Assistant Researcher (Part-Time)

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Juniper; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

The Center for Public Partnerships & Research is hiring an Assistant Researcher to support an NIH funded project aimed at enhancing social communication for autistic children. This role involves working directly with preschool staff, administering assessments, and data management. Ideal candidates will have a relevant Bachelor's degree and experience in early education settings. Competitive salary range of £22,000 to £25,000, with a mix of on-site and telework opportunities.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field is essential.
• Six months' experience working with autistic individuals or developmental disabilities is required.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing communication intervention support and coaching to school staff and autistic preschool participants.
• Assist with data collection and data management activities.
• Administer developmental assessments and collaborate during project meetings.

Skills

Strong written communication

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, SharePoint)

Job description

Position Overview

The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP; www.jgcp.ku.edu) is seeking to hire an Assistant Researcher to assist with an NIH funded research project. This study examines a social communication intervention for autistic children who have complex communication needs, and attend local community preschool programs.

We are seeking an Assistant Researcher to work 0.5 FTE (20 hours per week) with guidance from the project Principal Investigator and Project Coordinator on a multi-site research team. This individual will be responsible for coaching preschool staff implementers, providing communication interventions to autistic preschoolers, and communicating with early service providers and families. Other responsibilities will include administering child developmental assessments, collecting child behavioral data, data entry and management, recruitment assistance, and team collaboration.

This position requires reliable transportation and the ability to be flexible in attending preschool visits during the day. Strong organization, administrative skills, attention to detail, and communication skills are required, as evidenced by work experience and application materials. Please note that all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the background check. Continuation is dependent on yearly funding and satisfactory annual evaluation.

The position is at JGCP, located in downtown Kansas City, Kansas in the Children’s Campus of Kansas City building, 444 Minnesota Ave, Suite 300, Kansas City, KS 66101. This position will be a hybrid of on-site work and telework as deemed by the supervisor.

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California and Delaware. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.

Job Description

60%

• Provide ongoing communication intervention support and coaching to school staff and autistic preschool participants.
  
  

20%

• Assist with data collection and data management activities.
  
  

10%

• Assist with administering developmental assessments.
  
  

5%

• Assist in the development of project materials, intervention manuals, family resources, and dissemination activities of findings.
  
  

5%

• Collaborate during regular project meetings.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology, special education, psychology, applied behavioral sciences, or related field.
• Six months experience working with autistic individuals or other developmental disabilities in classroom or community programs as evidenced by application materials.
• Previous experience that required using Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel, Word, SharePoint) for organizing, tracking or communicating information as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills, as evidenced by application materials and reference checks.
  
  

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in speech-language pathology, special education, psychology, applied behavioral sciences, or related field.
• Previous experience in early education settings working directly with autistic children, as evidenced by application materials.
• Previous experience that required collaborating with early service providers in preschools or other community programs, as evidenced by application materials.
• Previous experience working with the conduct of research or participation on research projects, as evidenced by application materials.
• Excellent organizational skills as demonstrated by application materials.
  
  

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter indicating how you see your particular skills set and prior experience contributing to the research at JGCP
• Resume
• List of three (3) professional references
  
  

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Thursday July 10, 2025 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Thiemann-Bourque at [e-mail]

For questions about the application process, please contact Diana Skill at [e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

22,000-25,000 commensurate with education and experience

Application Review Begins

Thursday July 10, 2025

Anticipated Start Date

Monday July 28, 2025

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