Research Data Curator & Analyst

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

Job summary

The University of Michigan's Social Environment and Health Program (SEH) through ISR is seeking a Research Data Curator & Analyst to curate and publish NaNDA neighborhood datasets and support their construction. You will prepare data for ICPSR, write documentation, and ensure data quality with strict standards.

You will contribute to geospatial dataset construction, assist with geocoding workflows, and support user dissemination and training.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in library and information science or similar degree.
• Four or more years of related professional experience.
• Experience working with large datasets in Stata, R, Python, or SQL.
• Experience preparing data and documentation for deposit in a research data repository.
• Experience with census geographies, geographic crosswalk workflows, and address-to-tract spatial linkage (ArcGIS or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to write documentation for a research audience.
• Familiarity with digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).
• Ability to work successfully in a team.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.

Responsibilities

• Prepare NaNDA datasets for deposit across the ICPSR holdings: file preparation, metadata and keyword creation, DOI requests, and publication, following established NaNDA and ICPSR conventions.
• Run and revise NaNDA's curation code for assigned datasets; apply quality-control standards including expected-observation checks and geographic-identifier integrity.
• Draft codebooks, data dictionaries, and user guides supporting data reuse, carrying them through editorial review to publication.
• Analyze datasets and documentation for inconsistencies, missingness, and usability problems; recommend process improvements to the deposit workflow.
• Produce reproducible, handoff-ready processing documentation for assigned datasets so that data creation and curation stay auditable.
• Maintain organized research outputs and version records on shared network drives.
• Carry geographic crosswalk processing across the 2010 and 2020 census vintages, including boundary transitions.
• Contribute to the construction and updating of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures from administrative, commercial, and government sources.
• Support geocoding and spatial-linkage workflows (ArcGIS, Python) connecting address-level source data to census geographies.
• Bring methodological and scope questions arising in construction to the curation lead and PIs.
• Respond to user requests for assistance and route substantive methodological questions to the appropriate team member or to NaNDA Office Hours.
• Produce dissemination content on the established NaNDA schedule (dataset announcements, newsletters, social media posts, and website updates), meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

Skills

Teamwork

Documentation writing

Attention to detail

Organization

Education

Master's degree in library and information science or similar

Tools

Stata

R

Python

SQL

ArcGIS

Job description

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline your skills and related experience.

Job Summary

The Social Environment and Health Program (SEH) within the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research Institute for Social Research (ISR), is home to the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA), a national, longitudinal open repository of contextual data in the United States. Under the supervision of the Principal Investigators (Grace Noppert & Philippa Clarke), the Research Data Curator & Analyst will curate and publish the neighborhood-level datasets that make up the National Neighborhood Data Archive, and will support their construction. The position prepares NaNDA datasets for public release through the University of Michigan's Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), writes the documentation researchers rely on to interpret and reuse them, applies the archive's quality-control standards to assigned datasets, and supports the user community through direct assistance and dissemination. The Research Data Curator & Analyst will contribute to the construction of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures, and will carry geographic crosswalk processing across census vintages following NaNDA's established curation standards, naming conventions, and documentation architecture. For more information, please see https://nanda.isr.umich.edu/ .

Responsibilities*

Data Curation & Archive Operations (50%)

Prepare NaNDA datasets for deposit across the ICPSR holdings: file preparation, metadata and keyword creation, DOI requests, and publication, following established NaNDA and ICPSR conventions.

Run and revise NaNDA's curation code for assigned datasets; apply quality-control standards including expected-observation checks and geographic-identifier integrity.

Draft codebooks, data dictionaries, and user guides supporting data reuse, carrying them through editorial review to publication.

Analyze datasets and documentation for inconsistencies, missingness, and usability problems; recommend process improvements to the deposit workflow.

Produce reproducible, handoff-ready processing documentation for assigned datasets so that data creation and curation stay auditable.

Maintain organized research outputs and version records on shared network drives.

Dataset Construction & Geospatial Support (25%)

Carry geographic crosswalk processing across the 2010 and 2020 census vintages, including boundary transitions such as the Connecticut county-to-planning-region restructuring.

Contribute to the construction and updating of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures from administrative, commercial, and government sources, working to specifications set with the Geospatial Analyst and project investigators.

Support geocoding and spatial-linkage workflows (ArcGIS, Python) connecting address-level source data to census geographies, including the automated quality-assurance checks applied to linked output.

Bring methodological and scope questions arising in construction to the curation lead and PIs.

User Support, Dissemination & Coordination (25%)

Respond to user requests for assistance and route substantive methodological questions to the appropriate team member or to NaNDA Office Hours.

Produce dissemination content on the established NaNDA schedule (dataset announcements, newsletters, social media posts, and website updates), meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

Represent NaNDA at conferences and workshops, including booth staffing and webinar support.

Contribute to papers on data curation, management, and dissemination practice, and to grant reports and proposals.

Train and check the work of student and temporary staff on assigned curation and documentation tasks.

Participate in team meetings; track and report progress on assigned datasets.

Required Qualifications*

Master's degree in library and information science or similar degree.

Four or more years of related professional experience.

Experience working with large datasets in Stata, R, Python, or SQL.

Experience preparing data and documentation for deposit in a research data repository.

Experience with census geographies, geographic crosswalk workflows, and address-to-tract spatial linkage (ArcGIS or similar).

Demonstrated ability to write documentation for a research audience.

Familiarity with digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).

Ability to work successfully in a team

Highly organized and detail oriented

Desired Qualifications*

Experience handling restricted or identifiable data under confidentiality requirements.

Experience training or checking the work of student staff.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Work Locations

This position will be on-site at the University of Michigan offices in Ann Arbor, with flexible scheduling and remote opportunities made available within our overall Center policies. If relocation is required, we will allow for reasonable time and flexibility to make necessary arrangements.

Additional Information

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.