Senior Research Associate

The Knowledge Lab seeks appointees for a Senior Research Associate position. The Senior Research Associates primary responsibilities include setting up and performing experiments, collecting, maintaining and analyzing data, conducting literature reviews, assisting with preparing reports, manuscripts, and other documents. The Senior Research Associate may also conduct original research, and will be expected to have an active role in obtaining and carrying out funded research. The Senior Research Associate may supervise student researchers but will not have any teaching responsibilities. This is a renewable, benefits-eligible position.

The University of Chicago Knowledge Lab leverages advanced computational tools to unravel complex scientific and societal problems, bridging the gap between data-driven insights and real-world applications. The scope of our research is broad, ranging from historical social change to the latest technological developments, from global economic trajectories to national policies to local cultural practices.

The ideal candidate will have interest and experience in empirical research applying advanced computational methods to explore knowledge production and diffusion. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor James A. Evans and in collaboration with PIs in other departments at the University of Chicago. Position will begin on or after August 1, 2025 and the initial appointment will be for one year. Reappointment is possible following a successful review during the second year.

Qualifications

Education: Ph.D. in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, economics, political science, communications) or computational sciences (e.g., computer science, informatics/information science, engineering, [applied] mathematics, statistics, physics) or related fields

Technical Skills: Proficiency in relevant programming languages (e.g., python), frameworks (e.g., HuggingFace, PyTorch) is required.

At least 2 years of postdoctoral research experience in a similar research lab or university unit.

Preferred Competencies:

Active publication record and participation in the scientific community;

Interest in scientific publishing and extensive writing experience

Prior experience in programming and working with large-scale data; expertise in machine learning is a strong plus.

Ability to work in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

Experience implementing Neural Networks using Tensorflow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, OpenCV, deep learning, and other artificial intelligence techniques.

Familiarity with Linux, UNIX, and High Performance Computing environment.

Experiencing forming and testing hypotheses.

Drive to learn new programming or data analysis techniques.

Strong communication skills and the ability to break down complex technical problems.

Demonstrated ability to review and prioritize work independently and effectively.

Demonstrated ability to be resourceful and creative in problem-solving.

Applications must include:

CV/Resume

Cover Letter (1-2 pages)

Research Statement (2-3 pages)

List of Potential References with name and contact information (3-5)