Research Assistant Position
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICAL SCIENCES
ABOUT NISS
The National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS), a non-profit research institute, provides neutral high-level expertise in statistics and data science to high-impact projects. NISS’s goal is to bring accurate, solid insight for evidence-based inference and decision-making. For over 20 years, NISS has collaborated with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) to address urgent problems relating to data collection and reporting on surveys and national assessments.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The appointment will be part-time and, similar to a graduate assistantship, will allow a graduate student to proceed on a standard timetable toward a graduate degree. This is a research position. The Research Assistant will work under supervision of a senior researcher and will use education data from the national assessments, tests and surveys conducted by NCES (US Department of Education).
The Research Assistant will be responsible for maintaining education data files on a secure server, for using standard statistical methods for analysis of assessment and/or survey data, for providing summaries for meetings on topics in education measurement and education data analysis. In addition, the Research Assistant should expect to participate in NISS research projects, often including presentations at national conferences and/or publication.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Knowledge of research methods including experience with standard statistical methods, capability to manage data files, knowledge of Microsoft software, excellent written and oral communication skills, and ability to work well with diverse researchers and staff. Interest in education sciences, quantitative methodology and/or data science. Students who have completed one or more years of graduate study, preferred.
ELIGIBILITY
This position is limited to US citizens in order to be eligible to obtain required data-security clearance for work with restricted access data.
WORK LOCATION
NISS Washington DC office with limited opportunity for remote work.
Position to start 1 October 2021; open until filled.
TO APPLY
Please send unofficial transcript, statement of capabilities and interest, and names and full contact information for two or three references - at least one must be an academic faculty researcher, preferably from the current graduate program to positions@niss.org