Research Specialist Cohen Center

Brandeis University; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 47,300 - 51,800; Full time

Job summary

Brandeis University is seeking a research specialist at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies. This entry-level position supports a forward-thinking team conducting studies of the American Jewish community and offers room for growth.

Responsibilities include managing data collection, training research assistants, and assisting with reports. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, is detail-oriented, and possesses strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in social sciences or a related field.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Strong team player.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Desire and ability to learn new skills quickly.
• Comfort with technology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with the U.S. Jewish community.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary support contact during survey administration.
• Oversee coding of qualitative survey data.
• Train and manage part-time undergraduate research assistants.
• Manage data collection of online surveys.
• Assist in developing and testing survey instruments.
• Assist with reports and presentations.
• Work with the research team on other tasks.

Skills

Highly organized

Detail oriented

Strong team player

Outstanding written communication

Outstanding verbal communication

Desire to learn new skills

Technology comfort

Proficient in Microsoft Word

Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Familiarity with U.S. Jewish community

Education

Bachelor's degree in social sciences or related field

Tools

Qualtrics

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University is seeking a research specialist to provide support for an interdisciplinary, forward‑thinking team of researchers and scholars who conduct quantitative and qualitative studies of the American Jewish community. This entry‑level position offers an excellent opportunity to explore the world of social science research and apply those skills to help understand the dynamics of the U.S. Jewish community. The role is based at Brandeis University and is an entry‑level position with room for growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary support contact during survey administration; field emails and phone calls from organizations and survey respondents.
• Oversee the coding of qualitative survey data.
• Train and manage a team of part‑time undergraduate research assistants who work on coding, follow‑up calling, and other research support tasks.
• Manage data collection of online surveys.
• Assist in developing, programming, and testing survey instruments in Qualtrics.
• Assist with reports and presentations; create charts, figures, and slides using Excel and PowerPoint.
• Work with the full research team on other tasks as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Schedule and conduct phone interviews with respondents.
• Potential travel opportunities to conduct observations.
• Conduct literature searches and write short summaries.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social sciences or a related field.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Strong team player.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Desire and ability to learn new skills quickly.
• Comfort with technology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with the U.S. Jewish community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training in quantitative methods and statistics.
• Experience conducting telephone and/or in‑person interviews.
• Data visualization skills.
• Knowledge of non‑English languages, including Hebrew, Russian, and/or Spanish.

Pay Range

The hiring range for the position is $47.3k-$51.8k.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law.