Project Analyst

Department
 

Energy and Environment Lab (EE Lab)

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago Urban Labs partners with government and non-governmental organizations to identify and rigorously evaluate the policies and programs with the greatest potential to improve human lives at scale. Urban Labs’ evidence-based approach gives policymakers and practitioners the knowledge they need to effectively achieve the greatest social good per dollar spent.
The University of Chicago Energy and Environment Lab (EE Lab) partners with agencies at the federal, state, and local level to identify, rigorously evaluate, and help scale programs and policies that reduce pollution and improve environmental outcomes, while ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy. The EE Lab applies rigorous evaluation and modeling methods, including natural and field experiments, randomized controlled trials, behavioral economics, and machine learning, to help policymakers identify and generate evidence on innovative approaches and policy solutions to their most pressing environmental and energy challenges.

Job Summary
 

The University of Chicago Energy and Environment Lab (EE Lab) is seeking a Project Analyst (PA) with strong research, methodological, and management skills to support large-scale environmental policy research projects. The PA will coordinate a growing portfolio of projects, including machine learning projects, designed to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of promising energy and environmental interventions. The PA will contribute to the design, implementation, and analysis of energy and environment research projects with direct applicability for policymakers. This role will work closely with U.S. government agencies, municipal governments, researchers, and a dedicated team of research analysts, data scientists, and staff, to support research projects led by the EE Lab and Faculty Director Michael Greenstone.

Responsibilities

• Works with partners to identify analytical approaches to answer specific research questions and to provide analytical support to government partners.
• Constructs, trains, and deploys scalable machine learning algorithms for a variety of predictive analytics research projects.
• Coordinates data collection, econometric analysis and provides quality assurance for research projects.
• Contributes to research design, analysis, and implementation of policy-relevant research projects.
• Works closely with Principal Investigators to coordinate project teams and junior staff; leads task supervision and quality oversight.
• Prepares results for memos, presentations, and papers targeting both policymakers and academic audiences.
• Ensures compliance with institutional, state and federal regulatory policies and procedures as well as internal data privacy and security policies.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with University, IRB, and government policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Engages stakeholders and maintains strong research partnerships with government agencies and with Principal Investigators to coordinate research and technical assistance projects, including communications and project deliverables.
• Assists with writing grant proposals and managing grant reports.
• Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacts with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in economics, statistics, computer science or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of relevant experience.
• Coursework in statistics, econometrics, data science, and computer science.
• Strong background in applied statistics and econometrics. 

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with R, Python, or Stata.
• Working with large and complex datasets.
• Applying machine learning algorithms in operational environments.
• Explaining complex statistical ideas and/or research projects to non-experts.
• Experience with GitHub.
• Working on field experiments / randomized controlled trials.
• Experience with relational databases.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to present research concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong time management skills with a proven ability to multitask and to prioritize activities to successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
• Strong project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Work both independently, in a self-directed manner, and as a team member.
• Knowledge and understanding of energy and environmental policy topics.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)
• Writing Sample (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.