Research Associate - Quantitative

Institute for Defense Analyses; Alexandria (VA); Vor Ort; USD 69.000 - 194.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) invites applications for an entry-level Research Associate to support qualitative and quantitative research in national security. You will work in a collaborative team, developing models (Python) and assisting senior researchers to analyze and present findings.

Ideal candidates will hold a STEM degree, demonstrate programming experience, and possess strong communication skills.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's or Master's in mathematics, statistics, economics, physics, computer science, data science, operations research, or related disciplines with a strong foundation in applied math or statistics.
• Candidates must demonstrate experience with one or more programming language or statistical software (e.g., Python, R, Julia, Stata, MATLAB, C, Java, etc.)
• Candidates must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills; ideal candidates contribute to team efforts.
• Preferred: training in quantitative or qualitative information collection, data normalization, and text analytics; experience as a research assistant; Bayesian stats, machine learning, predictive analytics, geospatial analyses; GPU/high-throughput/distributed computing.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Aufgaben

• Works as part of a team on model development and software implementation using a shared code repository and version control; builds discrete event simulation models in Python to analyze supply chains.
• Contributes to writing project reports and analyses; completes research tasks and drafts reports on findings.
• Prepares and maintains project documentation and databases; conducts literature reviews.
• Maintains bibliographic and statistical data; handles data curation, cleaning, and coding; summarizes research findings and contract information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Kenntnisse

Programming experience

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Strong communication

Ausbildung

Bachelor's or Master's in STEM/related

Tools

Python

R

Julia

Stata

MATLAB

C

Java

Jobbeschreibung

Overview

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a non-profit federally funded research and development center. IDA provides answers to questions posed by the Department of Defense and other agencies that require careful analysis. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages independent thinking and objective results.
IDA has an immediate opening for a Research Associate (RA) with a strong interest in national security challenges, demonstrated analytical skills and relevant educational training. Full-time professional staff at IDA are expected to be able to work independently, as a member of a study team, or under the direction of senior study leaders and analysts.
Under direct supervision, the Research Associate provides qualitative and quantitative research support, assisting and supporting work activities of more experienced research staff and other professional staff. This is an entry level position which supports the assigned Research Division.
Research staff are expected to be familiar with standard methods for collecting, compiling, summarizing, analyzing and presenting qualitative and quantitative data/information. They should be able to apply appropriate analytic methods to support the needs of particular studies or analyses. As members of interdisciplinary research teams, researchers must demonstrate strong communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to contribute effectively to a team approach to problem solving.
The national security issues that IDA addresses change constantly, and researchers are expected to be adaptable and self-motivated, and demonstrate a capacity for independent thought, sound judgment, and creativity in analyzing complex policy, operational, and technical problems.

Responsibilities

• Works as part of a team on model development and associated software implementation utilizing a shared code repository with version control. One specific project requiring support is a discrete event simulation model, built in Python, designed for analyzing supply chain networks and the impact of disruptions on those networks.


• Contributes to the writing of project reports or papers as required. Completes research, analyses, and programming tasks; develops draft reports on research findings and preliminary analyses.


• Prepares and maintains project documentation.


• Maintains project files and databases; develops and maintains information sources and contacts; conducts reviews and searches of printed literature and databases, including government databases.


• Maintains bibliographic and statistical data; performs data curation, data cleaning and coding; summarizes and documents contract information, research findings, and other information;


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• *Bachelor's degree or Masters' degree in mathematics, statistics, economics, physics, computer science, data science, operations research, or related disciplines with a strong foundation in applied mathematics or statistics are encouraged to apply.


• *Candidates must demonstrate experience with one or more programming language or statistical software used in research (e.g., Python, R, Julia, Stata, MATLAB, C, Java, etc.)


• *Candidates must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills. Ideal candidates are able to contribute to and support team efforts.


• Additional preferred skills include:
  
  
  
  • oTraining and/or experience in quantitative or qualitative information collection, data normalization, and text analytics
  
  
  • oExperience as a research assistant in an academic or policy research setting
  
  
  • oExperience or coursework in Bayesian statistics, machine learning, predictive analytics, and/or geospatial analyses
  
  
  • oExperience with GPU, high-throughput, and/or distributed computing
  
  
  
  


• *U.S. citizenship is required.

Compensation

We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $68,681-$194,054. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent's experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.

Successful completion of a criminalbackground check is required.

U.S. Citizenship is required

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required

IDA is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a fair recruiting process and working environment free from discrimination. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

IDA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and contact information.

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