Data & Insights Graduate Research Assistant

Job Posting Title:

Data & Insights Graduate Research Assistant

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Hiring Department:

Graduate School

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

20

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Aug 16, 2026

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 15, 2027

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Selection is made by committee and hiring supervisor based on review of applications and results of personal interviews. Hiring decision is contingent upon applicant clearing a security background check. Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship. Work schedule will be determined through conversation with supervisor. This position will end May 15, 2027, with the possibility of extension through the summer. The Data & Insights GRA will need to be available during the working office hours of the Graduate Office of Career & Life Design.

Purpose

The Graduate Office of Career & Life Design (OCLD) supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in developing the skills, experiences, and materials they need to thrive across academic and professional pathways. The Data & Insights GRA will strengthen OCLD’s capacity to understand program impact, improve services, and communicate evidence-based insights across initiatives. Working as a data-minded collaborator and resource developer, the GRA will work with the OCLD team to support assessment strategy, data collection, analysis, reporting, and the development of sustainable data systems for programs, events, advising, and experiential learning initiatives. A key responsibility will be creating a database and building a reporting dashboard. Because Teaching and Academic Development is a new area within OCLD, the GRA will have the opportunity to design and implement a study exploring the relationship between teaching development and graduate student career development in preparation for careers in academia and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Data Infrastructure & Systems Development:: Help design, organize, and maintain sustainable data systems that bring programmatic information together in accessible and useful ways, including a centralized database for all OCLD programs.
• Assessment Design & Data Collection: Design and implement program evaluation processes, surveys, feedback forms, and other data collection tools for events, advising sessions, experiential learning programs, and related OCLD initiatives to assess learning outcomes, establish meaningful feedback loops, and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Clean and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify patterns, trends, needs, and opportunities for program improvement.
• Reporting & Data Storytelling: Create reports, Tableau dashboards, summaries, and visualizations that communicate findings clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Research: Conduct literature reviews; manage data collection, analysis, and reporting for ongoing IRB studies; help design and implement a new study on the integration of teaching development into broader academic career development; and prepare IRB applications, protocols, and related documentation as needed.
• Team Training & Data Quality: Develop documentation, guidance, and training materials to help OCLD staff use new data systems consistently and maintain shared data quality practices over time.

What We’re Looking For

Master’s or PhD students enrolled in at least 9 credit hours; in good academic standing with advisor approval We welcome applicants from all disciplines and backgrounds. Strong candidates will bring:

Required Qualifications

• Proficiency with Excel and survey software such as Qualtrics or Microsoft Forms.
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and relevant tools such as R, Python, SPSS, SAS, or similar platforms.
• Experience creating or maintaining databases, dashboards, or other data infrastructure.
• Experience using data visualization platforms such as Tableau and Power BI
• Ability to manage, clean, organize, and synthesize datasets from multiple sources.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to data integrity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for communicating findings to varied audiences.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines within a 20-hour/week appointment.
• Collaborative orientation and interest in supporting evidence-based decision-making in higher education.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in program evaluation, educational research, assessment, institutional research, learning analytics, or related fields.
• Experience with research design and IRB preparation.
• Experience with qualitative analysis tools (NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or Dedoose) and methods (coding, memoing, or thematic analysis).
• Experience translating technical or data-related processes into clear documentation, training, or guidance for non-technical audiences.
• Interest in career development, higher education, graduate education, postdoctoral scholar support, teaching development, or student success.

Salary Range

$2,167/month

Working Conditions

• Hybrid; minimum of 10 hours per week in the office

• 20 hours per week

• Expected to start as soon as possible, no later than September 1

Benefits of Joining Our Team: 

• Expand your network by meeting alumni and professionals in various industries. 
• Work with a team of advanced degree-focused professionals invested in your professional development. 
• Enhance your teaching, writing, communication, presentation, administrative, and project management skills. 
• Flexible work arrangement (50% in office). 

How to Apply

To apply, submit your application through Workday. You will be asked to complete a short set of application questions and upload a current resume. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Questions? Contact Dr. Michelle Gaston at [email protected].

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Please confirm your eligibility for this position here: http://www.utexas.edu/hr/student/student_acad_employment.html

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.