Research Scientist

Position Summary

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

The Population Research Center is an interdisciplinary public service, research, and training unit for population‑related data and research for the State of Oregon.

The Research Scientist will have primary responsibility to produce population estimates and projections for Oregon’s UGB areas and tribal lands wholly within the state, and county level projections by age/sex, race/ethnicity, and disability status.

• Selecting or developing appropriate methodologies and planning and implementing a research design commensurate to program requirements and best practices;
• Conducting surveys and direct consultations with stakeholders and data users to collect and evaluate all necessary data and contextual information;
• Documenting methodology, assumptions, and results in reports and presentations, and
• Ensuring compliance with applicable statutes (eg ORS 195.033) and standards (eg PSU 577‑050).

Other responsibilities include responding to requests from the media, government, and the public about the forecast program and related activities; recruiting, supervising, or advising graduate students or postdocs, developing training materials, and obtaining and providing peer review.

Travel may be required for certain meetings or events that are essential for the role, including stakeholder meetings. While the stakeholder meetings will generally be conducted online, there may be occasional in‑person meetings where travel is necessary. Any travel requirements will be communicated in advance, and expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with PSU policies.

At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• Doctorate or equivalent degree in demography, statistics, sociology, ecology, geography, economics, or a related quantitative social science discipline OR in mathematics, physics, or a quantitative natural science field with a minimum of 1 year of experience in applied social science research.
• Ability to travel for required meetings or events that are essential for the role.

• Six or more years of progressively responsible research or evaluation experience;
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop funding for and take a lead role in high impact research or evaluation studies, of which, two or more years of experience developing population projections or related statistical modeling of human fertility, mortality, or migration.
• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adheres to all PSU’s policies…