Applied Research & Assessment Strategist

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan seeks a Research and Assessment Specialist for the Learning, Data, and Assessment (LDA) team within LSA Undergraduate Education (UGED).

Housed in the Office of the Associate Dean and reporting to the Assistant Dean for Student Development and Career Initiatives, LDA supports UGED's priorities through coordinated research and assessment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, public policy, economics, sociology, education, psychology, applied statistics, data science, quantitative social science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience conducting applied research, institutional research, program evaluation, educational assessment, or outcomes analysis and translating organizational priorities or practical problems into research or assessment questions.
• Experience working with complex administrative, survey, longitudinal, linked, or third-party datasets.
• Knowledge of quantitative methods, data quality, reliability, validity, missingness, bias, and uncertainty; ability to select methods appropriate to purpose, timeline, available data, and intended use.
• Proficiency with R, Stata, Python, or comparable statistical software.
• Ability to communicate complex findings through clear reports, presentations, briefs, technical documentation, or decision-support materials.
• Demonstrated collaboration and project-management skills, including balancing multiple projects and working independently within a distributed team.
• Commitment to ethical data stewardship, privacy, equity, accessibility, and responsible use of student and alumni data.

Responsibilities

• Conduct applied research and assessment: Develop assessment questions and project plans, and use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods to evaluate curricula, programs, student success initiatives, and post-graduation outcomes.
• Evaluate data quality and appropriate use: Assess internal and external data sources, address gaps and potential bias, and establish reporting practices that account for reliability, uncertainty, and privacy.
• Translate findings into actionable resources: Create reports, executive briefs, presentations, and decision-support tools that communicate findings and limitations clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Build partnerships and shared assessment practices: Collaborate with academic units, assessment colleagues, and technology and data partners to develop reusable methods, workflows, and resources.
• Manage collaborative projects: Coordinate project scope, timelines, stakeholder roles, and deliverables; balance competing priorities; and plan for ongoing maintenance and use of project outputs.

Skills

Data analysis

Report writing

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in higher education or related field

Doctoral degree (desired)

Tools

R

Python

Stata

Job description

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan seeks a Research and Assessment Specialist for the Learning, Data, and Assessment (LDA) team within LSA Undergraduate Education (UGED).

Housed in the Office of the Associate Dean and reporting to the Assistant Dean for Student Development and Career Initiatives, LDA supports UGED's priorities through coordinated research and assessment.