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School of Public Affairs
Time Type:
Full time
Hybrid 02 (On Campus 2 days/Week)
Excluded
Summary:
The Senior Researcher for the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) will play a crucial role in advancing the research and mission of the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab. The PERIL Sr. Researcher will split their time between two projects:
A research project for the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). The Sr. Researcher will oversee a comprehensive study on hate, hate crime, and extremism in the state of Illinois. This collaborative initiative aims to provide valuable insights and data to inform policy development, enhance enforcement efforts, and promote community resilience against discrimination and extremism in the state of Illinois.
A research and intervention project addressing novel antisemitic narratives in online spaces. The Sr. Researcher will work with Project Lead and staff to identify emerging trends in antisemitic online discourse and develop prevention messaging.
Essential Functions:
IL Hate Crimes Project
Collaboration Management: Foster collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders involved in the project, including academic researchers, external research labs, community-based organizations (CBOs), and state government agencies. Track progress on deliverables and report to stakeholders.
Research Coordination: Lead and coordinate the research efforts outlined in the project, ensuring alignment with the project's objectives and timelines.
Data Collection and Analysis: Oversee the establishment of robust processes and methodologies for collecting and analyzing focus group/interview data with IL practitioners on hate incidents, hate crime cases, and public health implications of hate in Illinois.
Assist in Report Development: Oversee the development of a comprehensive report summarizing research findings, insights, and recommendations for dissemination and discussion across the state government and wider community.
Policy and Programmatic Guidance: Provide guidance and recommendations based on research findings to inform policy formulation and programmatic interventions addressing hate and extremism in Illinois.
Anti-Semitism Project:
Data Collection and Analysis: Act as primary data gatherer, gathering and cleaning data related to emerging trends in antisemitic discourse online. Working independently and with codebooking team to analyze data, identifying narrative and rhetorical patterns. Use qualitative codebooking methodology to notate and organize these observations.
Assist in Report Development: Work with project team to organize coded data into “codebook”-style glossary of emerging trends in antisemitic narratives and rhetoric. Define relevant narratives and rhetoric for lay-audiences and gather additional examples of salient narratives and rhetoric for education and prevention work.
Participate in Education and Prevention: Candidate will support project team as they turn findings from the codebook into education and prevention initiatives. This support will include assistance with video scripting, lesson plan development, and other prevention strategies.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
Salary:
Education and Experience:
PhD in social science, directed toward polarization and extremism studies, public policy, or related field preferred.
Strong project management skills, including planning, execution, and analysis.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
3-5 years’ experience in:
Project coordination/management, research management, IRB, leading research projects related to political polarization, political rhetoric, hate crimes, discrimination, and/or extremism.
Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, data analysis, and report writing.
Managing ethical issues in research, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics like hate crimes and human rights.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics:
Demonstrated facility with textual interpretation, ability to identify novel thematic and ideological patterns encoded in prose, video, meme, and digital media.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and human rights issues. Demonstrated understanding of digital platforms, social media analytics, and tools used to monitor online behavior and discourse could be useful.
Demonstrated knowledge of government structure, policies, and initiatives including those related to hate crimes and discrimination. Knowledge of issues relating to contemporary expressions of antisemitism in relation to domestic and geopolitics.
Opportunity to work alongside leading experts in the field and make a meaningful impact addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Experience in developing and delivering training sessions, since the role includes educational and prevention initiatives.
Intermediate statistical skills, including familiarity with statistical software (e.g., R, Stat, Python) which are important for analyzing complex datasets. Even if they only work with qual data, having at least intermediate stats training and some quant analysis experience would be helpful.
Benefits
AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite.
Other Details
Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
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