Research Data Support Specialist

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The Data Intensive Social Science Center (DISSC) at Yale provides Yale’s social scientists with a world‑class, user‑centered, support organization to ensure that Yale social science research remains at the frontiers of each social science discipline. DISSC, working with its partners throughout the Yale community, supports the entire research lifecycle including the acquisition, secure storage and management, analysis, and dissemination of existing and novel data resources transforming social science research.

The specialist will serve as part of our research support unit while focusing on the contracting and acquisition of data resources and services used by teams across the university. This role will work to assess researcher demands for products and services, evaluate options for software and data services, and work closely with partners in both legal and technical roles on negotiation and procurement.

This includes working with researchers, and legal professionals, to negotiate often bespoke data use agreements and/or research partnerships. In addition, this role will help DISSC and Yale to continue to improve its processes and procedures regarding research data support including supporting ongoing efforts at refining Yale’s research data governance program.

This is an incredible opportunity for an experienced professional who is curious to learn and is motivated by the opportunity to build and support this growing organization. The specialist will be part of an integrated team sharing expertise and learning from one another to support cutting‑edge research. The ideal candidate is a knowledgeable data enthusiast interested in exploring and acquiring new interdisciplinary data resources and developing new structures and arrangements for data access.

This person also has experience developing or delivering research services in an academic setting, understands the social science research process, and has skills and experience in the use of various tools for information access, management, analysis, and presentation. They must enjoy working both independently and cooperatively with others in the DISSC research support unit, on multiple projects involving varieties of data sources, customers, and analytical tools.

The Research Support Specialist 4 provides professional research and technical support for diagnostic and research projects, studies, and experiments. This role involves maintaining and managing various instruments and equipment, calibrating and troubleshooting them, and ensuring accurate data collection and analysis. The specialist collaborates with researchers to develop and execute research plans, supports the preparation of reports and publications, and ensures laboratory safety protocols are followed.

The role also includes training researchers in the use and maintenance of equipment, managing laboratory supplies, and participating in the development of innovative solutions to research problems.

• Experience in the structuring and negotiation of data use agreements, and other arrangements or contracts, critical to modern social science research.
• Experience with research environments, platforms, software, and services widely used in social science research.
• Understanding research data workflows and academic/scientific research requirements. Knowledge of social science research methods and ability to translate research needs into technical requirements.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously. Excellent documentation skills and ability to create technical specifications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, and the ability to interact well with faculty, staff, and research partners internally and externally.