Job detailsJob TypeFull-timeFull Job Description
Research Scientist GIS, The Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Position Summary
The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute is currently expanding to build out five research centers focused on key aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five research centers will conduct research on housing , education , public health , economic mobility and inequality , and population dynamics . Each of these centers will conduct research focused on its particular topic, as well as do groundbreaking and necessary work across centers. To achieve this, each center is building interdisciplinary teams that specialize in solutions-oriented research, and will use a research-practice partnership (RPP) model to jointly design, develop, and do research that values diversity in expertise and centers the community in identifying the most pressing questions and challenges facing Houston.
The Kinder Institute for Urban Research (KIUR) at Rice University, is seeking a full-time Research Scientist specializing in GIS with expertise in education research, non-profit research, and conducting research through a research-practice partnership (RPP) framework, who can design, plan, implement, and conduct complex and specialized research projects. Research Scientists are involved in multiple research projects at a time, and use a research-practice partnership framework to work closely with community organizations in the areas of economic mobility, education, community health, housing, and transportation.
In addition to conducting rigorous and sophisticated research, the Research Scientist, GIS Specialist will also provide guidance and mentoring to other members of the team to assist in the growth and expansion of general knowledge and understanding of geospatial analyses. They will also be responsible for effectively translating research findings for broad and varied audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products to communicate findings, including (but not limited to) research briefs and papers, presentations, webinars, video recordings, and data dashboards. They will also supervise and train small research teams.
KIUR conducts research specific to the Houston area, and because of the importance of place to this research, the successful candidate will need to live in the Houston area.
Applications will be screened as they come in, and the successful candidate must be able to start as early as January 10, 2023.
Essential Functions

Manages research projects on housing , education , public health , economic mobility and inequality , and population dynamics and related budgets
Performs scientific research through the design, planning, implementation, and conducting of independent and team-based research studies and specialized research projects, such as advanced quantitative methods, including studies utilizing geospatial information models and methods
Effectively communicates and translates the results of scientific research through verbal presentation at scientific conferences and written products suitable for publication, as well as for a variety of audiences utilizing a portfolio of research products, such as research briefs and papers, presentations, and data dashboards
Actively engages to improve the Institutes reputation and set of scientific capabilities, by communicating and building relationships with community organizations and other stakeholders
Supervises, mentors, and trains other researchers, including students and colleagues, such as by including them in ongoing research in a meaningful manner
Works in cooperation with our staff grant writer to identify external research grants
Maintains a harmonious, safe, and efficient work environment by training other researchers at the Institute, ensuring appropriate supports and services are available for getting the job done, and coordinating with others when work needs to get done
Ability to work and solve problems independently
Good interpersonal skills such as patience, determination, flexibility, and decisiveness
Excellent listening, verbal and written communication, analytical, and research skills
Performs all other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Must have a Ph.D. or Doctorate Degree in GIS, Geography, or related field.
Must have three (3) years of postdoctoral experience in each of the following:

Working in a research-practice partnership (RPP);
Conducting applied geospatial information system (GIS) research;
Using multiple regression (e.g., OLS, logistic) techniques;
Using statistical software packages, such as Stata, SAS, or R;
Using GIS software ArcGIS or QGIS; and
Communicating research findings to multiple audiences, which may include practitioners, community members, youth, families, policymakers, other researchers or academics, and other relevant actors in the research field.

Must have two (2) years postdoctoral experience developing and managing research projects, managing data, and conducting quantitative and/or qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, interviews, and geospatial information system analyses.
Must also have one (1) year postdoctoral experience using multilevel regression techniques
Start date of January 10, 2023

Preferred Qualifications

Adaptable to change and able to think creatively to address issues
Mission-driven with a passion for social justice and advancing equity

Working Conditions

Occasional travel (approximately 30 days of local in-state travel; approximately 5 days of out-of-state travel)
Evening and/or weekend work as needed
Optional hybrid work schedule within Harris County and surrounding counties

Rice University HR | Benefits
https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values
Mission and Values | Rice University
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
Current Rice University COVID policies, which include vaccination, face mask, testing, gatherings, occupancy limits, and travel policies can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nations top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
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