Research Director, School of Law

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

RESEARCH DIRECTOR ERC–Wilson Center for Science and Justice at DUKE LAW SCHOOL

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Occupational Summary

The Research Director leads the development and implementation of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice’s (the “Center”) research agenda. The Research Director is a senior position that will require the successful candidate to work closely with the Faculty Director and the Center’s leadership team, and report to the Executive Director. This position will provide strategic direction, supervision, and coordination of the Center’s research related to its three areas of focus: accuracy of evidence, equity in criminal outcomes, and behavioral health. The Research Director will be expected to manage and supervise the Center’s major quantitative and qualitative research grants and projects from inception to publication and dissemination, often as the principal investigator (PI). The ideal candidate will have expertise in at least one of the Center’s areas of focus. In addition to managing the Center’s research, this position may also participate in select research projects. The Research Director will supervise and mentor a team of researchers and undergraduate- and graduate-level research assistants. They will also provide meaningful support and mentorship to the Center’s post-doctoral fellows and work in close collaboration with Center staff, faculty, post-docs, and students.

In addition to applying through the Duke Careers portal, interested applicants should also send a copy of your resume and cover letter to the Wilson Center’s Executive Director, Yvette Garcia Missri, at [email protected] .

Work Performed

• Develop and implement an overarching vision and agenda for the Center’s research program and encourage the post-doctoral fellows and research team to develop their own research programs that align with the Center’s vision.
• Identify and pursue research grant and fellowship opportunities.
• Supervise and coordinate the Center’s major quantitative and qualitative research grants and projects, from inception to publication, often as the PI.
• Supervise and mentor the Research team, consisting of a Research Analyst and a Data Analyst.
• Coordinate and run the Center’s weekly JustScience Lab, a team of undergraduate, law, and graduate student research assistants.
• Provide meaningful mentorship and support to the Center’s post-doctoral fellows, both in terms of research progress and professional development activities.

• Design, manage, and execute large multi-phase research projects across the Center’s focus areas and relevant to the Center’s mission in collaboration with other Center personnel and affiliates.
• Complete and interpret quantitative and statistical analyses on experimental and archival data sets.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders and partners by providing high-quality research support.
• Maintain familiarity with outside research, academic and otherwise, and attend relevant conferences.
• Provide statistical expertise for internal staff.
• File and manage IRB applications.
• Present research findings to audiences internal and external to the Center.
• Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications
Education
Work requires a general business background generally equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in a business related field. Master's degree or MBA preferred.

Experience

Work requires four years of progressive experience in program management and administration.

A Master's degree in a business related field may be substituted for two years experience.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Preferred Education and Experience

Education
Seeking a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in computer science, economics, public health, neuroscience, political science, psychology, statistics, sociology, criminal justice, public policy, or another relevant field.

Experience
At least three years of experience in research/data analysis or related position, post-graduation from a PhD program. In addition:

• Deep knowledge of, and experience with quantitative research methods and statistical methods including R or equivalent program/ language (like Stata, SAS, ArcGIS, or Python) to analyze complex datasets.
• Experience documenting and organizing code to facilitate reproducibility.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with, social science research methods, including survey methods, and other quantitative research methods.
• Self-starter, able to define and initiate new projects and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Proven record of primary responsibility for managing and authoring major quantitative research reports and publications.
• The desire to work with a diverse team and a commitment to racial and social justice, as well as to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong presentation skills, and a strong desire to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to travel occasionally.
• Experience supervising and mentoring a research team.
• Experience securing and managing grant funds as a PI, from inception to publication.
• Familiarity with more than one statistical method.
• Familiarity with University IRB procedures.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, qualitative research and/or legal research methods.
• Experience with graphic/visualization programs.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.