The Survey Research Center (SRC) in the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan has conducted investigator-initiated, survey-based research on theoretical and applied problems of both social and scientific importance for over 70 years (https://www.src.isr.umich.edu). SRC has over 250 research and support staff and research volumes of about $85 million per year.
SRC is the site of a large group of PhD-level survey methodologists that includes Fred Conrad, Mick Couper, Michael Elliott, Steven Heeringa, Sunghee Lee, Roderick Little, Trivellore Raghunathan, Yajuan Si, James Wagner, and Brady West. Together they form the Survey Methodology Program (SMP), which pursues cutting-edge statistical and methodological research with investigator-initiated research grants. SMP also houses the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science (MPSDS), a graduate degree-granting program at the University of Michigan. MPSDS has both a Masters and PhD program, and offers the opportunity for the candidate to both advise and provide support to graduate students for shared research goals. It is anticipated that the candidate will be teaching in the MPSDS program for up to a maximum of 50% effort during the academic year.
The center also contains the Survey Research Operations (SRO) unit, which has over 150 technical staff working on applied design and implementation of large complex sample surveys with advanced data collection technologies. These include large-scale ongoing longitudinal surveys, one-time complex mixed mode designs (face-to-face, web, mail, telephone, bodily fluid samples, administrative records), and development of large-scale survey software capabilities. The candidate will be expected to provide regular technical guidance to SRO, and also encouraged to conduct methodological research that may benefit SRO operations. More generally, candidates will be able to pursue their own research interests through external funding and collaborate with other scientists in ongoing research programs at the University of Michigan and beyond.
The center invites applications from (and nominations of) outstanding candidates for an open rank Research Professor position. Suitable candidates at the Research Assistant Professor level will be recent doctoral graduates from programs in the quantitative and computational social sciences. Candidates at this level should have a demonstrated interest in innovative survey methodology and primary data collection; evidence of a developing research agenda; and an initial record of research dissemination in this area. Suitable candidates at the Research Associate Professor or Research Professor ranks will have an established record of accomplishment and excellence in obtaining research funding and publishing original and innovative research in survey methodology that preferably incorporates new data sources (e.g., social media data, administrative data, biosocial data, sensor data). An established teaching record defined by consistently positive student evaluations would also be preferable for all levels but is not required.
Applicants must include a statement in their cover letter that addresses suitability for this position, including experience with innovative research in survey methodology or other primary data collection. Applicants who have experience only in secondary analysis of survey data will not be considered. Applicants will also be expected to live within commuting distance of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as on-site work will be an expectation for this position.
Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge and interest in survey methodology, including (for example) topics in questionnaire design, innovative approaches to measuring and reducing nonresponse and measurement error, mode effects, web survey methodology, responsive and adaptive design, longitudinal survey design and analysis, total survey error, interviewer effects, uses of big data for conducting social research, statistical privacy protection, network analysis, natural language processing, integrating survey data with other new data sources (e.g., administrative, biosocial, or social media data), and other areas related to the fundamentals of data collection from human populations. Candidates are also expected to engage in regular teaching and mentoring activities. We are interested in researchers who would thrive in our entrepreneurial, interdisciplinary, collegial, yet highly autonomous culture. Individuals from groups historically under-represented in the social sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested applicants will submit a cover letter describing their scholarly activities, any funded research programs and plans, and interest in the Survey Research Center; a curriculum vitae; list of references; and up to three recent publications; and a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement. All applicants must submit their applications on our online applications site, Interfolio, at http://apply.interfolio.com/125734
