Fellow, U.S. Social and Behavioral Sciences Team

Job Title: Fellow, U.S. Social and Behavioral Sciences Team

Department: General Services Administration

Agency: Office of Government-wide Policy, Performance Improvement Council

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled

The U.S. Social and Behavioral Sciences Team (SBST) seeks exceptionally qualified individuals to serve as Fellows for 2014-2015. Individuals who can secure continued financial support from their home institution or other outside funding are especially encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY:

The SBST helps federal agencies increase the efficiency and efficacy of their programs and policies, by harnessing research methods and findings from the social and behavioral sciences. The team works closely with agencies across the federal government, thinking creatively about how to translate social and behavioral science insights into concrete interventions that are likely to improve federal outcomes and designing rigorous field trials to test the impact of these recommendations.

The SBST is a small, multi-disciplinary group of experts, coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and organized under the Performance Improvement Council at the General Services Administration (GSA). Collectively, the team has a diverse mixture of scientific expertise from fields such as economics, psychology, and statistics, as well as experience performing rigorous evaluations in complex operational settings. As the SBST works to pursue the agencies’ priority goals, policy areas include health, education, tax and finance, housing, environment, criminal justice, and so forth (see http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/ to learn about federal departments and agencies).

Fellows must possess a unique set of technical and professional skills. This includes extensive knowledge of at least one field within the social and behavioral sciences, the ability to creatively apply research knowledge within the federal government setting, the ability to manage the day-to-day operations of a field trial, and exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. (Duties and qualifications are further elaborated below.)
The position lasts for one year beginning in August or September 2014 (precise start date negotiable), with the possibility of renewal. Fellows will be located in the GSA building at 1800 F Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20405. GSA has been named repeatedly by the Partnership for Public Service as one of the “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government.”

For full job posting see:
http://www.decisionsciencenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SBST_Fellow_Solicitation-2014.pdf