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JOB DESCRIPTION 

The Diversity Fellowship at the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation at the University of Minnesota is designed to help recruit undergraduate and graduate students to work with Minnesota Population Center or Life Course Center member faculty and staff on demographic research projects or IPUMS data infrastructure projects. Projects with openings include: 

  • Documenting Geography Variables in the IPUMS USA Full Count datasets (Dr. Cathy Fitch & David Van Riper)
  • Developing a bioinformatic Data Lineage and Meta-data Tracking system (Dr. Steve Johnson & Dr. Tim Meyer)
  • Racial Socialization Messages in Ethnically Diverse Black Families (Dr. J’Mag Karbeah and Dr. Alexandra VanBergen)
  • Using Machine Learning to Identify Key Social Determinants in Adolescence of Educational Attainment (Dr. Xiaoran Sun and Dr. Juan Del Toro)
  • Evaluating the Performance of Causal Discovery Algorithms (Dr. Erich Kummerfeld, Dr. Sisi Ma, and Dr. Bryan Andrews)


We provide more details about the projects at https://isrdi.umn.edu/diversity-fellowship-program

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Fellows will work extensively with data of various types, including historical census and survey data from the U.S. as well as spatial data. They may interpret, edit, and format technical documentation. They also may analyze data in statistical packages and record the findings systematically. Some fellows help to prepare data for distribution through IPUMS’ data dissemination websites. Fellows are expected to carry out a variety of other tasks including data preparation, data dissemination, and data analysis. Fellows will be expected to be trained in new software and techniques as necessary, perform work in a timely manner while being attentive to details, and show initiative in solving problems.

Fellows will report to and be mentored by research scientists, senior data analysts, faculty, software developers, or other professional staff working on the assigned project. They may collaborate with principal investigators, other research assistants, post-doctoral associates, and other Institute staff. Graduate fellows will be asked to be a peer mentor to an undergraduate fellows team member. Project mentors will determine the schedule requirements for their projects.


Pay:  Undergraduate Fellows: $16.03/hr— 8 weeks, 20 hours per week
           Graduate Fellows: $27.45/hr— 10 weeks, 20 hours per week

Work Location: This fellowship is available for hybrid or fully on-site work arrangements only, with a requirement for in-person participation in cohort meetings and workshops. ISRDI is located at 50 Willey Hall in Minneapolis, MN.


QUALIFICATIONS 

Required: Students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. Students must be authorized to work in the US. ISRDI works with students from many disciplines across campus. 

Students must have: 

  • excellent written and oral communication skills, 
  • excellent computer skills and ability to work in a technical environment, 
  • good interpersonal skills, 
  • reliability and attention to detail
  • the ability to act independently and as part of a diverse team environment. 
  • Students must be willing to embrace new technologies and skills.


Additional selection criteria: Students should self-identify with a systemically underrepresented group which includes, but is not limited to: African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic/Latino/a Americans, Asian Americans. We also consider first-generation students, women students in tech fields, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities. Students may have: knowledge of a major statistical package (Stata, SAS, R, or SPSS), experience analyzing census or survey microdata, experience with HTML and XML metadata, and/or use and knowledge of ArcGIS or other GIS software packages. We are especially eager to recruit students who are interested in learning new skills and who could use MPC or LCC resources and/or IPUMS data in their own research.

Project Requirements:

  • Experience using one of the IPUMS databases or other large-scale census or survey datasets
  • Experience with statistical packages (R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS)
  • Experience with technical writing, web content design, and/or public communication
  • Knowledge of data restructuring with R
  • Degree in a social science or other field where census data are directly applicable 
  • Ability to read language(s) in addition to English and/or cultural knowledge of other world regions
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for the Diversity Fellowship all applications must a cover letter and a resume. The cover letter should address the following:

  1. The project(s) you are interested in applying for and for which you are most qualified. Please also include an explanation of your interest in the project(s). 
  2. If applying for more than one project, please provide reasoning for both.
  3. A diversity statement. Please explain how your past experiences make you a diverse candidate and why that is important to you and for this program.
  4. Indicate how you learned about the program.

Please also ensure that your cover letter or resume/CV clearly state how you meet the required qualifications listed above.


ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT 

The Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation (ISRDI) is an interdisciplinary research institute that provides the infrastructure and services to support the work of its four centers: IPUMS, the Minnesota Population Center, the Life Course Center, and the Minnesota Research Data Center. The work of the Institute and its centers advances our knowledge of societies and populations across time and space, including economic and demographic behavior, health, well-being, and human-environment interactions.

At ISRDI, we believe that the creation of a diverse and inclusive community is central to maintaining the excellence of all of our projects. Our definition of diversity extends beyond race and gender and includes socioeconomic status, religion, gender identity and expression, and more. As a center, we aspire to represent the diversity of our city, our region, and our world and to create a space that encourages and embraces inclusiveness, equal opportunity, and respect.

The Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation is an interdisciplinary research institute that provides the infrastructure and services to support the work of its four centers: IPUMS, the Minnesota Population Center, the Life Course Center, and the Minnesota Research Data Center. The work of the Institute and its centers advances our knowledge of societies and populations across time and space, including economic and demographic behavior, health, well-being, and human-environment interactions.