Research Data Analyst II

Details

Open Date 10/19/2026

Requisition Number PRN46521B

Job Title Research Data Analysts

Working Title Research Data Analyst II

Career Progression Track P00

Track Level P2 - Developing

FLSA Code Administrative

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time?

[[JD_HEADING:Full Time

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary]]

Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Travel, evenings, and weekends may occasionally be required.

VP Area Academic Affairs

Department 00162 - Educational Leadership&Policy

Location Campus

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range $60,000

Close Date 10/26/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

Lab Overview

The Prison Education Action Research Lab ( PEARL ) at the College of Education at the University of Utah is the nation’s first center dedicated to advancing research, data, and leadership in postsecondary education in prison. PEARL leverages evidence-based research to change systems and reduce barriers to postsecondary education for people directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

PEARL’s anchor project, the Prison Education Research Initiative ( PERI ), is a first-of-its-kind multi-institutional longitudinal study spanning 22+ partner colleges and universities nationwide.

Mission

PEARL does research that advances educational justice for people and communities impacted by incarceration.

Position Summary

The Research Data Analyst II supports the secure acquisition, organization, cleaning, documentation, preparation, and analysis of complex multi-site administrative, survey, and research data for PEARL’s national research portfolio.

Working in close support of the project’s lead Research Data Analyst (Research Data Analyst III ) and the Senior Research Associate, Quantitative, this position contributes to PEARL’s national dataset, gains hands-on experience with the Prison Education Research Initiative ( PERI ), and supports the lab’s qualitative research.

This position is ideal for a quantitative data professional who thrives in a collaborative academic research environment, enjoys transforming raw data into accurate, well-documented, analysis-ready files, and is eager to grow their skills in data management, reproducible analysis, and mixed-methods research.

Working closely with research staff and Principal Investigators, the Research Data Analyst II will help maintain secure, well-documented data workflows spanning administrative corrections, education, employment, and survey data from multiple institutions, agencies, and time periods, while ensuring compliance with data security, IRB , and data-use agreement requirements.

The Research Data Analyst II will work under the supervision of project PIs Dr. Erin L. Castro and Dr.

Jason Taylor at the University of Utah. We strongly encourage applications from individuals directly impacted by incarceration and punishment systems.

Effort Allocation

Effort is approximate and may shift with project needs:

National dataset (approximately 45%): lead and support the acquisition, cleaning, validation, documentation, and preparation of PEARL’s national administrative and survey data.

PERI (approximately 45%): contribute to the Prison Education Research Initiative, working alongside and learning from the senior Research Data Analyst and the quantitative research team.

Qualitative research (approximately 10%): support qualitative research activities, including assisting with interviews and contributing to qualitative data analysis.

Why This Role Matters

This position will help build one of the most important national datasets on prison higher education and student outcomes. The successful candidate will grow as a research data professional while contributing to credible evidence that informs policy, expands opportunity, and improves lives.

Compensation and Terms

This is a grant-funded position within PEARL . The position is full-time and benefitted.

Work schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Travel, evenings, and weekends may occasionally be required. The Research Data Analyst II may work remotely or on-site at the University of Utah with some travel required.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

Responsibilities

Research Data Analyst II

• Perform routine statistical analyses on research datasets and begin to provide insights for research studies. Use software such as Excel or Tableau to manipulate data, create visualizations, and generate summaries. Assist with writing sections of research reports and manuscripts, contributing to the interpretation of results. Work independently on smaller analysis tasks and support more complex projects under supervision.
• Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
• This is a Developing-Level position in the General Professional track.

Department Specific

Responsibilities:

• Perform routine statistical analyses on research datasets and begin to provide insights for research studies. Use software such as Stata, Excel, R, or Python to manipulate data, create visualizations, and generate summaries. Assist with writing sections of research reports and manuscripts, contributing to the interpretation of results. Work independently on smaller analysis tasks and support more complex projects under supervision.
• National Dataset (approximately 45%)
• Support the secure receipt, cleaning, validation, standardization, recoding, and documentation of incoming administrative and survey datasets from multiple institutions and external organizations.
• Maintain organized folder structures, file naming conventions, and version control practices.
• Create and help maintain data dictionaries, codebooks, variable crosswalks, and workflow documentation.
• Produce reproducible, report-ready tables, figures, and descriptive summaries.
• PERI and Quantitative Team (approximately 45%)
• Contribute to PERI data tasks under the direction of the senior Research Data Analyst and the Senior Research Associate, Quantitative.
• Assist with data pipeline, integration, and relational database tasks, building skills in reproducible workflows.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT : 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

Research Data Analyst II: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, economics, mathematics, education, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Two years of professional experience in research data management, statistical programming, or quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge about educational equity and justice.
• Proficiency in at least one statistical or data programming environment (e.g., Stata, R, or Python) for data cleaning, validation, transformation, and analysis, with the ability to learn new tools as needed.
• Exposure to SQL , relational databases, or secure data environments, or an interest in developing these skills.
• Experience managing raw or inconsistently structured datasets from multiple institutions, agencies, or external organizations.
• Strong understanding of data confidentiality, secure data handling, and quality assurance practices.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting social science, education, criminal justice, public policy, or longitudinal research.
• Interest in mixed-methods research, including qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Knowledge of postsecondary education research and data infrastructure.

Type Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Required Application Materials:

Cover Letter that describes interest in and qualifications for the position. Candidates should include their experience developing and managing databases, data infrastructure, and/or producing quantitative analyses

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information.

Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status.

The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ).

More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

**https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/**This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108

Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.