Zooniverse Postbaccalaureate Data Analyst

Zooniverse Postbaccalaureate Data Analyst

Full-Time Temporary

Exempt

Union Position

About the Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century.

Today, the museum typically hosts close to 400,000 visitors annually and reaches millions more through youth STEAM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, online citizen science, and other outreach efforts. With the Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to learn more about science and space discovery, and to explore their universe together under the sky we all share.

About Zooniverse

Zooniverse is the world's largest platform for the distributed analysis of scientific data. Over 3 million people around the world participate in dozens of projects across disciplines (from astronomy to zoology, cancer research to climate science, arts and humanities) in partnership with universities and research institutions around the world. The Zooniverse team within the Adler Planetarium's Science Engagement Division is a dynamic mix of web developers, a designer, researchers, and project leads who design, build, and maintain the core Zooniverse infrastructure and custom features; support researchers in using Zooniverse tools; build partnerships; and communicate with the public. The team nurtures an inclusive culture, supports work-life balance, offers a flexible work schedule, and maintains a hybrid (remote and in-person) work environment.

The Position

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Zooniverse Postbaccalaureate Data Analyst to join our dynamic team on Chicago's Museum Campus. This is a 9-month full-time, term-limited, grant-funded position. The target start date is January 2027, with flexibility to start earlier. This role works closely with the Co-Director and Science Lead for Zooniverse, as well as Zooniverse team members across Adler, Oxford, and the University of Minnesota. The person will be a key resource for platform data analysis and research team support, helping both the Zooniverse team and external researchers leading projects on the platform.

This is a union position with the Adler Planetarium Workers United, AFSCME Council 31.

This individual will be responsible for:

• Analyzing Zooniverse platform data, representing contributions from 3 million registered users and totaling more than 1 billion individual classifications to date.
• Providing data pulls, creating reports, computing statistics, and visualizing data to inform platform strategy.
• Contributing to cybersecurity measures through data analysis and monitoring.
• Using the Zooniverse API to configure workflows and advanced platform features in support of project research teams (including NASA researchers).
• Troubleshooting technical issues and answering questions from project research teams across their project’s lifecycle.
• Improving documentation and training materials for both internal Zooniverse team members and for researchers using the platform.
• Contributing to NASA-Zooniverse events, workshops, and special initiatives, including the NASA Space Apps Challenge.

The Work Schedule

The typical work schedule for this position is 35 hours per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with flextime and a telecommuting option—2 days a week telecommuting and 3 days on-site at the museum.

The Compensation & Benefits (Full-Time)

Base Pay: $37,500 for the 9-month, term-limited position (based on $50,000 per year)

Work-Life Balance

• 35-hour workweek
• Eligible to accrue up to 15 vacation days per year
• 3 sick days as of date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)
• 7 Adler paid holidays
• 4 Personal Holidays (Prorated for new hires starting after January 1st)
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty
• Paid Parental Leave

Competitive Health Coverage

• Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance
• Healthcare, Dependent Care & Commuter flexible spending accounts
• Adler Paid Short-Term Disability insurance

Retirement Savings Plan

• 403 (b) plan with Adler match
• Adler match is 100% vested immediately
• Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire

Network of Support through our EAP programs

• Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues
• Face-to-face, telephonic, and web-based services
• Free subscription to the Calm Premium app

Employee Loan Program

Discounted Onsite Parking Program

Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions

The Person

Candidates should be recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree in astronomy, physics, computer science, math, or a related science or engineering discipline. Individuals who have already earned a Master’s degree or are Master's candidates may apply.

Required Qualifications:

• Basic coding proficiency in Python or a similar language.
• Basic data analysis proficiency demonstrated through past research and/or project-based coursework.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field and/or in computer science.
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to accurately complete detailed work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and to provide information to scientific and research staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in querying databases using SQL/PostgreSQL.
• Proficiency using the pandas data analysis library, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in visualizing analysis results and using Jupyter Notebooks.
• Experience using and training machine learning models.
• Experience interacting with APIs and writing HTTP requests.
• Experience using Git/Github or other version control systems
• Interest in people-powered research and improving the Zooniverse platform.

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume highlighting your relevant experience, education, technical skills, and interest in the position. Relevant experience may include coursework, class projects, research experience, internships, professional or industry experience, or independent projects. You may also include links to relevant projects, code repositories, or other examples of your work.

The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to complying with its Equal Opportunity employer obligations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email the Human Resources Department at recruiting@adlerplanetarium.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.