Assistant Research Professor

MSU Jobs • Starkville, MS

1d

About The Position

The Assistant Research Professor leads applied, interdisciplinary research focused on economic development, workforce systems, and public policy using advanced social science methodologies. The role is responsible for designing and executing rigorous research studies using administrative and longitudinal data to produce decision-relevant insights for state agencies, policymakers, and institutional partners under externally driven timelines. The position is expected to develop and sustain a research portfolio through extramural funding, including identifying opportunities, leading proposal development, and contributing to funded projects. Working within NSPARC’s multidisciplinary environment, the Assistant Research Professor collaborates with data, technical, and research teams to deliver high-quality analytic products aligned with active projects and institutional priorities.

Requirements

• PhD with a focus in Sociology, Public Administration, Public Policy, or Related Social Science Field with one year related experience.
• Applied Social Science Research: Demonstrated experience conducting applied research in areas such as economic development, workforce systems, social services, public policy, or governmental operations.
• Research Methodology and Analytics: Strong training in social science research methods, including statistical analysis, empirical modeling, and program evaluation.
• Extramural Funding and Grant Development: Experience contributing to or supporting externally funded research projects, including proposal development and grant execution.
• Policy and Systems Analysis: Ability to analyze governmental and organizational systems, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Data-Driven Problem Solving: Ability to design and implement analytical approach using complex or administrative data to address real-world policy and operational questions.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across teams that include researchers, data engineers, and technical staff.
• Communication and Translation: Strong written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports, visualizations, and policy-relevant outputs for broad audiences.
• Project Execution: Experience managing tasks, timelines, and deliverables within structured projects, including work tied to external contracts or deadlines.
• Professional Engagement: Evidence of scholarly or professional engagement through publications, technical reports, or presentations.

Nice To Haves

• PhD with a focus in Sociology, Public Administration, Public Policy, or Related Social Science Field with at least 5 years of equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Applied Research and Analysis: Lead and conduct applied research in economic development, workforce systems, social services, and public policy using advanced social science methodologies and administrative data.
• Research Design and Methodology: Design, implement, and refine empirical models, evaluation frameworks, and analytical protocols to address complex socio-economic and policy questions.
• Extramural Funding and Proposal Development: Identify funding opportunities and lead or contribute to the development of competitive research proposals for federal, state, and industry sponsors.
• Policy and Systems Evaluation: Analyze governmental and organizational systems to identify inefficiencies, assess program effectiveness, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Collaboration and Integration: Work closely with data, technical, and research teams to align methodologies with data infrastructure, security requirements, and project objectives.
• Project Leadership and Execution: Manage the full lifecycle of research projects, including planning, data collection, analysis, and delivery of milestones within externally driven timelines within fast-paced, externally driven environments with shifting priorities.
• Research Communication and Deliverables: Produce publication-quality reports, visualizations, policy briefs, and technical documentation to communicate findings to academic, technical, and non-technical audiences.
• Scholarly Contribution and Engagement: Author peer-reviewed publications and technical reports and participate in interdisciplinary collaboration, internal review processes, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• NSPARC Mission Support: Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the center’s research portfolio and strategic objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees