Career Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the University of Chicago Urban Labs! Urban Labs has a strong commitment to using science in service of cities to improve the quality of urban life. We regularly seek out passionate, data-oriented, public service minded individuals to join our team.
For more information on Urban Labs' career opportunities, culture and recruiting process, please see the frequently asked question section below.
Current Opportunities
Urban Labs
- Job Title: Desktop Support Specialist
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR11571
University of Chicago Urban Labs is seeking a Desktop Support Specialist to solve complex end user issues regarding hardware, site licensing, software, and networking. The ideal candidate will use best practices and IT knowledge to manage the deployment and support of end user devices; administer office systems including printer/copiers, A/V, and other equipment; and collaborate with IT professionals across the University on desktop support initiatives.
Crime & Education Labs
- Job Title: Senior Manager, Sponsored Research
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
- Requisition Number: JR11104
The Senior Manager, Sponsored Research supports the research enterprise at the Crime Lab and Education Lab by providing leadership and stewardship for grants and sponsored research support. This person works witha diverse team of Principal Investigators, Research Directors, staff and partners involved in the review, approval, negotiation and administration of research proposals, grants, contracts, and will also be responsible for developing and implementing efficient and effective processes related to pre- and post-award grant administration. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works closely with the Sr. Manager, Budget & Finance and the Sponsored Research & Finance Associate.
- Job Title: Project Director
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR10975
The Education Lab has done several studies of high dosage tutoring and has found very encouraging results. Over two separate randomized controlled trials of an intensive, in-school tutoring program run by Saga Education, UChicago Education Lab found that students who received the program gained one to two-and-a-half years of additional learning compared to those who did not participate (SAGA Tutoring | UChicago Urban Labs). This finding – and subsequent findings from later studies – indicate that this personalized learning approach has the potential to accelerate students’ learning there thereby reduce persistent disparities in education performance. Some of our work in this area was recently released as a working paper titled “Not Too Late”, highlighting the potential of programs like these to substantially improve outcomes for adolescents who have fallen behind grade level (Not Too Late:Improving Academic Outcomes Among Adolescents | NBER).
Partly inspired by these results, we are developing a series of large-scale, multi-arm,
randomized experiments across multiple cities to study variations of this personalized learning approach at scale and to empirically identify what works best for whom and in what context. We expect this program to serve tens of thousands of students, allowing us to learn more about these promising models while delivering real supports to as many students who might benefit as possible. To help us execute on this vision, we are seeking a project director to coordinate and drive these efforts.
- Job Title: Project Associate
- Desired Start Date: 09.01.2021
- Reporting to: Senior Research Manager
- Requisition Number: JR12477
The University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab is seeking a Project Associate with strong project management skills. This position requires an individual who is able to work as part of small research teams running multiple projects concurrently. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago and government agency staff, as well as an experienced team of analysts, data scientists, administrative staff, and project managers.
- Job Title: Research Manager
- Desired Start Date: 09.01.2021
- Reporting to: Associate Director, Operations
- Requisition Number: JR12378
The Crime Lab and Education Lab are seeking a Research Manager to work on large-scale social policy experiments designed to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of youth violence preventions and interventions. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago and NYC-area universities, as well as a team of administrative staff, other project staff, research analysts, and student research assistants.
- Job Title: Senior Research Manager
- Desired Start Date: 09.01.2021
- Reporting to: Associate Director, Operations
- Requisition Number: JR12377
The UChicago Crime Lab and Education Lab are seeking a Senior Research Manager to work on large-scale social policy experiments designed to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of youth violence prevention and educational interventions. The Senior Research Manager will work on a small portfolio of projects across the areas of both criminal justice and education, establish procedures and provide guidance for regular research management activities including developing budgets, writing IRB protocols, working with funders or city agencies, and will support the growth and development of the broader project management team.
- Job Title: Senior Research Analyst
- Desired Start Date: 09.01.2021
- Reporting to: Director of Data Analytics
- Requisition Number: JR12257
The UChicago Crime Lab and Urban Education Lab are seeking a Senior Research Analyst with strong technical skills to work on large-scale social policy experiments designed to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of youth violence prevention and educational interventions. The Senior Analyst will work on a small portfolio of projects across the areas of both criminal justice and education, develop and manage processes and procedures for collaborative data access and use, and support broader organizational development activities.
The successful candidate will have experience in applying a variety of statistical modeling approaches to large datasets in real-world settings. From project inception to delivery, the Senior Research Analyst will contribute to all facets of data collection & cleaning, model development, and implementation. This position requires an individual who is able to work as a part of small research teams running multiple projects concurrently, and can work with multiple departments across the organization to implement ideas. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers, at the University of Chicago and NYC-area universities, local city agency staff, as well as a team of administrative staff, other analysts, research managers, and student research assistant.
Health Lab
- Job Title: Implementation Manager
- Desired Start Date: 09.16.2021
- Requisition Number: JR12799
The University of Chicago Health Lab is seeking an Implementation Manager to work on large-scale social policy research, data science, and program evaluation projects to support the development of effective policy interventions in the domain of 911 and alternative crisis response. The Implementation Manager will work to support a large-scale field-based program evaluation of alternative crisis response work in and around Chicago. This work is part of Health Lab’s larger 911 portfolio of projects, which includes a number of related projects in Chicago and several other cities nationwide.
The Implementation Manager will have the opportunity to manage various stakeholder relationships and contribute to all aspects of research design, methods, and evaluation of research projects. Duties will include travelling to observe field operations and program sites to monitor and assess program implementation, managing and facilitating communication between Health Lab and external stakeholders, managing the project’s data collection process, providing updates and feedback on study progress to internal and external partners, and assisting in drafting a variety of project-related writings. The ideal candidate will be organized and able to execute multiple project workstreams, including setting project timelines and meeting key milestones.
This position requires an individual who is able to work as a part of a small research team simultaneously running a variety of data and research collection endeavors. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, partnering research, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates, as well as a team of administrative staff, project managers, and student research assistants. The Implementation Manager will also collaborate closely with the UChicago Urban Labs' partners in the public and nonprofit sectors.
Responsibilities
- Manages day-to-day implementation of a large-scale policy research project based in Chicago, including primary and secondary research data collection, while ensuring fidelity to research ethics and study design.
- Must be available for frequent, in-person site visits to partner sites in Chicago. All COVID-19 precautions will be taken.
- Ensures that project deliverables are developed in a satisfactory and timely manner.
- Manages multiple project aims simultaneously and meets tight deadlines.
- Contributes to research design and coordinates implementation with program partners and collaborators in the public and nonprofit sectors.
- Oversees quality control of data collection, including developing and maintaining the study’s research and dissemination processes.
- Coordinates project development and deliverables among all internal and external partners.
- Prepares IRB proposals, writing grant proposals and grant progress reports, and obtains research permission and data use agreements as needed.
- Performs literature reviews and assists in writing, proofreading, and fact-checking academic papers, reports, and presentations.
- Prepares research summaries for memos, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders.
- Facilitates integration of community feedback into research process and generated products.
- Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
- Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
- Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
- Supervised other staff as needed.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Master's degree in criminal justice, economics, sociology, public health, public policy or another relevant field.
- Will consider applicants with equivalent lived experience.
Experience:
- Experience gained in school counts towards requirement.
- Managing complex projects with numerous stakeholders.
- Experience working with large and complex datasets.
- Experience in qualitative research and analysis.
- Collecting and managing qualitative and quantitative datasets.
- Working on field experiments and/or randomized controlled trials.
- Working with law enforcement, public health, or in emergency response.
- Coursework in policy analysis.
Preferred Competencies
- Strong interest in social policy.
- Previous program management experience including demonstrated success navigating various stakeholder interests to produce a common goal.
- Demonstrated capacity to work independently in an organized, detailed manner, while maintaining a collaborative team environment. Self-starter with ability to take initiative to move projects forward.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a broad array of partners.
- Strong time management skills with a proven ability to multitask and to prioritize activities to successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment.
- Knowledge and understanding of urban policy, social policy, criminal justice policy, and 911/ crisis response.
Working Conditions
- This role will be both outdoors and indoors. The role will require travel to partner sites and field observations. Some of the work will also be performed on phone, Zoom, email, and other digital formats.
- Requires the ability to work independently and virtually with teams for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
Application Documents
- Resume (required)
- Cover letter (required)
- Writing sample (required)
- Transcript (preferred)
Inclusive Economy Lab
- Job Title: Project Manager
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR12020
The UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab is seeking a Project Manager to support large-scale social policy experiments designed to test the effectiveness of poverty interventions. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, as well as a team of administrative staff, other project managers, research analysts, and student research assistants. The Project Manager will also collaborate closely with the UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab’s partners in the public and nonprofit sectors.
- Job Title: Project Associate
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR10956
The University of Chicago Poverty Lab is seeking a Project Associate with strong technical skills to support large-scale social policy research projects. This person will work on a portfolio of projects studying the effectiveness of various kinds of income supports. This position requires an individual who is able to work as part of a small research teams running multiple projects concurrently while working directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Illinois, as well as an experienced team of data scientists, administrative staff, and project managers.
- Job Title: Portfolio Manager, Chicago City Colleges
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR11117
The UChicago Inclusive Economy Lab is seeking a Portfolio Manager to manage large-scale social policy experiments designed to understand how to better support students transitioning to postsecondary educational experiences. This individual will work on a portfolio of projects conducted in close partnership with city agencies and non-profits, leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, families and students with lived experience, as well as a team of administrative staff, other project managers, research analysts, and student research assistants. The Portfolio Manager will help implement a research agenda to increase the evidence base of how to support students as they make postsecondary plans and then transition to college and beyond.
- Job Title: Research Analyst
- Desired Start Date: TBC
- Requisition Number: JR11525
The Research Analyst performs analysis assignments related to scientific research projects. This role informs experimental designs and descriptive analyses for partners, carrying out analysis steps as specified by the Principal Investigator in conjunction with more senior analyst staff. This role is also responsible for managing intern staff in select analyses ,supports the creation of reporting materials, including producing data visualizations, drafting language for reports, papers, and presentations for partners or academic publications.
- Job Title: Research Director
- Desired Start Date: 02.02.2021
The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab is seeking a full-time Research Director to provide scientific and intellectual leadership for the Inclusive Economy Lab. The Research Director, in partnership with senior faculty members at the University of Chicago and elsewhere, will provide scientific direction for a portfolio of applied research projects and ensure the rigor and quality of the Lab's work.
Please submit application materials to Cheree Moore at chereej@uchicago.edu
FAQs
For our three most common research roles--Project Associate, Research Manager, and Research Analyst--please refer to the responsibilities outlined below:
- Project Associates support large-scale social policy research projects designed to test the effectiveness of promising interventions by supporting a Research Manager or Research Analyst.
- Research Managers work directly with leading social science researchers, local policymakers, frontline practitioners, and a dedicated team of research analysts, data scientists, and administrative staff to implement ambitious field experiments.
- Research Analysts apply a variety of statistical modeling and data techniques to datasets in real-world settings, and contribute to all facets of data collection & cleaning, model development, analysis, and interpretation of results.
Urban Labs also hires for other positions in research, IT, and operations. We encourage you to view opportunities below.
You may be asked to submit multiple documents, including a Cover Letter, Writing Sample, and Unofficial Transcripts from the highest degree program received. Please see the job description for the exact documents required for that job. All materials should be submitted to the Workday system. Refer to the job requisition number on the job description to apply to the correct position.
All of our positions require a cover letter. In the cover letter, we encourage you to elaborate on your relevant achievements and describe your interest in the position.
We appreciate your interest in Urban Labs and look forward to reviewing your application. Due to the high-volume of applications that we receive, although we try, we may not be able to respond to all individual inquires.
Urban Labs employees are committed to creating a collaborative, high energy office that is open and welcoming to individuals of all backgrounds and life experiences, and prioritize developing a workforce that is as diverse as the city in which we work.
While we are affiliated with the University of Chicago, we are not located in Hyde Park. We have an office in downtown Chicago, which allows us to work more closely with our public sector partners.
In addition, Urban Labs also has an office in New York City that focuses on Crime and Education work. The New York Office works in close collaboration with the Crime and Education Labs in Chicago.
Urban Labs is a set of highly collaborative Labs and as such, we all work together towards a common mission of science in service of cities.
If you have questions about the Workday Application System, click here.
If you have specific questions that were not answered in our above frequently asked questions section, please contact us at urbanlabs@uchicago.edu Thanks!
