparalleled research methodologies and data analysis expertise. Provides strategic insights and recommendations based on research findings to support our community partners’ decision-making processes  Mentors, supervises, and trains researchers by including them in ongoing research in a meaningful manner  Leads and develops research studies from start to finish, including managing a research team  Seeks new research grant opportunities   Stays updated on emerging trends, methodologies, and best practices in research and data analysis to enhance skills, improve processes, and contribute to organizational growth and innovation. Innovate methodologies and frameworks to optimize data acquisition and analysis processes. Conducts comprehensive gathering, interpretation, and analysis of intricate datasets sourced from diverse channels. Crafts detailed and comprehensive reports summarizing research findings, methodologies, and implications in a clear and concise manner suitable for various audiences, including stakeholders, executives, and decision-makers. Utilizes advanced statistical and analytical tools to extract actionable insights and forecast trends.  Develops sophisticated predictive models based on rigorous data analysis. Produces detailed reports, succinct summaries, and impactful presentations elucidating research discoveries. Performs all other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

Occasional travel  Evening and/or weekend work as needed

Kinder Institute for Urban Research https://kinder.rice.edu/

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.