Research Associate I - Health Policy Research - Chicago Loop Hybrid Office

NORC at the University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a Research Associate I to join the Health Care Evaluation Research Department. The Health Care Evaluation Research team conducts evaluations and advanced analytics across Medicare, Medicaid, payment and delivery system reform, military and veterans’ health, drug policy, aging and disability, and other priority health policy areas. This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. NORC’s Health Care Evaluation Research department evaluates the effectiveness and impact of health care programs and policies, with a focus on improving how care is financed and delivered. The team supports federal, state, and nonprofit clients through rigorous mixed-methods research on Medicare, Medicaid, and other health and human services programs. Our multidisciplinary team includes economists, statisticians, data scientists, and qualitative researchers with deep experience in health policy and program evaluation. Together we generate actionable insights that help policymakers improve cost, access, and quality in health care.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from accredited college or university in Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Health Policy, or a related field.
• At least six months of research experience (internships included) in health care research, public health, or health policy, with qualitative or quantitative methods.
• Some understanding of public health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
• Familiarity with statistical and analytic software (e.g., R, SAS, NVivo, Dedoose, Tableau, etc.) preferred.
• Must demonstrate effective workplace competencies, including: Effective problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and willingness to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communications
• Attentiveness to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively within a team
• Proficiency with MS Office/M365 applications.
• Occasional travel for site visits and meetings may be required.
• This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office.
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
• Please include a Resume and Cover Letter when applying.
• Candidates should be prepared to provide professional references and a writing assignment upon request.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with statistical and analytic software (e.g., R, SAS, NVivo, Dedoose, Tableau, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Provide research support on health care and health policy topics.
• Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans.
• Provide project support, including scheduling meetings and interviews; taking notes and drafting summaries; and developing outlines and presentation materials.
• Clean and prepare data files for analysis.
• Support analysis of primary and secondary data, including basic analyses using R, SAS, NVivo, or similar tools.
• Develop tables, graphics, and written summaries from quantitative and qualitative data.
• Provide editorial and quality assurance support for deliverables.
• Assist in developing data collection protocols, training materials, and monitoring reports.
• Support proposal development through background research and coordination of document preparation.
• Contribute to business development research on programs, award history, and agency priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
• Dental and vision insurance
• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level