Research Scientist - Disability Employment
The Research Scientist will design and conduct studies on employment outcomes for people with disabilities, developing labor demand signals and credential pathway analyses. The role supports a grant proposal for the Workforce Intelligence Lab and may transition to a project‑based contract if funding is secured.
Skills required
About this role
WIL is seeking a Research Scientist in disability employment to lead research on jobs, supports, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
About the Workforce Intelligence Lab (WIL)
The Workforce Intelligence Lab (WIL) is an applied workforce research initiative. WIL builds methodology-transparent workforce intelligence, including labor demand signals, occupational and credential pathways, and training-to-employment outcome measures, and works with education, employer, research, and community partners to turn that evidence into grant and sponsored-project collaborations. Learn more: https://wilinstitute.org
Opportunity type: this is a contingent proposal opportunity in WIL's expert collaborator network, not a funded vacancy. It supports a competitive grant application WIL is preparing; no award has been made, and there is no guaranteed work or funding. If an award proceeds and the staffing model calls for it, WIL may offer a project-based contract or consulting engagement. We will ask before naming you or including your resume in any proposal.
What you'll do
- Lead research proposals on employment, independent living, and community participation for people with disabilities
- Design rigorous studies of employment interventions and supports
- Engage people with disabilities and disability organizations in research design
- Lead analysis of survey, administrative, or intervention data
- Write research narratives, methods, and knowledge-translation plans
- Contribute qualifications and past-performance narrative to WIL proposals when you authorize naming
Apply to be considered.
Requirements
Required
- Track record leading disability, rehabilitation, or employment research
- Peer-reviewed publications or funded research in the field
- Experience with participatory or community-engaged research
- Strong quantitative or mixed-methods skills
- Comfortable as a project-based contract collaborator; remote US
Nice to have
- PhD preferred (rehabilitation, disability studies, economics, psychology, or related field)
- Prior federal disability-research award as PI or co-PI
- Vocational rehabilitation or supported-employment program experience
