Job Details

Cultural Research Data Fellow Supporting a Black Trustee Alliance Project (HR Title: Post Graduate Fellow)

Position Number: 6121802
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Ethnic & Multicultural Studies

Cultural Research Data Fellow Supporting a Black Trustee Alliance Project (HR Title: Post Graduate Fellow)

Salary Range:

$70k - $75k

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, is a project of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. DataArts' mission is to provide and engage organizations and individuals with the evidence-based insights needed to collectively build strong, vibrant, and equitable arts communities. SMU DataArts compiles and analyzes data on arts organizations and their communities nationwide and develops research articles and reports on important issues in arts management, arts ecosystems, patronage, and equitable access and inclusion. Its findings are available free of charge to arts leaders, funders, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. SMU DataArts researchers employ a range of methodological techniques and high-powered computing to test hypotheses, build theory, and increase understanding of the arts and culture sector.

About the Position:

The Cultural Research Data Fellow Supporting a Black Trustee Alliance Project is a full-time 1-year term with benefits. This research fellow will focus the majority of their time on a project with the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums (BTA) exploring the complex tapestry of connection across Black experiences among a variety of art museum contexts - among all staff, curators, trustees, and the communities they seek to serve. The BTA research study will include a national quantitative survey and a series of qualitative interviews with trustees. The fellow will contribute substantively to the full arc of research activities, including instrument design, survey programming and testing, data collection, interviewing, analysis, and reporting. The fellow will also contribute to additional DataArts research projects.

This position is contingent on gift/grant funding.

Essential Functions:

Contribute substantively to the design of research materials, including survey instruments, interview guides, and sampling approaches for research projects.
Develop written communications materials, including recruitment messages, biweekly updates on research, blogs, and conference submissions.
Lead the analysis of quantitative survey data using methods including descriptive statistics, chi squares/t-tests to compare groups, and regression analysis.
Conduct interviews, synthesize notes, and lead debrief discussions to identify key themes and findings from qualitative research.
Draft reports that synthesize key findings, coordinate feedback, and make revisions that prioritize insights that are direct, meaningful, and actionable for readers.
Support research projects through coordination tasks such as scheduling meetings or interviews, working with institutional partners, documenting meetings, updating project timelines, and tracking invoices.
Support presentations and discussions of research through webinars, conference presentations, blog posts, etc.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of work experience or master's degree and a year of experience is required. The fellow should have a stated interest in the arts and culture sector. Candidates with a wide range of degrees would be considered for this position, including African American studies, economics, statistics, data science, public policy, museum studies, gender studies, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate with a blend of research, arts sector, and consulting experience is desired. Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly with all of Data Arts connections and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Experience with a statistical software package such as SAS, SPSS, or Python is preferred.

Deadline to Apply:

May 9, 2025.

Priority consideration may be given to those applications received by April 21, 2025.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Research

Organization: Meadows School of the Arts

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time

Job Posting: Apr 2, 2025, 8:11:36 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=MEA00000138&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC