Research Integrity Analyst

UT Southwestern Medical Center • Dallas, TX

11h • Onsite

About The Position

This position supports UTSW's Research Integrity Office (RIO) by providing advanced computing, investigative and analytical expertise. The position supports complex research misconduct reviews and investigations by identifying, managing, and preserving digital evidence, providing forensic quality copies of relevant digital material, performing forensic analysis, and preparing high level summaries and legally defensible reports. This position also delivers computing and information technology support to RIO to support the functions above. This role requires a blend of technical proficiency, investigative mindset, discretion, and the ability to work collaboratively with administrators, faculty and staff, legal counsel, Information Security, and Information Technology Services (ITS) teams. This position is managed by Enterprise Data Services (EDS) within ITS, while its tasks and priorities are directed by the Research Integrity Office, reflecting a collaborative reporting relationship.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in information technology, computer science, scientific or technical disciplines related to digital forensics, cybersecurity, or a related field.
• 3 years of experience supporting complex business processes involving targeted searches, evidence preservation, chain-of-custody documentation, production of electronically stored information or relevant hands-on experience required.
• Ability to run complex data queries utilizing SQL and/or OCR for data mining, pattern recognition and cross data matching.
• Strong understanding of data storage systems, cloud platforms, and enterprise IT environments.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Excellent analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
• Strong report-writing skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education, research environments, or compliance-related roles.
• Knowledge of research data types, scientific workflows, and scholarly communication tools.
• Experience supporting legal, misconduct investigation, digital forensic, or regulatory processes.
• Related software experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist RIO in identifying search parameters and planning for the sequestration of materials relevant to the evaluation of alleged research misconduct.
• Coordinate the collection, organization, and preservation of digital materials.
• Coordinate with Information Security to perform targeted searches across institutional systems (email, cloud storage, servers, research data platforms).
• Coordinate with Information Security and legal counsel to ensure proper chain of custody procedures.
• Maintain detailed documentation of all technical actions.
• Conduct digital forensic examinations and, as necessary, liaise with departmental administrators, Information Security and ITS teams to obtain forensic copies of mobile devices, data storage media, and research systems using appropriate methods.
• Identify and analyze metadata, lineage and log analytics and scanning of audit logs to assess or provide analysis for the RIO.
• Run or support SQL queries, analytics pulls, or structured data retrieval as needed for investigative review.
• Assist in developing data tracking tools, dashboards, and case tracking systems for the RIO.
• Organize and provide readily retrievable digital materials for review by RIO and committees.
• Prepare clear, defensible technical reports for use by investigators, committees, and legal teams.
• Provide expert guidance on digital evidence handling, data integrity, and forensic best practices.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for the office by providing troubleshooting and general computing support.
• Manage secure storage environments for case materials, ensuring compliance with institutional policies and requirements.
• Assist with data governance, access control, and cybersecurity practices relevant to research integrity work.
• Communicate with the appropriate UT Southwestern offices such as central ITS, information security, and compliance units to ensure alignment with institutional standards and policies.
• Contribute technical expertise to research misconduct inquiries and investigations.
• Assist in evaluating research data, digital workflows, documents, and computational methods for signs of fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
• Provide training and guidance to RIO and committees on digital evidence, data security, and technology related aspects pertaining to research misconduct investigations.
• Support continuous improvement of technical procedures, documentation, and internal protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer

What This Job Offers

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