Functional Area: Research - Other
Department: Political Science
School Area: Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Exempt
Visa Sponsorship Available: No
Schedule: M-F 

Working at MIT offers opportunities, an environment, a culture – and benefits – that just aren’t found together anywhere else. If you’re curious, motivated, want to be part of a unique community, and help shape the future – then take a look at this opportunity.

RESEARCH SCIENTIST, Political Science-MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL), to oversee the data science workflow of the lab’s election-related data collection, processing, and dissemination efforts. MEDSL aims to improve the democratic experience for all U.S. voters by applying scientific principles to how elections are studied and administered. Responsibilities include assisting the director with designing and implementing research projects; gathering and analyzing data, designing research protocols, and documenting results; managing data science and quality control for the 2018 release of the Elections Performance Index (EPI); acquiring data from government sources and designing protocols to update indicators not provided by government sources; assisting with redistricting data collection/dissemination efforts; working with web designers to update EPI website and creating original content for MEDSL website; onboarding and monitoring the work of students/research support associates; tracking scholarship in the field of election science; and performing other data science/administrative/reporting duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED:  master’s degree in data science, political science, or related area; experience analyzing data independently using statistical programs such as R Python, and Stata; excellent written and oral communication skills; flexibility; initiative; and ability to work as part of a team and as an independent researcher.  Research experience in voting, elections, election administration, redistricting, campaign finance, or similar subjects; and a demonstrated portfolio in data science and/or original computationally-intensive quantitative social science are preferred.  Candidates for and Ph.D. recent recipients in political science, economics, or related field with strong data science concentration also preferred.  Those with at least three years’ field experience in elections and voting research and significant data science experience will also be considered.  Knowledge of web design and architecture useful.  Job #17456

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.