How to Apply

• A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position.  The cover letter should be included in the same document as your resume and should specifically address your interest in this position and outline particular skills and experience directly related to this position. 

• This is a one-year term-limited appointment.

• The Ford School is committed to providing a positive and inclusive work environment. This includes providing employees with flexible work opportunities. This position is eligible for either hybrid or fully remote work. If hybrid, the candidate will generally be expected to work in the office 2-3 days per week. Candidates must be U.S. based and have permission to work in the U.S.

Summary

The University of Michigan is looking for a Research Analyst to complete a one year research project with the Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP) team. As the Research Analyst, you will design and conduct a landscape assessment of graduate programs that teach scientists and engineers about the ethical, social, and political dimensions of their work (a category we call STEM-in-Society programs), followed by a comparative case study analysis of approximately 3-4 cases, including University of Michigan’s STPP Program. You will report to the STPP Managing Director.

Established in 2006, the STPP Program is a research center at the Ford School of Public Policy that includes research, educational, and community engagement activities. The centerpiece of our work is a graduate certificate program, which currently enrolls around 100 Masters and PhD students from across University of Michigan, training them to develop competency in the ethical, political, social, and equity dimensions of science, technology, and related public policies. 

Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, non-profit organizations, law, and public policy, and many note that their participation in STPP fundamentally transformed how they think about the relationships between science, technology, ethics, equity, and society. We believe that we have developed a successful training model, but we want to better understand the overall landscape and learn from other similar programs, with the ultimate goal of building a scalable approach to STEM-in-Society education. The Research Analyst will lead this analysis, and help us brainstorm the program’s next steps based on the findings.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan 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

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting

• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

• Paid parental leave

Responsibilities*

Landscape assessment of peer graduate programs

• Conduct a landscape analysis of peer graduate programs, primarily through internet research, e.g. deep reviews of program websites, direct contact.

• Identify programs' locations, approaches, audiences, trainee career trajectories, and evaluation metrics.

• Develop categories for comparing programs.

• Assemble findings in a spreadsheet or database.

• Develop a typology of STEM-in-Society programs.

Comparative case study analysis

• Design, in consultation with the STPP team, a comparative case study of approximately one case per type of STEM-in-Society programs. We expect 3-4 cases total.

• Develop interview protocols for faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the case study programs.

• Collect additional documents about the history and impacts of the programs.

• Conduct interviews and analyze transcripts and other relevant documents, to answer questions including what training students received, how the program affected its students' careers in the short and long term, what challenges the program has faced, and what its future goals are.

Report writing

• Write briefs summarizing the findings of the landscape analysis, categorizing the types of programs available, and assessing the level and type of variation.

• Write a public-facing report summarizing the findings of the comparative case study.

• Help develop materials to promote the findings of the study, such as video briefings and one pagers.

Required Qualifications*

• Graduate-level degree in public policy, education, science and technology studies, information science, or a relevant social science discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• At least two years of qualitative or mixed methods research experience; this can include experience gained through classes, graduate research assistantships, or other part-time campus employment.

• Experience with program evaluation concepts and practices

• Qualitative research skills including textual analysis, interview design, and qualitative data analysis.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to take initiative and work independently.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including one booster when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine.  This includes those working remotely and temporary workers.   More information on this new policy is available on the U-M Health Response website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.