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Senior Researchers (2-3)

Employer
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
Location
College Park, Maryland
Salary
$75,000-$125,000 + benefits

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Position Announcement: Senior Researcher (University Rank: Principal Faculty Specialist, Assistant Research Scientist, or Associate Research Scientist)

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is hiring 2-3 senior researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park. These are full‐time positions, with an initial term of 12 months (starting in fall 2021), with potential for renewal given availability of funding. U.S. citizenship is required for these positions. ABDs are welcome to apply, but you must have been awarded and conferred your PhD by the end of the appointment to be eligible for a contract extension, contingent on the availability of funds.

Responsibilities:

START is embarking on an expanded research agenda on irregular warfare and asymmetric threats in addition to terrorism. To this end, START seeks highly motivated individuals to join a community of scholars dedicated to basic and applied research related broadly to national security, irregular warfare, and terrorism/counterterrorism.

These duties include but are not limited to:

  • Serve as Principal Investigator and/or Co-principal Investigator on sponsored awards
  • Primary authorship of research deliverables for projects
  • Peer‐review editing of deliverables and proposals with multi‐method research design
  • Database and codebook design
  • Quality control concerning multi‐method empirical analysis and data visualization
  • Proposal writing and research design
  • Represent research projects at professional meetings, academic conferences, and public-facing events.
  • Mentor junior staff in research methodology and areas of substantive expertise

Required Qualifications (All Ranks):

  • Demonstrated knowledge of data integration/aggregation, database design, and data framework development
  • Demonstrated knowledge in at least one of the following methodologies (including the ability to both communicate and design within those methodologies):
    • Statistical modeling (including, econometric/structural data, event data, survival analysis, forecasting models, etc.) from structured data sources
    • Computational modeling techniques (machine‐learning algorithms and structural topic modeling, social media analytics, automatic textual analysis) of unstructured data sources
    • Computational social science (such as agent‐based modeling)
    • Survey design and enumeration
  • Demonstrated knowledge of one of the following:
    • Comparative case study (historical)
    • Ethnographic methods
    • Key informant interviewing methodologies
    • Focus group methodologies
    • Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
    • Grounded theory
    • Discourse analysis
    • Regional and/or country expertise (with relevant language fluency) pertinent to geographic areas of research inquiry
  • Demonstrated knowledge of existing literature and theory related to at least one of the following:
    • International and/or transnational conflict processes involving violent non‐state actors
    • Counterterrorism and/or counterinsurgency
    • Preventing/countering violent extremism
    • Asymmetric threat and/or irregular warfare
    • Stabilization, security, transition and reconstruction operations
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
  • Ability to handle pressure and meet deliverable deadlines
  • Flexibility to switch topic areas and tasks as projects require

Required Qualifications (Principal Faculty Specialist):

  • At least ABD in a social science or other relevant field (with letters of support about estimated finish date, if necessary)
  • At least one year of past research experience on topics related to this position

Required Qualifications (Assistant Research Scientist):

  • Ph.D. in social science or other relevant field
  • At least two years of past research experience on topics related to this position

Required Qualifications (Associate Research Scientist):

  • Ph.D. in social science or other relevant field
  • Five years research experience post-receipt of Ph.D.
  • At least five years past research experience (pre- or post-Ph.D.) on topics related to this position
  • At least two years of prior supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications (All ranks):

  • Evidence of grant or competitively awarded funding, or revenue growth of a mission-driven organization
  • Familiarity with federal granting and funding processes
  • Publication track record on topics related to this position
  • Experience with overseas field research
  • Experience in implementing quality control procedures
  • Superior writing and presentation abilities
  • Experience and interest in curricular or professional education on topics related to this position
  • Experience interacting with the news media, including providing expert commentary on current national security issues.

The annual salary for this position will depend on education and experience, with the salary ranges of the UMD Research Faculty Ranks below:

  • Principal Faculty Specialist $75,000-85,000
  • Assistant Research Scientist $85,000-$110,000
  • Associate Research Scientist $115,000-$125,000

Successful candidates will be eligible for standard University of Maryland benefits, including 22 days of annual leave, 3 personal days and 15 days of sick leave; paid parental leave; tuition remission; health and dental insurance; and retirement. Telework of up to 3 days per week is allowed, pending supervisor approval. More information regarding University of Maryland benefits is available here.

Applications will be accepted until position is filled, with a best consideration date of Friday, September 17, 2021, with a closing date of Monday, October 4, 2021, and an anticipated start date (to be negotiated with the successful candidates) in Fall 2021.

Please submit application materials by email with the subject line “START Senior Researcher” to Megan Rutter at mrutter@umd.edu:

  • a cover letter,
  • resume/CV with contact information for three references,
  • 2 short writing samples (~5 pages each) demonstrating methodological expertise(s) in different areas,
  • Statement (~1 page) highlighting current and future research interests

The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, gender, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

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