Hub Analyst, Mid-South Innovation Hub

Position Summary:
The Hub Analyst for the Mid-South Innovation Hub works on the Vanderbilt Innovation Corps team in the Vanderbilt Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) and is a key member of the team. The ideal candidate embodies a demonstrated commitment to, and interest in, innovation, design thinking, research, data science, and longitudinal formative assessment. The Hub Analyst will be responsible for all data analysis related to Hub activities, including coordination with Hub Partners, and will partner with the Hub Evaluation Lead. The Hub Analyst will produce reports to guide the iterative improvement of Hub activities and will organize analytical output for Hub reporting needs. The Hub Analyst will work in the direction of the Hub Evaluation Lead, report to the Hub Director, and work closely with all Senior Personnel and Hub Leadership team.
The ideal candidate will use their experience, training, and knowledge to ensure the approach and execution of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting not only educates Hub leadership and stakeholders on how to utilize these processes but also uses these methodologies to continuously improve program offerings through longitudinal formative assessment.
 

About the Hub:
The broader impact/commercial potential of the Mid-South I-Corps Hubs is the development of a sustainable inclusive innovation ecosystem that will impart shared economic prosperity across the US Mid-South region. The Mid-South Hub’s unique, formative, evidence-driven approach will inform how inclusive innovation ecosystems can be established in regions with primordial economic activity. This knowledge will augment team preparation, maximizing the value extracted from I-Corps training. The Hub will further amplify the downstream successes and sustainability of deep technology ventures, including grant acquisition, fundraising, sustainable revenues, and net-positive liquidity events.
This I-Corps Hubs project is based on the development of a scholarly incubator that uses data-driven approaches to develop best practices, influence economic policy, inspire adoption of inclusive approaches to innovation, and instruct future programmatic investments. Currently, a gap exists in understanding how regional innovation clusters can unify to drive the development of a prolific innovation ecosystem. Addressing this gap will enable policymakers and government agencies to implement evidence-based approaches to inform programmatic investments and maximize technology commercialization, economic development, and overall national innovation readiness. This consortium of diverse, deep technology-producing institutions from disparate locations within the Mid-South region will leverage the I-Corps program to catalyze technological commercialization, spur economicdevelopment, and inform the future of inclusive American innovation. The Hub will prioritize a formative, longitudinal assessment to iteratively optimize key activities, including team recruitment, Regional and National I-Corps training, upstream changes in university innovation culture, downstream impacts on successful commercialization, and an inclusive innovation corridor across the Mid-South. This will advance technology transfer from academic institutions into entrepreneurial ventures that seed emergent, regional ecosystems. This data-driven, performance improvement approach will ensure best practices are evidence-based and create a model for other regions seeking to induce inclusive innovation cluster development.
 

About the Work Unit:
The Vanderbilt Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) serves as the central hub for advancing the university’s research, scholarship, and innovation enterprise. It provides strategic leadership, resources, and infrastructure to support faculty, staff, and students in pursuing groundbreaking research across disciplines. OVPRI fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and aligns research priorities with societal needs and global challenges. It oversees a wide array of initiatives, including sponsored programs, research compliance, innovation and commercialization, and core facilities. The office plays a critical role in cultivating partnerships with industry, government, and nonprofit organizations to extend the impact of Vanderbilt’s research. Through targeted investments and support programs, OVPRI drives innovation, nurtures entrepreneurship, and strengthens the university’s role in regional and national economic development. Ultimately, the OVPRI is a catalyst for transforming ideas into discoveries that improve lives and shape the future. The Innovation Corps team within OVPRI seeks to collaborate cross-institutionally and inter-institutionally across a network of institutions to drive institutional initiatives that foster innovation excellence through the generation of impactful innovation-driven enterprises, enterprise through innovation-driven corporate and government partnerships, and economic development that showcases our institution’s standing as a critical thread in the fabric of our community of citizens. The Innovation Enterprise team has already initiated the development of a novel, trans-institutional innovation infrastructure and framework that provides supplementary revenues which support the institution’s core mission and values, while simultaneously creating economic impact on our community.
 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
The Hub Analyst will perform a variety of complex duties, ensuring the success of the Mid-South I-Corps Hub, generally. Responsibilities include:
 

Program Design, Refinement, and Delivery
• Design and implement data-driven assessment strategies to support Hub formative assessment activities, ensuring robust data collection methods.
• Review and analyze program applications, engaging relevant stakeholders in the selection and assessment process to identify trends and insights.
• Collaborate with the Hub Leadership team to maintain and analyze up-to-date records of participants, mentors, and instructors, capturing achievements of program alumni through data tracking.
• Conduct pre- and post-program assessments to gather quantitative and qualitative feedback, collaborating with Hub Leadership and partners to iteratively enhance program offerings based on data insights.
• Summarize and visualize program metrics and participant outcomes in innovative ways, highlighting key findings and trends that showcase Hub innovations.
• Utilize predictive analytics to anticipate outcomes or stakeholder needs, employing data modeling techniques to inform decision-making.
• Coordinate and analyze data from events designed to supplement core programming, ensuring alignment with overall Hub goals.
 

Organizational Support
• Work with Hub partners and alliance partners to collect data on activities to promote the Hub and the innovative endeavors its participants and stakeholders undertake.
• Participate in regular team meetings and strategic planning sessions.
• Assist in the identification and pursuit of grant opportunities that could support core I-Corps areas and related initiatives.
• Provide assistance to other team members and work on other projects on an as-needed basis.
 

Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. The Hub Analyst will work at the direction of the Hub Evaluation Lead, report to the Hub Director, and work closely with all Senior Personnel and Hub Leadership team.
 

Education and Certifications:
• A Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• A PhD in related field such is preferred.
 

Experience and Skills:
• At least two years of relevant experience is necessary. Advanced education in lieu of experience is acceptable.
• Familiarity with and experience with innovation studies and data science is strongly preferred.
• Ability to generate and present data insights using statistical software and data visualization tools (e.g., SPSS, Tableau or similar) is necessary.
• Competency in programming and data analysis languages such as Python and SQL is emphasized.
• Experience with Database platforms (e.g., Databricks or Snowflake) is encouraged.
• Ability to leverage Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence models/tools to work with structured/unstructured data to develop meaningful and impactful solutions.
    o Proficiency in using Transformers models at a high-level (i.e., using Open AI’s models for text summarization or sentiment analysis) and a low-level (i.e., fine-tuning via              Python for special use cases) is important.
    o Familiarity with scikit-learn, PyTorch or Tensorflow to build and deploy machine learning models is also encouraged.
• Knowledge of GitHub for code documentation and automated script deployment is a must.
• Willingness to learn how to work with Airtable, a survey-centered data collection platform, is highly important. The role centers around daily usage of Airtable.
• Demonstrated celebration of and commitment to inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
• Experience successfully supporting partnerships and collaborations with minimal oversight.
• Extremely well organized with excellent time management skills and the ability to successfully handle multiple projects at once.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to interact fluidly with the many different individuals and organizations that will contact and work with the Hub.
• Experience navigating university policies and procedures.
• Proficient in office software tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and other software tools for communication, analysis, and office operations.
• Experience with design thinking and Lean Launch methodology.
• Flexible with job expectations and schedule in an office that is on the cutting edge of innovation.
• Willing to jump in wherever needed.
• Positive, energetic, “can-do,” proactive entrepreneurial attitude with a passion for innovation and creativity.

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.