Evaluation and Research Scientist

Department PSD Data Science:
Systems Administration

The Data Science Institute (DSI) executes the University of Chicago’s bold, innovative vision of Data Science as a new discipline. The DSI seeds research on interdisciplinary frontiers, partners with industry, government, and social impact organizations, and supports holistic data science and AI education. Staff support the University’s students and scholars and uphold core values that make the University a singular intellectual destination.

The Evaluation and Research Scientist will lead and support program evaluation and research projects focused on kindergarten‑adult STEM education, with an emphasis on high school and postsecondary data science and AI education. The scientist will report to the Director of Outlier Research and Evaluation and collaborate with senior researchers, DSI colleagues, funders, and partner organizations. Responsibilities include managing multiple stages of the research and evaluation process—project design, literature reviews, instrument development, data collection and management, quantitative and qualitative analysis, IRB compliance—and preparing reports, presentations, manuscripts and other written deliverables.

The role also involves contributing to funding strategy and proposal development, identifying opportunities, drafting research and evaluation plans, developing scopes of work, and preparing funder‑facing materials for grants, contracts and sponsored projects.

• Lead research and program evaluation projects related to STEM, data science and AI education and support other projects across the team’s portfolio.
• Manage evaluation projects, including design, data collection planning, instrument development, analysis planning, reporting and partner communication.
• Collaborate with senior researchers, research staff, DSI colleagues, funders and partner organizations to design, implement and disseminate research and evaluation work.
• Contribute to development of evaluation frameworks, logic models, research questions, data collection strategies, analysis plans and reporting structures.
• Lead or substantially contribute to IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews and related compliance processes.
• Contribute to funding strategy and proposal development, including drafting research plans, scopes of work and proposal materials for grants, contracts and sponsored projects.
• Draft or contribute to proposal materials, such as statements of need, background sections, project descriptions, research and evaluation activities, timelines, deliverables and descriptions of organizational capacity.
• Serve as a resource to colleagues on research and evaluation procedures, data collection, analysis, reporting, IRB processes, and proposal development.
• Present research findings at meetings, conferences, and to funding agencies.
• Conduct literature reviews and develop and maintain liaisons with agencies, the public and partner organizations.
• Guide data collection, evaluation and analysis, design and manage databases, write reports, articles and manuscripts, and perform related tasks as needed.

• Education
  :
  Minimum of a college or university degree in a related field.
• Work Experience
  : 5–7 years of experience in a related discipline, demonstrating knowledge and skills in program evaluation and research.
• Certifications
  :
  None required.

• Experience with progressively responsible research, program evaluation, and/or STEM education.
• Substantial experience designing, managing and implementing program evaluation projects in education, workforce development, youth programming, higher education or informal STEM learning.
• Experience leading research and/or evaluation projects with minimal guidance.
• Experience managing mixed-methods research or evaluation projects.
• Experience independently developing data collection instruments, analysis plans, reports, presentations and partner-facing materials.
• Experience seeking funding or contributing to grant proposals, sponsored research applications, evaluation scopes of work and related funding materials.
• Experience working with schools, districts,…