Research Data Analyst II

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah seeks a Research Data Analyst II to support secure acquisition, organization, cleaning, and analysis of complex multi-site datasets for PEARL's national portfolio. You will work closely with the project's lead and senior analysts to maintain reproducible data workflows and contribute to longitudinal research initiatives.

This full-time role offers a collaborative academic environment with opportunities to grow in data management, statistics, and mixed-methods research,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
• Experience in research data management, statistical programming, or quantitative analysis.
• Interest in mixed-methods research and data confidentiality and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine statistical analyses on research datasets and begin to provide insights for research studies.
• Use software such as Stata, Excel, R, or Python to manipulate data, create visualizations, and generate summaries.
• Assist with writing sections of research reports and manuscripts, contributing to interpretation of results.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Data management

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Stata

R

Python

Excel

SQL

Job description

Research Data Analyst II

Job Summary

Lab Overview

The Prison Education Action Research Lab (PEARL) at the College ofEducation at the University of Utah is the nation's first centerdedicated to advancing research, data, and leadership inpostsecondary education in prison. PEARL leverages evidence-basedresearch to change systems and reduce barriers to postsecondaryeducation for people directly impacted by the criminal legalsystem. PEARL's anchor project, the Prison Education ResearchInitiative (PERI), is a first-of-its-kind multi-institutionallongitudinal study spanning 22+ partner colleges and universitiesnationwide.

Mission

PEARL does research that advances educational justice for peopleand communities impacted by incarceration.

Position Summary

The Research Data Analyst II supports the secure acquisition,organization, cleaning, documentation, preparation, and analysis ofcomplex multi-site administrative, survey, and research data forPEARL's national research portfolio. Working in close support ofthe project's lead Research Data Analyst (Research Data AnalystIII) and the Senior Research Associate, Quantitative, this positioncontributes to PEARL's national dataset, gains hands-on experiencewith the Prison Education Research Initiative (PERI), and supportsthe lab's qualitative research.

This position is ideal for a quantitative data professional whothrives in a collaborative academic research environment, enjoystransforming raw data into accurate, well-documented,analysis-ready files, and is eager to grow their skills in datamanagement, reproducible analysis, and mixed-methodsresearch.

Working closely with research staff and Principal Investigators,the Research Data Analyst II will help maintain secure,well-documented data workflows spanning administrative corrections,education, employment, and survey data from multiple institutions,agencies, and time periods, while ensuring compliance with datasecurity, IRB, and data-use agreement requirements.

The Research Data Analyst II will work under the supervision ofproject PIs Dr. Erin L. Castro and Dr. Jason Taylor at theUniversity of Utah. We strongly encourage applications fromindividuals directly impacted by incarceration and punishmentsystems.

Effort Allocation

• National dataset (approximately 45%): lead and support theacquisition, cleaning, validation, documentation, and preparationof PEARL's national administrative and survey data.
• PERI (approximately 45%): contribute to the Prison EducationResearch Initiative, working alongside and learning from the seniorResearch Data Analyst and the quantitative research team.
• Qualitative research (approximately 10%): support qualitativeresearch activities, including assisting with interviews andcontributing to qualitative data analysis.

Why This Role Matters

This position will help build one of the most important nationaldatasets on prison higher education and student outcomes. Thesuccessful candidate will grow as a research data professionalwhile contributing to credible evidence that informs policy,expands opportunity, and improves lives.

Compensation and Terms

This is a grant-funded position within PEARL. The position isfull-time and benefitted. Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM –5:00 PM. Travel, evenings, and weekends may occasionally berequired. The Research Data Analyst II may work remotely or on-siteat the University of Utah with some travel required.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University ofUtah: benefits.utah.edu

Responsibilities

• Perform routine statistical analyses on research datasets andbegin to provide insights for research studies. Use software suchas Excel or Tableau to manipulate data, create visualizations, andgenerate summaries. Assist with writing sections of researchreports and manuscripts, contributing to the interpretation ofresults. Work independently on smaller analysis tasks and supportmore complex projects under supervision.
• Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's(or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related workexperience.
• This is a Developing-Level position in the General Professionaltrack.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Perform routine statistical analyses on research datasets andbegin to provide insights for research studies. Use software suchas Stata, Excel, R, or Python to manipulate data, createvisualizations, andgenerate summaries. Assist with writingsections of research reports and manuscripts, contributing to theinterpretation of results. Work independently on smaller analysistasks and support more complex projects under supervision.
• National Dataset (approximately 45%)
• Support the secure receipt, cleaning, validation,standardization, recoding, and documentation of incomingadministrative and survey datasets from multiple institutions andexternal organizations.
• Maintain organized folder structures, file naming conventions,and version control practices.
• Create and help maintain data dictionaries, codebooks, variablecrosswalks, and workflow documentation.
• Produce reproducible, report-ready tables, figures, anddescriptive summaries.
• PERI and Quantitative Team (approximately 45%)
• Contribute to PERI data tasks under the direction of the seniorResearch Data Analyst and the Senior Research Associate,Quantitative.
• Assist with data pipeline, integration, and relational databasetasks, building skills in reproducible workflows.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher educationcan be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience(Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related workexperience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following joblevels:

Research Data Analyst II: Requires a bachelor's(or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 yearsof directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Bachelor's degree in data science, statistics, economics,mathematics, education, or a related quantitative field, orequivalent professional experience.
• Two years of professional experience in research datamanagement, statistical programming, or quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge about educationalequity and justice.
• Proficiency in at least one statistical or data programmingenvironment (e.g., Stata, R, or Python) for data cleaning,validation, transformation, and analysis, with the ability to learnnew tools as needed.
• Exposure to SQL, relational databases, or secure dataenvironments, or an interest in developing these skills.
• Experience managing raw or inconsistently structured datasetsfrom multiple institutions, agencies, or externalorganizations.
• Strong understanding of data confidentiality, secure datahandling, and quality assurance practices.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention todetail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting social science, education, criminaljustice, public policy, or longitudinal research.
• Interest in mixed-methods research, including qualitative datacollection and analysis.
• Knowledge of postsecondary education research and datainfrastructure.

Job Details

Requisition Number: PRN46521B

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Work Schedule Summary: Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00AM–5:00 PM. Travel, evenings, and weekends may occasionally berequired.

Department: 00162 - Educational Leadership&Policy

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: $60,000

Close Date: 10/26/2026