Predoctoral Researcher

The University of Texas System • Austin, TX

403d • $60,000 - $60,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Predoctoral Researcher position at the University of Texas at Austin is a fixed-term role within the Media Engagement Center, focusing on research related to social media and politics. This position is designed for individuals who have recently completed or are completing their undergraduate or relevant master's studies and are seeking research experience before pursuing a Ph.D. The role involves producing original research, managing projects, and assisting in the coordination of graduate and undergraduate students.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Computational Social Science, Communication Studies, Political Science or a related field OR Bachelor's degree with at least 2 years of related experience.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (Preferred) or R.
• Experience in data analysis, machine learning, deep learning and statistical modeling.
• Experience using deep learning libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Experience with data manipulation and analysis using SQL.
• Track record of research productivity, including published articles in peer-reviewed journals or conferences.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills to convey complex findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Strong interest in pursuing a Ph.D. in a related discipline.
• Passionate about working on large scale computational models to study political discourse on social and mainstream media.

Responsibilities

• Produce original research using large scale data and computational methods.
• Conduct literature reviews and background research.
• Write reports and peer-reviewed articles on research produced.
• Collect datasets of social media and legacy media.
• Manage coordination of time on projects, onboarding and day-to-day communication.
• Assist in managing of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Assist with grant writing, NSF submissions and reporting.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Arrangements or hybrid work options available.
• Competitive salary and full benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree