Research Staff Assistant

• Job Type: Support Staff - Non-Union
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 7/31/2025
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $26.37-$26.37

Position Summary

Under the close supervision of the Senior Staff Associate III serving as Associate Director for Geospatial Applications, the Research Staff Assistant (RSA) will perform data acquisition, cleaning, integration, and data management operations for a number of CIESIN projects. Assists with compiling, assessing, and integrating socio-economic, infrastructure, environmental, and other data for regional and global data products, as well as assisting in analyzing and mapping information to investigate regional and global development indicators, human population distribution, environmental change, and risks to populations and ecosystems from natural hazards and climate change. Assists with the statistical and spatial analysis of complex datasets and with creating web map services, maps, StoryMaps, mapping applications, and other graphic and statistical products from these data. Contributes to creation of metadata, data documentation, project reports and presentations based on team research. Leverages software and scripting languages to automate processes when possible.

Responsibilities

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  Data acquisition, cleaning, integration, and preprocessing using Python or R to automate workflows when possible; database management operations.

  
  
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  Assist in documentation of workflows and development of guidelines and training materials.

  
  
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  Data exploration activities including visualization and quality assessment.

  
  
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  Assist in the creation of maps, graphic products and summary statistics using GIS data for inclusion in websites, reports, presentations, and outreach materials. Contributes to creation of metadata, dataset documentation, and assists with dataset release procedures.

  
  
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  Compile literature review material in scientific literature and applications concerning spatial data analysis and project-specific topics as assigned.

  
  
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  Provides information and guidance to students on project teams.

  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of six months of experience in a data or research environment.
• Master's Degree in a related discipline may be substituted for experience.
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques and experience working with spreadsheets for data analysis.
• Knowledge of Python or R for automating workflows.
• Experience with data/information management, data cleaning, and quality checks.
• Experience with economic data and economics knowledge preferred. Familiarity with Google Suite, Google Tables, and Asana project management software preferred.
• Ability to work well in multidisciplinary teams.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.