Research Science Lead

To apply for this position, please include a copy of your resume and a cover letter as one document, with your cover letter as the first page. (Applications without cover letters will not be considered.)

At the Institute for Research on Innovation & Science (IRIS), you'll join a small, mission-driven team that works closely with universities, and state and federal partners to develop reliable data and practical insights about research and workforce dynamics. Our work environment is collaborative, innovative, and grounded in steady engagement with community and institutional partners. The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Jason Owen‑Smith and a national group of collaborators to develop and expand the Industries of Ideas (IofI) project.

IofI combines new data on research and training investments in AI in universities with data on jobs, earnings, education, and skills. IofI produces timely, local, and actionable information because it partners with local experts to identify pressing local questions and develop indicators that can be used to support proactive decisions. Trust is critical, so the IofI approach is to provide clear, transparent, and open standards produced with partners, and develop clear trust metrics for each product.

IofI was recently funded for three years by the National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation & Partnerships (NSF‑TIP) directorate. More information on the project is available at: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Term‑limited: This is a term‑limited position for two years, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance, conduct, continued availability of work, and funding.

The Research Team Lead will be primarily responsible for:

Working closely with Professor Jason Owen‑Smith:

• Contribute to project scientific leadership and helping to direct project related technical and scientific work at IRIS
• Participate in and contribute to the leadership of a growing scientific research team focused on the use of large‑scale data and computational tools to break new ground in the measurement and analysis of research and innovation
• Contribute to or lead aspects of data development, project planning, research analysis, writing, presentation, and publication of findings
• Serve in a leadership role on new funding proposals including a planned renewal to support IofI expansion and ongoing IRIS research activities

• Coordinate with stakeholders in state workforce and higher education agencies, local business communities, universities and other higher education organizations, and federal science agencies to facilitate the product development, data, and methodological work of IofI
• Support and deepen effective collaborative relationships with partners to expand project data, capabilities, and partnerships
• Aid in developing new lines of funding to facilitate continued project expansion

• Integrate IofI work at IRIS with the Institute's ongoing research, data, and product development efforts
• Contribute to projects that use dynamic network analysis to refine IRIS and IofI data products capturing regional economic and workforce impacts of academic research (Current project work is supported by NSF‑TIP, the NSF Research on Research Security Program (RoRS), the NSF Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS) program, the National Institutes of Health, The State of Michigan, Welcome Leap, and the Alfred P.
  
  Sloan Foundation)

• Ph.D. in a social science, information science, science and engineering, or policy field
• 8+ years of experience relevant to the IofI project and other IRIS work
• Demonstrated history of research success in the form of scientific publications, awarded and completed grants, or ability to secure resources (e.g. through federal, state, or corporate budgetary processes) to support and develop research programs and teams
• Documented experience in research team leadership including work with professional and technical staff and mentorship of students or trainees
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Expertise…