Summer Research Fellow - ISRDI Summer Diversity Fellowship

The Institute for Social Research & Data Innovation (ISRDI) at the University of Minnesota is now accepting applications from both undergraduate and graduate students for our 2025 Summer Diversity Fellowship Program. The Diversity Fellowship seeks diverse undergraduate and graduate students to work with Minnesota Population Center (MPC) and Life Course Center (LCC) member faculty and with its U.S. or international demographic data resources. This is an excellent opportunity for students, at any point in their career, who are interested in sharpening skills and exploring interests in quantitative data analysis, data processing, statistical software packages, etc.

We have 10 openings this summer. 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 Identifying Key Social Determinants of Educational Attainment of Adolescents (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/summer-2025-projects

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.

The 2025 program will be run in a hybrid format with a requirement for in-person participation in Weekly Cohort meetings. Fellows will be given the option to attend professional development events either in-person (at 50 Willey Hall) or via zoom. Project mentors will determine the schedule requirements for their projects.

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.

Required Qualifications:

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

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.

Please also refer to our project descriptions to learn more about project specific required/preferred qualifications.

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.

Pay Range

• Graduate students: $27.45/hour for 10 weeks, 20 hours per week
  • Fellowship runs June 2 - August 8, 2025
• Undergraduate students: $16.03/hour for 8 weeks, 20 hours per week
  • Fellowship runs June 16 - August 8, 2025

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.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Your application and all supporting documentation must be received by March 2, 2025. Please take a moment to carefully review the application instructions before proceeding. Questions about the application process can be directed to isrdi-jobs@umn.edu.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume. Please answer all of the screening questions and upload your required application documents before submitting your application. A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. (Applications without cover letters will not be considered.)

Your cover letter should address the following:

1. Please specify the project(s) you are interested in and explain why you are most qualified for them. Also, include an explanation of your interest in the project(s).
2. If applying for more than one project, please provide reasoning for each one.
3. Describe how you meet the qualifications required for the project(s) you are applying for.
4. A diversity statement, explaining how your past experiences make you a diverse candidate and why that is important to you and for this program.
5. Indicate how you learned about the program.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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