Design Researcher

The role

The Design Researcher will join the Sustainability + Applied Research team to help interdisciplinary design teams understand people, behavior, and the built environment. This role involves translating research insights into design applications across market sectors.

What you will do

• Conduct literature reviews to gather, evaluate, and synthesize multidisciplinary research.
• Develop research briefs, presentations, visuals, and other resources.
• Identify recurring patterns and opportunities across projects and research findings.
• Help build LPA's internal research knowledge base.
• Help develop and refine research tools and methodologies.
• Support and facilitate pre-design research and stakeholder engagement.
• Support and coordinate post-occupancy evaluations (POEs).
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Work with design teams to establish measurable project goals and evaluate design outcomes.
• Communicate research findings through internal presentations and external publications.

Required qualifications

• MS or PhD in environmental psychology, applied research, design research, social science, data science, or a related field
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project and Excel
• Strong written communication and verbal presentation skills
• Experience with mixed-methods research
• Experience with online research tools
• Experience conducting literature searches or literature reviews
• Basic descriptive statistical or data analysis experience
• Data visualization or other graphic skills for communication of data
• Awareness of current research ethics and equity, diversity, and inclusion topics
• Entrepreneurial energy, comfortable with some ambiguity
• Proactive attitude, prepared to ask questions, and always looking for opportunities to improve

Nice to have

• Additional Research training or certifications
• Human Subjects Research Training (current certification not required)
• LEED, WELL, EDAC, or similar certifications
• Design or engineering training or certifications
• Experience in GIS, Power BI, AI for research, research in AR/VR/XR, grant writing, Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience in or excitement to learn how to facilitate meetings and workshops
• Understanding of a typical architectural design process
• Education in or excitement to learn more about sustainability topics

Benefits

• Mentorship from Managing Directors, Design Directors, and senior team members
• Career development support, including professional development grants and in-house training
• Ongoing education through LPA+U courses and Tech Talks
• 8 paid hours of volunteer time each year
• Opportunities to propose and lead projects that impact local community
• Access to Professional Development Grants program
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement and financial planning
• Wellness initiatives
• Flexible work/life programs

Before you apply

• LPA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires

About the company

LPA is an integrated design firm with offices in California and Texas, focused on creating forward-thinking, sustainable spaces. It is a collective of designers, engineers, and researchers using an integrated design approach.