Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology (Hybrid Eligible)

Company: University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia
Posted on: April 25, 2025

Job Description:

Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology (Hybrid Eligible)

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 Employers By State in 2021.

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.

COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the University. For more information about Penn's vaccine requirements, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information.

Posted Job Title
Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology (Hybrid Eligible)

Job Profile Title
Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary
Penn Criminology is hiring a 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 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 Data Specialist will work on a portfolio of projects that include both analyzing extant data and helping develop research designs and conduct evaluations of new policies. This position requires an individual who is able to work as a part of small research teams running multiple projects concurrently. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading justice system policy researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and prosecutors and analysts at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. This position is contingent upon funding.

Job Description

The Criminology Department of the University of Pennsylvania is working on developing a research agenda, in close collaboration with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office (DAO), to evaluate what prosecutor-driven policies can help improve fairness and efficiency in the criminal justice. The research team will be embedded at the DAO and provide regular, sustained interactions and policy guidance with prosecutors and analysts.

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.

DUTIES:

• Work with partners and members of the research team to propose and implement analytical approaches to solving specific research questions
  
• Clean, transform, merge, and match between large and complex research and administrative datasets
  
• Build statistical models for a variety of research projects
  
• Prepare results for memos, presentations, and academic papers targeting both policymakers and researchers
  
• Assist with literature reviews and drafting papers
  
• Perform sampling, power analysis, and randomization
  Targeted Pay Range: $40,000- $55,000
  
  This Targeted Pay Range is only applicable to this job posting. All salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
  
  QUALIFICATIONS:
  
  Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in economics, sociology, public policy, statistics, computer science, or a closely related field with substantial training in quantitative methods with 0-1 year of experience is required.
    
  • Experience working with statistical programming languages required (R experience strongly preferred).
    In addition, candidates are encouraged to highlight experience in the following preferred areas:
    • Working with large, complex, and/or administrative datasets
      
    • Working with field experiments or randomized controlled trials
      
    • Program evaluation methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, propensity score matching, regression discontinuity)
      
    • Creating data visualizations
      
    • Conducting power analysis
      
    • Imputing missing data
      Competencies:
      • Strong quantitative skills
        
      • Strong interest in criminal justice policy
        
      • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
        
      • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
        
      • Ability to work both independently and as a team member
        
      • Ability to work carefully with sensitive and confidential data
        
      • Knowledge and understanding of crime and violence policy and research literature is preferred
        Job Location - City, State
        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
        Hybrid Eligible - This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with a work week divided between working onsite and working remotely.
        
        Department / School
        School of Arts and Sciences
        
        Pay Range
        $36,368.00 - $50,522.66
        Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
        
        Affirmative Action Statement
        Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
        
        Special Requirements
        Background check 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.
          
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          To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
          
          To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/McNeil-Building/Data-Research-Specialist--Penn-Criminology--Hybrid-Eligible-_JR00069004
          
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Keywords: University of Pennsylvania, East Brunswick , Data Research Specialist, Penn Criminology (Hybrid Eligible), Other , Philadelphia, New Jersey