Job Details

Pre-Doctoral Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology Department

Position Number: 6154611
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Criminal Justice

Pre-Doctoral Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology Department

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Pre-Doctoral Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology Department

Job Profile Title
Research Specialist B

Job Description Summary
The Department of Criminology is hiring a Pre-Doctoral Data Research Specialist with strong technical skills to work on research projects to evaluate what prosecutor-driven policies can help improve fairness and efficiency in the criminal justice. The Data Research Specialist will contribute to multiple steps of data collection and cleaning, developing the adequate models to analyze data, help in design / implement field experiments, and analyzing experimental results.
The position will work on a portfolio of projects that include both analyzing extant data, using quasi-empirical causal approaches, and helping develop research designs and conduct evaluations of new policies. Candidates should be comfortable working as a part of small research teams running multiple projects concurrently. This is a unique opportunity to work directly with leading economists at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and the University of Virginia; as well as prosecutors and analysts at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office (DAO). The position offers excellent mentorship opportunities for applicants who are considering applying to a PhD in economics or related fields; people who worked with our team have been accepted in PhD programs including Penn economics, NYU economics, or the Harvard Kennedy School's public policy program.

Job Description

The University of Pennsylvania has the longest continuous program of research and teaching in criminology of any American university, with a rich history, strong traditions, and a distinguished group of alumni. Current faculty are highly regarded as teachers and researchers who represent a range of academic disciplines: psychology, sociology, economics, public policy, law, statistics, and criminology. All are professionally committed to even-handed science in service of the public good.

The Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania is collaborating with the Yale Department of Economics, and the University of Virginia School of Law to develop a research agenda focused on evaluating how penal policies affect socio-economic well-being. The data research specialist will be embedded at the DAO and provide regular, sustained interactions and policy guidance with prosecutors and analysts.

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for an early-career professional who is passionate about social science research and eager to deepen their expertise in economic research and quantitative analysis. The analyst will work closely with the professors of these departments who will provide research supervision and mentorship on academic and professional development.

We anticipate that the successful candidate will remain in this role for approximately two years before pursuing graduate studies or careers in Economics.

Responsibilities:
The data research specialist will support a range of research activities, including:

Conducting statistical and econometric analyses
Cleaning, managing, and analyzing large administrative datasets
Writing research reports and memos
Conducting background research and literature reviews
Identifying and acquiring relevant secondary data
Supporting the design and coordination of field activities
Collaborating with partners at the District Attorney's Office

Qualifications:

Success in this role requires independent thinking, strong analytical skills, a solid grounding in economics or related disciplines, and the ability to manage workflows across multiple projects. Self-motivation and attention to detail are highly valued.

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Public Policy, or a related quantitative discipline and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Prior experience as a research assistant or conducting independent research using Stata or R is preferred
Ability to analyze data and write reports
Self-directed and organized, with the ability to manage tasks across multiple projects independently

In addition, candidates are encouraged to highlight experience in the following areas:

Working with large, complex, and/or administrative datasets
Knowledge of quasi-experimental program evaluation methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity)

This position is contingent upon funding.

*For consideration, please submit a writing sample along with a cover letter and resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range
$50,000.00 - $60,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/McNeil-Building/Pre-Doctoral-Data-Research-Specialist--Penn-Criminology-Department_JR00105332