Senior Research Associate

The Ohio State University; Ohio; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Paid time off

State retirement plan

Job summary

The Ohio State University is seeking a Senior Research Associate to serve as a senior methodologist focused on advanced analytics, predictive analytics, and survey research. You will design and execute complex statistical models and large-scale surveys to evaluate program effectiveness and student success, reporting to the Associate Vice President in IRP.

You will collaborate across campus with units like OIA, SEM, and OTDI, applying ethical AI practices and presenting insights to non-technical

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning.
• Survey instrument design, Qualtrics administration or other survey tools, sampling, data validity, and impact evaluation methods.
• Advanced statistical analysis and software proficiency in R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
• Data visualization and communication skills for non-technical stakeholders.
• Domain expertise in career outcomes and student success data sources.
• Ethical AI utilization ensuring auditability, fairness, and data privacy.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex statistical models and large-scale surveys to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Collaborate across campus offices and units to advance strategic priorities.
• Lead data-informed decision-making through analytics and reporting.
• Develop dashboards and visualizations for executive audiences.
• Support institutional research, assessment, and accreditation data needs.

Skills

Advanced analytics

Predictive analytics

Survey research

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

R

SPSS

SAS

Stata

Data visualization

Tableau

Power BI

Qualtrics

Data integration

Ethical AI

Tools

R

SPSS

SAS

Stata

Qualtrics

Job description

The Senior Research Associate serves as a senior methodologist, reporting directly to the Associate Vice President. Centered on advanced analytics, predictive analytics, and survey research, this role designs and executes complex statistical models, and large-scale survey instruments to evaluate program effectiveness, assess student success and academic excellence interventions, and advance strategic priorities under the Academic Excellence Plan and University Strategic Plan.

This position collaborates across campus offices and areas such as the Center for Career Excellence, Office of International Affairs (OIA), Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education, Student Life, Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI), and academic departments.

Please see the position description for the key responsibilities, percentage breakdown and competencies for this position:

For a full list of the qualifications for this position, please see the position description:

• Demonstrated experience in advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning, Predictive Modeling: Expertise in advanced data analytics, multivariate statistics, statistical prediction modeling, forecasting, and ranking methodology simulations.
• Survey Research & Program Evaluation: Applied mastery of survey instrument design, Qualtrics administration or other survey research tools, sampling, data validity, and impact evaluation methods.
• Advanced statistical analysis and software proficiency: Hands-on proficiency in R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
• Data Visualization, Presentation, & Communication Skills: Advanced proficiency in executive report writing, oral presentations, interactive Tableau/Power BI dashboard development, and compelling data storytelling for non-technical stakeholders.
• Domain Expertise: Practical experience integrating public, internal and external data sources for understanding career outcomes and student success (PSEO, Graduation/First Destination, Handshake, 12Twenty, National Student Clearing House, OIA international student data).
• Ethical AI Utilization: Responsibly applies AI tools to streamline coding and exploratory analysis while ensuring auditability, fairness, and data privacy

Institution Description

Institutional Research and Planning Office Overview

The Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) provides accurate, timely, consistent, and actionable data and integrates analytics across multiple domains (student, faculty, human resources, fiscal, research, facilities, and more) to support evidence-based decision-making at The Ohio State University.

IRP provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction in building a data-informed decision culture by collaborating with campus stakeholders in broadening data sharing, data governance, actionable insight development, operational effectiveness, and professional skill development. We engage in institutional research, official reporting, institutional effectiveness, data visualization, survey research, assessment and accreditation data support, and applied analytics to enhance student success as well as overall university and operational effectiveness.

The Ohio State University is a top-20 public university and a dynamic organization where opportunity thrives. Our faculty and staff support academic achievement, innovation, research and service while making a lasting impact across Ohio and around the world. Collaboration, a strong sense of community and an unwavering commitment to excellence are at the heart of the Buckeye spirit. With opportunities across countless fields and specialties, Ohio State offers professionals the chance to grow while contributing to a mission that creates vibrant futures.

Institutional Research and Planning Office Overview

The Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) provides accurate, timely, consistent, and actionable data and integrates analytics across multiple domains (student, faculty, human resources, fiscal, research, facilities, and more) to support evidence-based decision-making at The Ohio State University.

IRP provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction in building a data-informed decision culture by collaborating with campus stakeholders in broadening data sharing, data governance, actionable insight development, operational effectiveness, and professional skill development. We engage in institutional research, official reporting, institutional effectiveness, data visualization, survey research, assessment and accreditation data support, and applied analytics to enhance student success as well as overall university and operational effectiveness.

The Ohio State University is a top-20 public university and a dynamic organization where opportunity thrives. Our faculty and staff support academic achievement, innovation, research and service while making a lasting impact across Ohio and around the world. Collaboration, a strong sense of community and an unwavering commitment to excellence are at the heart of the Buckeye spirit. With opportunities across countless fields and specialties, Ohio State offers professionals the chance to grow while contributing to a mission that creates vibrant futures.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

Application Due Date: 11/13/2026

Job Start Date: 01/05/2026

City: Columbus

State/Province/Region: Ohio

Institution: The Ohio State University

Reports To: Associate Vice President

Staff # Reporting to Position: 0

Reports In Office: Institutional Research and Planning

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