Researcher, Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. These values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They are reflected in the way we treat each other and in the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research is seeking a full-time Researcher or Senior Researcher (depending on experience) for the Center for Housing and Neighborhoods. The researcher will oversee research produced in cooperation with a set of partner organizations in and around the Houston region, on topics such as housing affordability, homelessness, community development, housing and health, housing quality, evictions, gentrification, and segregation. The Researcher is responsible for utilizing research-practice partnership principles to develop community-informed research projects, identify funding, and execute collaborative projects. In addition to externally facing work, the Researcher will assist in building internal capacity by mentoring, leading, and motivating a team of researchers to develop projects with appropriate methodological rigor while implementing data quality standards and practices.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute consists of five research centers focused on critical aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five centers study housing, education, community and public health, economic mobility and inequality, and population dynamics. Each center investigates its particular topic area and works across centers to build interdisciplinary teams specializing in solutions-oriented research. The centers use a research-practice partnership (RPP) model to jointly design, develop, and conduct research that values diversity in expertise and prioritizes the community in identifying and addressing some of the most pressing questions and challenges facing greater Houston. We strive for our research to inform decision-making and bring about systemic change.

The ideal candidate thrives in a team environment, actively leading, collaborating with, and motivating others. They will have superior interpersonal, scientific, and numerical skills, with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.

Workplace Location

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. 3 days in-office / 2 days remote. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the proposed salary is $81,000 – $84,000 annually, depending on skills and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree (or foreign equivalent) in housing-related fields, such as urban studies, urban planning, geography, public policy, sociology, public health, economics, or another social science field.
• 4+ years of experience in a combination of the following: Data maintenance and analysis; Quantitative methodology in Stata, SAS, or R; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in either the ESRI suite, Python, and/or R; Interviews, focus groups, ethnography, or discourse analysis

Skills

• Proficiency in statistical analysis, data interpretation, and critical thinking to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets
• Strong understanding of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, survey design, and experimental techniques
• Ability to collect, organize, and manage large datasets efficiently while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate research findings effectively through comprehensive reports, presentations, and other media
• Capability to lead and manage multiple research projects simultaneously, including planning, coordination, and timely execution, while ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget constraints
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and external partners to achieve research objectives and foster a collaborative work environment
• Ability to support junior staff in both research and professional growth

Preferences

• PhD degree (or foreign equivalent) in housing-related fields, such as urban studies, urban planning, geography, public policy, sociology, public health, economics, or another social science field. An MA will be considered

Essential Functions

• Design, plan, implement, and conduct independent and team-based research studies and specialized research projects
• Conduct comprehensive data collection, management, interpretation, and analysis of complex datasets from diverse sources
• Apply advanced statistical and analytical methods to extract actionable insights, develop predictive models, and support trend analysis
• Translate research findings into clear, accessible products for diverse audiences, including research briefs, reports, academic papers, presentations, and data dashboards
• Prepare detailed reports summarizing research findings, methodologies, and implications for stakeholders
• Communicate effectively and build collaborative relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and research partners
• Supervise junior research staff by providing direction on research activities and supporting their professional development
• Attend meetings with key stakeholders and community engagement events to communicate key research findings
• Respond to media inquiries as appropriate
• Assist in identifying and supporting research grants and funding opportunities
• Stay current on emerging trends, methodologies, and best practices in research and data analysis to enhance skills, improve processes, and support organizational learning and innovation
• Perform all other duties as assigned