Research Assistant I/II

Job Description:

Research Assistant I/II in the Social Sciences Research Centre (Ref.: 536770)

Applications are invited for appointment as Research Assistant I/II (holding the functional title of Data Analyst) in the Social Sciences Research Centre (SSRC) within the Faculty of Social Sciences, to commence as soon as possible, on a 1-year temporary basis, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.

Duties and Responsibilities

The appointee will provide data and research support for a large-scale, longitudinal project focused on early childhood development, as well as other research tasks and projects as assigned. This position will provide a practical and unique opportunity for individuals passionate about the entire data lifecycle to engage in rigorous, large-scale data management and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team on high-impact, long-term social science research. Major duties include:

• Carrying out data cleaning, validation, transformation, integration and documentation for large-scale social science research data;
• Assisting in the preparation and implementation of data weighting, including sample weight construction, post-stratification, calibration and related quality checks;
• Processing and managing survey, administrative, longitudinal or other project-related datasets in a systematic and reproducible manner;
• Preparing codebooks, metadata files, data processing logs and other documentation required for data management and archiving;
• Assisting in statistical analysis, data visualisation and preparation of technical reports, working papers, presentations and research outputs;
• Conducting data quality checks, consistency checks, missing-data assessment and other procedures to ensure data integrity;
• Coordinating with the project team to monitor data collection progress and resolve data-related issues promptly;
• Supporting the establishment and maintenance of secure data storage, version control, access control and project data management procedures;
• Assisting in the preparation of research ethics, data management and project documentation where necessary;
• Liaising with multidisciplinary project team members, researchers and collaborators on data-related matters; and
• Performing other research duties as assigned.

Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• a Master’s degree or above, preferably in Social Sciences, Statistics, Data Science, Public Policy, Public Health, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Social Work, Computer Science, Information Management, or a related discipline;
• preferably at least 1 year of relevant research or data-related experience; candidates with strong technical skills in data processing and statistical analysis may also be considered;
• good knowledge of quantitative research methods, survey data processing, statistical analysis and data management;
• proficiency in at least one statistical or programming software, such as R, Stata, Python or SPSS; experience with reproducible data workflows would be an advantage;
• familiarity with survey weighting, longitudinal data, administrative data, children/youth/family-related research, or large-scale social science datasets would be an advantage;
• good organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to handle complex datasets accurately and responsibly;
• a strong sense of research ethics, data confidentiality and information security;
• a good command of written and spoken English and Chinese;
• the ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively with researchers and project team members; and
• self-motivation, responsibility, maturity and a willingness to learn.

Applicants with stronger relevant experience in data analysis, survey methodology, social statistics, data management or child/family studies may be considered for appointment as Research Assistant I. Other suitable candidates may be considered for appointment as Research Assistant II.

What We Offer

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.

How to Apply

The University only accepts online application for the above post. Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V. Review of applications will start as soon as possible and continue until August 15, 2026, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

The University is an equal opportunities employer and
is committed to equality, ethics, inclusivity, diversity and transparency