Research Assistant

Job Description:

The Research Assistant will provide core data management, statistical programming, project logistics, and public data dissemination support for the NIH R01 grant-funded project titled "Public Use Data on Mexican and Central American Immigration" / The Mesoamerican Migration Project (MMP), led by Principal Investigator Professor David P. Lindstrom.

The Mesoamerican Migration Project collects survey data in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and the United States, building on the long-standing Mexican Migration Project (MMP) to provide the most comprehensive dataset for describing, tracking, and analyzing regional migration patterns to the United States. Located at the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC) at Brown University, the Research Assistant will be primarily responsible for Stata programming for data cleaning and the preparation of public-use data files, compiling supplemental municipal data files (e.g., climate, homicide, census, and Twitter data), maintaining the project’s public data dissemination website, assisting with field interviewer training procedures, and running technical workshops on data utilization for the research community.

This 7.5 hour per week position is 100% grant funded with an anticipated end date of 06/30/2027.

Major Tasks

• Write, debug, and maintain complex Stata code to clean, audit, and standardize survey microdata across international research sites (Mexico, Central America, and the U.S.).

• Merge longitudinal files and construct public-use datasets compliant with NIH open-data sharing standards.

• Create and update comprehensive technical documentation, including codebooks, data dictionaries, and user guides for public releases.

• Compile and clean secondary administrative datasets (e.g., climate, census, crime, and social media data) and link them to core project survey records using Stata.

• Audit and preserve reproducible workflow logs, do-files, and source documentation across all survey and supplemental files.

• Oversee public data dissemination by managing and packaging files, documentation, and web assets for the Mesoamerican Migration Project site.

• Co-lead technical workshops, webinars, and training sessions, creating sample Stata code exercises and presentation materials for academic and policy audiences.

• Support field operations and project administration by updating survey instruments, coordinating bi-national research team meetings, and managing event logistics.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and work experience Job Qualifications
• Background in social science research preferred (e.g., sociology, political science, public policy, demography).
• Demonstrated proficiency in Stata programming for data management, manipulation, cleaning, file construction, and codebook development.
• Experience cleaning complex hierarchical survey microdata (individual, household, community) and harmonizing secondary datasets (e.g., census, geographic, crime, environmental).
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies preferred.
• Familiarity with web content management systems (CMS) and digital tools for public data dissemination.
• Interest or experience in demographic/migration research and projects related to immigrant communities in the U.S. and Latin America (e.g., MMP, LAMP, IPUMS).
• Reading and/or speaking proficiency in Spanish is highly desirable to facilitate communication with regional teams and survey review.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown University.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Please review additional information on the Benefits of Working at Brown.

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-10-16

Job Posting Title:

Research Assistant

Department:

Population Studies and Training Center

Grade:

Grade 8

Worker Type:

Employee

Worker Sub-Type:

Seasonal/Intermittent (Fixed Term) (Seasonal)

Time Type:

Part time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

7.5

Position Work Location:

Hybrid

Submission Guidelines:

The designated Position Work Location for each position determines the approved modality of work. Positions are classified based on the operational and business needs of the department and may be designated as on-site, hybrid, or remote.

Employees with a designated position work location as remote must reside and perform their work in a state where Brown University is registered to do business. Brown University is a registered employer in the following states: Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

Please note that to be considered for a staff position at Brown University, you must submit a separate application for each position you wish to be considered for. Applications are reviewed only for the specific position to which they are submitted and are not automatically considered for future openings.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact employment@brown.edu.

Brown is an E-Verify Employer.

EEO Statement:

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.

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Additional Information:

Salaries for new hires at Brown usually fall between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for the position grade. More information about our salary ranges can be found here.