Junior Data Scientist, Penn Development Research Initiative (Pdri)

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

Junior Data Scientist, Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI)

Job Profile Title

Data Analyst C

Summary

The Penn Development Research Initiative – DevLab (PDRI-DevLab) seeks a Junior Data Scientist to work with us on international development research projects.

PDRI-DevLab seeks to provide hands-on research experience to early career researchers and encourage applications from recent graduates with a strong desire to attend a top global PhD program in the social sciences. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of research backgrounds, and do not require a particular country-focus or expertise. Successful candidates will work on PDRI-DevLab research projects, receive mentorship from Penn faculty, and will have the opportunity to enroll in classes while at Penn. We particularly encourage individuals from low- and lower-middle-income countries to apply for this role.

This is a one-year term position with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon continued funding.

PDRI-DevLab brings together an interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners to address urgent global challenges. PDRI-DevLab is an applied learning environment that focuses on connecting social scientists at Penn who work in international development with the community of development practitioners to create rigorous programming, collect monitoring and evaluation data, and conduct impact evaluations of development projects. PDRI-DevLab connects faculty and graduate students from several departments and schools at Penn who have extensive experience in both international development and program evaluation, including a broad range of donor activities in the areas of education, health, governance, environment, gender, urbanization and migration, labor markets, poverty, and economic growth.

In addressing these issues, we bring together scholars and students attuned to the research frontier and with advanced capabilities in experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluation designs, survey design and other data collection tools, and data analytics, including web scraping and geospatial analysis. As established social scientists, we are able to identify opportunities for knowledge generation that will benefit the Penn community of scholars and the scientific community more broadly. As academics trained in applied statistics, we are able to offer advice on best practices for cutting-edge program evaluation to practitioners. Our setting also gives us access to a range of experts on the frontier of technology relevant to program evaluation. PDRI-DevLab partners with a wide variety of funders and implementers, including the World Bank, MCC, Social Impact, IOM, Winrock International, the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, and many others.

Through regular seminars, conferences, collaborative research projects, and dissemination activities and products, PDRI-DevLab makes it possible for faculty and graduate students at Penn to expand their efforts to conduct research that advances science and contributes to the improvement of well-being in developing countries.

Duties

Successful candidates will directly support ongoing PDRI-DevLab research projects by carrying out a wide range of critical research tasks, including, but not limited to:

• Qualitative research
• Identify and obtain secondary data
• Collaborate and train in-country research and data collection partners
• Draft research reports and academic papers
• Clean data, prepare data documentation, manage, and analyze data files
• Program, and test survey questionnaires
• Independent thinking, a strong understanding of social sciences, an ability to manage workflows on multiple projects, and self-motivation are highly valued.
• Statistical and econometric analyses
• Manage field activities, including the implementation of quality control procedures
• Conduct background research and literature reviews

This is a challenging opportunity for an early-career professional who is passionate about social science research and has a strong desire to expand and deepen skills in social science research and quantitative data analysis. You will work closely with the faculty director who will provide supervision on research and offer mentorship on academic development more broadly. You will also be encouraged to be an active part of Penn’s thriving development research community, by taking part in regular seminars, workshops, and related activities. We anticipate that the successful candidate would work in this position for 1 or 2 years, before going on to graduate programs or careers in Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, or another social science.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Knowledge of statistical software, specifically R or Python (Stata is a plus).
• Self-directed, intrinsically motivated; capacity to manage work independently and organize workflows across multiple projects.
• Working proficiency in written and spoken English.
• BA/BS in Political Science, Economics, or another quantitative social science with at least 2 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Enthusiasm for a fast-paced, energetic work environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and compelling written materials geared towards technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience living and working in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
• Previous experience as a research analyst or conducting independent research.
• Familiarity with causal inference and inferential statistics a plus, but not required.
• Familiarity with sampling approaches for household and phone surveys.
• Strong interest in pursuing an academic career in the social sciences.
• Familiarity or experience working in tasks for survey projects in low- and middle-income countries.

Candidates should upload a resume/CV (including the names of at least 2 references), as well as a cover letter as part of their application.

Note: There is no firm deadline for this role. We encourage submitting an application as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $75,000.00 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, 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

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