The Applied Population Laboratory (APL) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a collaborative Demographer to serve as a Scientist II. The Scientist II will lead and manage applied demographic research on population change, health disparities, social demography, and related topics. Responsibilities include designing and implementing quantitative research studies; conducting advanced demographic and spatial analyses; producing population estimates, projections, and forecasts; utilizing GIS tools to analyze and visualize geographic patterns and trends; and disseminating findings through technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations. The Scientist II will also contribute to reproducible and transparent research practices through the use of version control systems and collaborative research workflows.

The Scientist II will oversee large-scale research projects, coordinate project staff and stakeholders, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure the timely completion of project goals. The position also involves cleaning, managing, and analyzing large demographic, socioeconomic, administrative, and geospatial datasets to support evidence-based decision-making for government, community, and academic partners.

In addition, the Scientist II will contribute to the educational mission of the university by developing workshops and training programs. The Scientist II will support the growth of APL's research portfolio by identifying funding opportunities, preparing grant proposals, managing project budgets, and reporting research progress and outcomes to funding agencies and project sponsors. The successful candidate will possess strong quantitative, project management, communication, GIS, and collaborative research skills and a demonstrated ability to translate complex demographic and spatial findings into actionable insights for diverse audiences.

• May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit as needed

• Writes or assists in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding

• Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information

• Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials, and disseminates information to appropriate entities

• Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures

• Collects and analyzes complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures under general supervision

• Identifies research problems and develops complex research methodologies and procedures

• Serves as a unit subject matter expert and liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing advanced level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area

Applied Population Laboratory (APL), a research unit within the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology (CES) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

The anticipated salary range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000. However, final salary will depend on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at  

• At least 5 years of research experience in social demography, population health, health disparities, health geography, migration, aging, or related population studies topics
• At least 5 years of experience working with demographic methods, including population estimation, population projection, and demographic analysis
• Experience working with U.S. Census Bureau data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and related demographic datasets
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing research projects, including coordinating staff, stakeholders, budgets, and project deliverables
• Experience disseminating research findings through technical reports, presentations, publications, or similar scholarly and professional products
• Experience working with statistical software such as R, SAS, Stata, or Python

• Proven track record of securing grant funding ($10,000 or more) for research
• Proven track record of publishing (2 or more articles) in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience using Git and GitHub to support reproducible research, version control, project documentation, and collaborative analytical workflows
• Experience using GIS software such as ArcGIS Pro or R for demographic and spatial analyses
• Experience developing and delivering classes, workshops, training programs, or technical assistance activities related to demographic methods, data analysis, or research design

Required: Master of Science in Demography, Sociology or similar field

Preferred: PhD in Demography, Sociology or similar field

To apply for this position, please click on the "I am a current employee" button or "I am not a current employee" button under Apply Now. You will be prompted to upload the following documents.

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Please note, there is only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents into the one attachment field. All listed application materials must be received to be considered.

Finalists will be asked to provide contact information (phone and email) for three references, one of which must be a current or former supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

It’s important that your cover letter and resume reflect your experience for this position related to the Qualifications section. Your application materials will be used during our evaluation to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

Additional Information:

• Criminal Background Check may be required
• A 12-month evaluation period may be required

Work Schedule:

Normal hours are 7:45am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.  Occasional nights and weekends may be required for this position.

Sonia Parker, CALS HR Generalist ()