Research Associate I

Position Function:

The National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center (NSPARC) at Mississippi State University invites applications for the position of Research Associate I.

This non-tenure track role offers an exciting opportunity to support a dynamic university research team. Research Associates contribute to data analysis, research methodology development, and reporting efforts, while collaborating with senior staff to address complex challenges in workforce, economic development, and public policy. This position involves conducting literature reviews, assisting with data collection and analysis, and preparing concise, high-quality reports and presentations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong eagerness to learn, an ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, and a commitment to supporting impactful research in a collaborative team environment.

Salary Grade:  13

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Mississippi State University is a top-ranked research institution, and NSPARC has a strong applied research focus to address critical challenges faced by government, economic and workforce development professionals, educational institutions, nonprofits, and the private sector. NSPARC is well-known for its expertise in longitudinal data, advanced analytics, and machine learning to evaluate outcomes of programs and policies, assess return on investment, and modeling and forecasting future trends. The 30 plus staff come from a variety of backgrounds including Sociology, Economics, Geosciences, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Criminology, and Computer Engineering. For additional information see nsparc.msstate.edu.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Participate as a team member within a multidisciplinary research group and collaborate with senior staff on various projects; actively contribute to ongoing research by conducting literature reviews and summarizing findings; assist with the preparation of basic write-ups, reports, and presentations; support research methodology development, including data collection and analysis; demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and take direction while contributing to a collaborative and productive research environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in sociology, economics, political science, philosophy, geosciences, or a closely related field.

1. Beginning with a bachelor’s degree:

a. A professional employee with a bachelor’s degree and demonstrated competence can begin work at the Research Associate I level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience conducting literature reviews, summarizing findings, or participating in research projects during coursework or internships.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise, and professional reports and summaries.
• Basic understanding of data collection methods and analysis; familiarity with tools such as Excel, SPSS, R, Stata, MATLAB, or Python is a plus.
• Familiarity with timelines, work plans, or coordinating small projects, even in academic or internship settings.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team setting, demonstrating interpersonal and organizational skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Eagerness to learn new concepts, tools, and methodologies in a fast-paced research environment.
• Understanding of basic research methods, including literature reviews, data collection, and analysis.
• Basic knowledge of organizing and interpreting data, with a willingness to learn statistical or analytical tools.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of research and documentation.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
• Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
• No unusual physical requirements. Requires limited lifting of files and records and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
• Frequent external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
• Occasional overnight travel should be expected.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your transcript(s) via the following link. Any social security numbers included on the requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online.

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Applicants will apply through the HRM website.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.