Position Announcement:
Special Projects Researcher/Junior GIS Analyst
(University Rank: Faculty Research Assistant)
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is now hiring a Special Projects Researcher/Junior GIS Analyst to work at START's headquarters at the University of Maryland, College Park. This is a full-time position, with an initial term of 12 months (starting in March 2013).
Responsibilities:
Special Projects consists of a number of relatively short-term and intensive research projects on various aspects of terrorism and counter-terrorism. The Special Projects Researcher/Junior GIS Analyst will be responsible for performing a variety of social network and/or geospatial research tasks on multiple projects, including identifying and integrating geospatial data sources, coding SNA and/or GIS data and implementing data quality control processes, analysis, preparing reports (integrating SNA and/or GIS analysis with other types of qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, writing, proof-reading, formatting), and preparing and delivering presentations. The Researcher/Junior GIS Analyst will be responsible for supervising small teams of 1-3 hourly research assistants or interns for some of these tasks.
Special Projects is currently focused on the following research areas:
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) acquisition and use by non-state actors
- Technological innovation by non-state actors
- Technical and practical knowledge requirements of weapons technologies
- Linkages between terrorist and criminal organizations
- Influences and process dynamics of radicalization across ideologies
- Effectiveness and unintended consequences of attempts to influence violent extremist organizations
- Precursors and predictors of political instability
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline
- At least three months of prior terrorism-related research
- At least three months of applied GIS experience
- Familiarity with terrorism and counterterrorism literature
- Ability to effectively supervise undergraduate and/or graduate research assistants and interns
- Ability to handle pressure and meet deliverable deadlines
- Flexibility to switch topic areas and tasking as projects require
Preferred Qualifications
- Substantive knowledge or expertise within at least one of the Special Projects research areas above
- Experience with data quality control procedures
- Superior writing and presentation abilities
- At least six months of prior terrorism-related research
- At least six months of applied GIS experience
- Ability to perform research in at least two languages
The annual salary for this position will be in the range of $37,000 to $42,000 (depending on education and experience), plus full University of Maryland benefits (as explained here). The person selected for this position will work on site at START's headquarters on campus at the University of Maryland, College Park, and will report directly to START's Special Projects Program Manager.
Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply by March 20, 2013 for best consideration.
Please submit a cover letter, resume/CV, GIS product and three references to jsawyer@start.umd.edu with "SPD Researcher/Junior GIS Analyst Application" as the subject line.
The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, gender, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.