Zooniverse Postbaccalaureate Data Analyst

Adler Planetarium • Chicago, IL

2d • $0 - $37,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Zooniverse Postbaccalaureate Data Analyst to join its Science Engagement Division team on Chicago’s Museum Campus. This is a nine-month, full-time, term-limited, grant-funded position. The target start date is January 2027, with flexibility to start earlier. The role works closely with the Co-Director and Science Lead for Zooniverse and team members at Adler, Oxford, and the University of Minnesota. The analyst will support platform data analysis and research teams, including external researchers who lead projects on Zooniverse.

Zooniverse is a platform for distributed scientific data analysis, with more than 3 million participants contributing to projects across many disciplines. The role involves analyzing platform data, supporting platform strategy and cybersecurity, configuring workflows and advanced features through the Zooniverse API, helping research teams troubleshoot issues, improving documentation and training, and contributing to NASA-Zooniverse events and initiatives.

The typical schedule is 35 hours per week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with flextime and a hybrid arrangement: two days per week telecommuting and three days on-site at the museum. This is a union position with the Adler Planetarium Workers United, AFSCME Council 31.

Requirements

• Basic coding proficiency in Python or a similar language.
• Basic data analysis proficiency demonstrated through past research and/or project-based coursework.
• A bachelor’s degree in a scientific field and/or computer science.
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to accurately complete detailed work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, and provide information to scientific and research staff.
• Candidates should be recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree in astronomy, physics, computer science, math, or a related science or engineering discipline; individuals who have earned or are pursuing a master’s degree may also apply.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency querying databases using SQL/PostgreSQL.
• Proficiency using the pandas data analysis library or an equivalent.
• Proficiency visualizing analysis results and using Jupyter Notebooks.
• Experience using and training machine learning models.
• Experience interacting with APIs and writing HTTP requests.
• Experience using Git/GitHub or other version control systems.
• Interest in people-powered research and improving the Zooniverse platform.

Responsibilities

• Analyze Zooniverse platform data, representing contributions from 3 million registered users and more than 1 billion individual classifications.
• Provide data pulls, create reports, compute statistics, and visualize data to inform platform strategy.
• Contribute to cybersecurity measures through data analysis and monitoring.
• Use the Zooniverse API to configure workflows and advanced platform features in support of project research teams, including NASA researchers.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and answer questions from project research teams throughout their projects’ lifecycles.
• Improve documentation and training materials for internal Zooniverse team members and researchers using the platform.
• Contribute to NASA-Zooniverse events, workshops, and special initiatives, including the NASA Space Apps Challenge.

Benefits

• Eligible to accrue up to 15 vacation days per year.
• Three sick days as of date of hire, with the ability to accrue up to 6.5 days per year.
• Seven Adler paid holidays.
• Four personal holidays, prorated for new hires starting after January 1.
• Flexible work arrangements, including flextime and a telecommuting option.
• Paid family bereavement leave and jury duty.
• Paid parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Healthcare, dependent care, and commuter flexible spending accounts.
• Adler-paid short-term disability insurance.
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with Adler match; the match is 100% vested immediately, and enrollment is available as of the date of hire.
• Employee assistance program resources for emotional, legal, and financial issues, including face-to-face, telephone, and web-based services.
• Free subscription to the Calm Premium app.
• Employee loan program.
• Discounted on-site parking program.
• Free entrance to Chicago-area museums and cultural institutions.

What This Job Offers

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