The Population Research Institute Computer Core offers a Graduate Assistantship in Research Computing to provide advanced students in demography with an opportunity to develop skills and gain practical experience in research computing methods.

"...Computerized data has become the basis for scientific research. The scientific method requires observation, inspiration, and discipline to produce believable results. The availability of computers encourages people to study increasingly large volumes of data. The tremendous growth in the scale and number of research investigations has instigated a need for people who know how to manage research data. Regardless of the scope of a project, producing results depends on being able to access and manipulate information stored in computer files. Research data may span hundreds of computer files, include thousands of variables, and have hundreds of thousands of observations. Electronic files now may contain data values, results, documentation or even scanned images. The scientist is ultimately responsible for the quality of the data used to construct research results."

Computing skills are now a necessary part of any research project. The PRI Computer Core can provide a unique opportunity to instruct and enable students to gain experience in the development of these skills.

Eligibility

The position would be open to any student with advanced standing in a department affiliated with the Population Research Institute. Appointment would be subject to the approval of the applicants' academic department. Working knowledge of at least one programming language and working in a UNIX environment preferred.

Supervision & Evaluation

Research Computing Assistants (RCAs) will be under the direct supervision of the PRI Computer Core Manager of Programming Services. They will receive a review of their progress and performance quarterly.

Duties

Research Computing Assistants will be able be engaged in various duties including:

• Consulting -- Provide students with assistance on general computer questions. Respond to questions via email. Develop web pages pertaining to programming topics.
• Applications programming -- Provide programming support for an ongoing project to provide access to commonly used data files on the PopNet. This project involves creating programs to read flat files and the development of a "point & click" interface to all public-use data on the network. Contribute SAS macros, scripts & other software routines programs to the "shared code library".
• Workshop development & teaching -- Develop and teach workshops in a variety of topics related to the UNIX operating system, statistical computing and various software packages.
  
• Research programming -- Provide programming support for short- term research projects funded through the Population Research Institute.
  
• Portfolio -- Each RCA will develop a portfolio to exhibit their programming skills.

Training

Students will be able to develop a set of learning objectives with their supervisor. Possible topics include:

• Data management issues -- Acquiring, manipulating, documenting and storing research data.
  
• Statistical computing -- Use and pitfalls in computerized statistical analysis.
  
• Data visualization -- Using visual methods to explore data. Presenting statistical results graphically.
  
• Computer programming -- Traditional & 4th generation programming techniques for data manipulation. Use of advanced programming algorithms and data structures. Object- oriented programming and structured query language, macros.
• Web programming
  

Compensation

RCAs would be hired for 20 hr per week and would be paid at a rate comperable to aother Graduate Assistantship positions. Funding for the position may be cost-shared with PRI paying the stipend and the sponsoring department paying the tuition. Appointments would be renewed on a semester by semester basis. Funding for the summer is also available.

Application Deadline

CLOSED. This position has been filled for 2007-2008