RESEARCH SCIENTIST III

Position Overview

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) houses a Research & Analysis Unit (see https://icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/hub-overview/). The unit produces reports, articles, and dashboards that inform statewide justice system policy and practice. Their research products reach government decision-makers, academic professionals, legislators, and the public at large. The Research & Analysis Unit is organized into six research centers. The chosen candidate will conduct research examining: (1) programs that offer alternatives to incarceration, (2) community re-entry for released prisoners. The position includes oversight of research supporting the State of Illinois Adult Redeploy Illinois (see https://icjia.illinois.gov/adultredeploy/) program. The position provides an excellent opportunity to engage Illinois correctional practitioners through data and research.

Essential Function

• Plans and executes social science, public health, and behavioral health research studies, activities, and program evaluations of a complex, technical, and scientific nature to advance knowledge and programming in areas such as criminology, victim studies, and violence prevention in the state of Illinois.

• Performs complex analysis of scientific and technical data.

• Writes and disseminates scientific and technical reports.

• Establishes and maintains work-related professional contacts with internal and external entities including researchers and other professionals such as university and community organizations.

• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a Doctoral degree in anthropology, biochemistry, chemistry, medicine, physiology, psychology, sociology, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, statistics, mathematics, or a related science and requires one year of professional research experience; or requires a master's degree in anthropology, biochemistry, chemistry, medicine, physiology, psychology, sociology, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, statistics, mathematics, or a related science with three years of professional research experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

•  At least two research publications in a government, public, or academic forum.

• One year of experience managing and utilizing a large data set.
• Completion of at least one academic course on database systems and/or database management. 
• Completion of at least two professional or academic work products that required application of advanced social science statistics; or one semester teaching an undergraduate or graduate social science statistics course. 

Conditions of Employment

• Requires proper documentation for approved work in the United States

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.

• Requires a valid and current driver’s license.

• Requires ability to pass a background check.

Conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

ICJIA responds to community needs with research and federal and state grants administration. ICJIA administers over 100 million dollars in grants, including the R3 (restore, reinvest, renew) grants (funded through the tax on legalized cannabis), state violence prevention grants, and federal grants including under the Violence Against Women Act and the Victims of Crime Act. ICJIA convenes groups and collaborates on efforts to reform the criminal justice system. ICJIA leads criminal justice reform efforts by supporting policy makers through research.