Jobs

Research Scientist, Narconomics Project

This position will work on a multi-phase research project funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy studying illicit drug enterprises within five major U.S. cities. The project is being done in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and numerous other federal, state, and local law enforcement and community agencies. The research project will provide an in-depth description of the business operations of drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) using multiple qualitative and quantitative data sources. This innovative research will analyze the dynamics and inner workings of DTOs to understand their business models and identify their greatest enforcement vulnerabilities. This information will then be used to assist law enforcement in designing strategies and tools to disrupt and dismantle DTOs in order to reduce the drug supply.

Responsibilities include: synthesizing research, formulating research design, collaborating among various stakeholders, and translation of the data collected into digestible content for a general audience, such as grant proposals, conference presentations, social media posts, and academic journals.

This is a time-limited position, with future funding contingent upon annual grant awards. The position can be located anywhere within the continental United States, with work performed via telework.

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in criminal justice, business, economics, social sciences, or a related field; OR a Master’s degree with one or more years of experience completing working on applied law enforcement and/or drug policy research
  • Ability to work effectively in an interagency environment with federal, state, and local law enforcement and/or drug intelligence analysts
  • Demonstrated proficiency with both quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Competence with statistical software (e.g., Stata, SPSS, R, SAS)
  • Experience with critically reviewing and synthesizing literature, and interpreting research results
  • Demonstrated ability to write reports and scholarly products in a variety of formats for dissemination
  • Must be able to pass HIDTA background check and drug statement
  • Must be able to obtain a security clearance
  • Travel is expected (15 percent, once allowed)

How to Apply:

For full consideration, applicants must apply by April 18, 2022 at https://jobs.gmu.edu, complete and submit the online application, and upload a cover letter, resume, a list of three professional references with contact information.