How to Apply
To apply for this position, please include a copy of your resume and a cover letter as one document, with your cover letter as the first page. (Applications without cover letters will not be considered.)To apply for this position, please include a copy of your resume and a cover letter as one document, with your cover letter as the first page. (Applications without cover letters will not be considered.)
Job Summary
The Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS) in the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research is looking for a Research Data Integration Lead to lead data integration and documentation initiatives as part of IRIS's technical team, managing a small team focused on data linkage, documentation standards, and research support while collaborating closely with development and data teams. You will report to the IRIS Technical Director.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and any eligible family members, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses Learn more about U-M benefits.
Responsibilities*
Technical Leadership and Data Integration (50%)
You'll drive IRIS's data integration strategy while ensuring alignment with broader technical infrastructure efforts. Specifically, you will:
- Lead IRIS's data linkage and disambiguation strategies
- Collaborate with other IRIS teams on technical solutions
- Contribute to overall technical strategy
- Direct quality assurance for linked datasets
- Design scalable data integration solutions
- Oversee implementation and adherence to metadata standards and documentation practices
- Manage dataset versioning/DOIs
Research Data Governance (30%)
You'll oversee documentation and governance practices, ensuring compliance with best practices and established ISR and IRIS data management policies. Specifically, you will:
- Direct documentation standards
- Manage data dictionaries
- Lead data release processes for the IRIS UMETRICS dataset
- Set governance policies
- Oversee IRIS UMETRICS dataset access in IRIS?s virtual data enclave
Team & Project Leadership (20%)
You will manage a small team of data science and research support staff while fostering integration and collaboration with the broader technical organization.
- Coordinate project planning
- Support team development
- Foster cross-team collaboration
- Participate in technical leadership initiatives
Required Qualifications*
- Master's degree in quantitative social science, data science, information science, computer science, or related field
- 5+ years experience in data science/research computing
- Expertise in data linkage and disambiguation
- Strong programming skills (Python, SQL)
- Experience with unstructured data integration
- Technical project leadership and supervision experience
- Strong knowledge of metadata standards (e.g. DDI, Croissant)
- Data governance experience
Desired Qualifications*
- Probabilistic record linkage experience
- Text processing/NLP background
- Academic research environment experience
Work Locations
IRIS offers an optional flexible hybrid work schedule with supervisor approval (2 days in the office, 3 days from home).
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
To apply for this position, please include a copy of your resume and a cover letter as one document, with your cover letter as the first page. (Applications without cover letters will not be considered.)
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.