Job Description
Req Id:  39573
Job Title:  Research Associate, Senior - Social Sciences
City:  West Lafayette
Job Description: 

Job Summary

The Sr. Evaluation and Research Associate supports the work of the ELRC by designing, managing, and executing innovative research and evaluation projects in learning and development. Leveraging expertise in applied social science, research methodology, and evaluation frameworks, this role collaborates with both internal and external partners to develop, launch, and manage a variety of projects—ensuring they remain on schedule and within budget. Working with limited supervision, the Sr. Associate leads or assists with the creation and implementation of robust evaluation and research plans, oversees project tasks and regulatory compliance, and takes an active role in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Responsibilities include developing recommendations for program improvement, providing data for reports, and participating in the preparation of scholarly presentations and publications. The Sr. Evaluation and Research Associate also contributes to the advancement of evaluation methodologies and instruments, monitors current trends in the field, researches emerging topics, and identifies potential funding opportunities.

 

Position will be hybrid with the potential for fully or mostly remote.

 

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ABOUT US:

When you join Purdue University, you join a community that keeps moving forward. For more than 150 years, we’ve been known for not only our groundbreaking work in STEM research, but also for our collective imagination, ingenuity and innovation. 

What We Are Looking For :

Education and Experience

Qualified candidates will need :

  • Masters degree
  • At least 2-3 years of relevant and progressive experience required. 


Skills needed:

  • Must have both theoretical and practical knowledge of applied social science research in learning or development domains.
  •  Demonstrate ability to write grant proposals, work with a variety of funding entities, and develop and implement funding strategies.
  •  Must have excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently and with groups to develop, initiate, and run new and existing programs.
  •  Be self-motivated, confident, and have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  •  Must be able to work in collaborative environment and seek ways to capitalize on synergistic opportunities with other programs.
  •  Possess a good working knowledge of statistics and educational research design, strong analytical skills and a good working knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative evaluation and research design.
  •  Significant expertise in project management and ability to effectively manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining a high level of professionalism and precision.
  •  Be a self-starter, independent thinker with the ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff from a wide variety of disciplines. 
  • Communication/presentation, organizational skills, experience with word processing, data management, powerpoint, and some combination of (SPSS, SAS, R, and NVIVo). 

 


What is helpful:

  • PhD preferred.

What We Would Like you to Know :

Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position  
A background check will be required for employment in this position
FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime)
Retirement Eligibility:  Defined Contribution Waiting Period 
Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days
All applications must be held the first 5 business days due to our Equal Opportunity Employment policy

Career Stream

 

Professional 3
Pay Band S120
Job Code #20003723

Link to Purdue University's Compensation Guidelines: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/mngcareer/compguidelines/index.php 

 


Who We Are:
The Evaluation and Learning Research Center (ELRC) applies social science theory and research methods to design, engineer, research, and evaluate social innovations that promote learning, development, and justice.  We work collaboratively with partners and clients who share our vision to:
    Accelerate solutions to learning and development challenges by conducting collaborative and transdisciplinary original research and designing empirical and theory-based innovations;
    Build research capacity, enhance credibility, and inform transparent decision-making by providing external evaluation and contract research; and
    Enhance organization and program capacity and success through expert consulting, training, facilitation, and strategic planning.
•    
ELRC supports research, education, and engagement projects through our expertise in educational theory, research methodology, evaluation, and project management. We partner with people at Purdue University, including other centers and institutes, as well as those outside the university.

 


EO / EA:
Purdue University is an EO/EA employer. 

Posting Start Date:  11/7/25