Research Data Analyst - Tennessee Reading Research Center - UTK

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN

4d • $70,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Data Analyst at the Tennessee Reading Research Center (TRRC) leads specialized data management, analysis, and reporting projects supporting state- and federally funded literacy research and related policy and program initiatives. The position designs data collection and reporting tools, consults with stakeholders to define data needs, and prepares, validates, integrates, secures, and archives complex educational datasets from multiple sources.

The analyst independently resolves complex data issues, selects analytic methods consistent with research standards, and performs advanced statistical analyses of randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and correlational research. Methods may include propensity score weighting, growth curve modeling, hierarchical linear modeling, regression discontinuity, structural equation modeling, and meta-analysis. The role develops reproducible code, data-quality procedures, reports, queries, tables, and visualizations; presents findings to stakeholders; and produces data products that inform research, data-collection practices, policy decisions, and program initiatives.

The position supports TRRC documentation and open-science practices, maintains records of data and analytic processes, and mentors student workers. It is located onsite in Knoxville, Tennessee. The anticipated hiring range is $70,000–$75,000; the job posting identifies the UT market range as MR12.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in statistics, educational measurement, biostatistics, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience conducting complex statistical analysis with multilevel data.
• Applicable experience with computer languages; the posting lists R, Java, Python, C, C++, Rust, Ruby, SQL, and Haskell.
• Skills in statistical analysis of multilevel data used in social science, education, or health research.
• Skills using R statistical software.
• Skills in SQL programming and in importing, exporting, and integrating files and data from multiple software programs and sources.
• Ability to work with large, complex, multivariate datasets; thoroughly verify accuracy and completeness; and identify, troubleshoot, and resolve data-quality issues.
• Ability to learn new statistical methods, software, and programming approaches and continually acquire new competencies.
• Knowledge of standards and best practices for documenting code, data transformations, analytic decisions, and codebooks.
• Skill in creating clear, accurate tables, graphs, visualizations, and other representations of data.
• Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Excellent written, numerical, and graphical communication skills.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize tasks, solve problems, meet deadlines, and follow through with minimal direction, often under pressure.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts, data issues, analytic methods, and results effectively to end users, research partners, management, and other stakeholders, verbally and in writing.
• Must be legally authorized to work full-time in the United States without requiring employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Certificate in applied statistical analysis.
• Experience working with statewide longitudinal data systems.
• Advanced knowledge of R packages.
• Demonstrated work ethic managing multiple short- and long-term projects, completing projects independently with accuracy, thoroughness, and creativity, and meeting deadlines under pressure.
• Experience testing applications that enhance data collection and use.
• Advanced verbal communication and writing abilities for disseminating technical results.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, C++, and JavaScript.
• Knowledge of experimental and quasi-experimental research designs.
• Knowledge of Bayesian statistics.
• Knowledge of statistical analyses for multilevel data.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research, analysis, and statistical methods.
• Knowledge of preK–12 education data.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects within an area of specialty related to research data quality, preparation, collection, and reporting.
• Consult with internal research teams, external partners, and other stakeholders to understand data needs; design and develop data collection and reporting tools, applications, queries, and processes.
• Prepare complex research datasets by writing efficient, robust, and documented code to import, merge, clean, standardize, link, de-identify, and archive data from multiple sources.
• Validate dataset integrity and conduct quality-control checks to identify, prevent, investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve errors, inconsistencies, missing data, and other preparation issues.
• Independently analyze and resolve complex data issues, adapting approaches when policies, data requirements, technical constraints, or stakeholder needs compete.
• Collaborate with the Data Engineer, external research partners, and internal research team to establish validity checks, quality-control procedures, data management practices, and safeguards for personally identifiable information.
• Determine analytic objectives, select methods and evaluation criteria, and develop solutions consistent with research policies, procedures, and professional standards.
• Participate with the TRRC Director and lead Statistician in selecting research methods and analytic approaches based on research questions, study design, available data, and contextual factors.
• Investigate and resolve complex issues arising during analysis, including data structure, model specification, assumptions, missing data, and interpretation.
• Perform advanced statistical analyses, including methods appropriate to randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and correlational research designs.
• Execute analyses using annotated, documented, and version-controlled reproducible scripts.
• Develop and deliver reports, tables, graphs, dashboards, and other visualizations for the TRRC Director, internal research team, and external partners.
• Present findings, analytic results, and recommendations clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Create reports and data products that inform research priorities, program initiatives, data-collection practices, and policy decisions.
• Clarify stakeholder reporting needs, develop ad hoc queries, and deliver accurate and timely reports addressing research and decision-making needs.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation of data collection, preparation, quality control, transformation, analysis, and reporting processes in support of TRRC’s data documentation and open-science framework.
• Create and maintain codebooks, data definitions, data-quality test catalogs, query catalogs, procedural guides, and records of data sources and routine analytic processes.
• Establish and maintain documentation standards that promote transparency, reproducibility, continuity, and appropriate data governance.
• Mentor student workers and guide them in data preparation, documentation, quality control, reproducible analysis, and communicating findings.

Benefits

• Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and development and training opportunities.

What This Job Offers

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