Research Associate in Social Science

Purdue University

Job Description

Req Id: 40867
Job Title: Evaluation and Research Associate
City: West Lafayette

Job Summary

The Evaluation and Research Associate supports the ELRC's mission by designing, managing, and executing high-quality research and evaluation projects in learning and development—using theory-driven, creative approaches grounded in applied social science, research methodologies, and evaluation frameworks.

This role collaborates with internal teams, external partners, and clients to ideate projects, launch funded initiatives, and keep them on schedule and budget. Key responsibilities include developing evaluation/research plans under supervision, handling day-to-day tasks like regulatory compliance, overseeing data collection/analysis/interpretation, crafting program improvement recommendations, preparing reports/presentations/manuscripts, advancing methodologies, and monitoring trends for emerging opportunities and funding.

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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:

  • Master’s Degree

  • At least one (1) year of relevant and progressive experience in evaluation or social science research

Skills Needed

  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of applied social science research in learning or development domains

  • Ability to write grant proposals, work with a variety of funding entities, and develop and implement funding strategies

  • Excellent organizational skills; ability to work independently and with groups to develop, initiate, and run new and existing programs

  • Self-motivated, confident, with excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to work in a collaborative environment and capitalize on synergistic opportunities with other programs

  • Strong analytical skills, good working knowledge of statistics and educational research design, experience with both qualitative and quantitative evaluation and research design

  • Significant expertise in project management and ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining professionalism and precision

  • Self-starter, independent thinker with ability to collaborate with faculty and staff from a wide variety of disciplines

  • Strong communication/presentation and organizational skills; experience with word processing, data management, PowerPoint, and some combination of SPSS, SAS, R, and NVivo

What is Helpful

  • PhD preferred

Additional Information

  • Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position

  • A background check will be required for employment

  • 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 generous paid time off for sick and vacation days

  • All applications must be held the first 5 business days due to Equal Opportunity Employment policy

Career Stream: Professional 2
Pay Band: S120
Job Code: #20003722
Link to Purdue University's Compensation Guidelines

Who We Are

ELRC supports research, education, and engagement projects through 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 external collaborators.

Scholarship driven by Center professionals propels Purdue into the national conversation surrounding evidence-based education reform. 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

  • Enhance organization and program capacity and success through expert consulting, training, facilitation, and strategic planning

EOE

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Posting Start Date: 2/13/26

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