Research Associate

ScienceCast; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 69,300 - 84,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Travel 10-15%

Job summary

ScienceCast seeks a senior researcher to lead development of grants and evaluation projects in STEM education. You will consult with clients on research design, identify KPIs, data collection methods, and analysis techniques to address complex questions.

The role involves IRB coordination, data sharing, and capacity-building with partners. The position emphasizes collaboration with EPIC staff and external organizations, managing data, and producing communications for diverse audiences, including

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mathematics or Science Education, Educational Psychology, or STEM Education-related field with strong research background.
• Experience in educational research, program evaluation, and collaborating with a research team to collect and analyze data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Five or more years of research or program evaluation experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead development of proposals for research grants and/or evaluation projects as the PI, Co-PI, or Senior Personnel.
• Meet with potential clients to provide consultation on STEM education research and evaluation design.
• Assist clients with KPI identification, data collection methods, and analysis techniques for research questions.

Skills

Data analysis

Research design

Qualitative methods

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Ph.D. in Mathematics or Science Education, Educational Psychology, or related STEM fields

Tools

STATA

SPSS

R

Tableau

Job description

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead development of proposals for research grants and/or evaluation projects as the PI, Co-PI, Senior Personnel.
• Meet with potential clients and partners to provide consultation on STEM education related research and evaluation design.
• Assist potential clients with the identification of key performance indicators and metrics, appropriate quantitative or qualitative data collection methods and instrumentation, and analysis techniques to address research and evaluation questions.
• Assist potential clients with development of logic models for grant proposals.
• Develop evaluation component of grant proposals in coordination with potential clients.

Conduct Research and Evaluations

• Design and manage research and evaluations of computer science (CS) and other STEM education related programs.
• Collaborate with external organizations (e.g., national alliances, colleges, research centers, data depositories) and internal partners (e.g., EPIC staff) to lead research efforts, obtain data for analysis, and build capacity of educational researchers and organizations.
• Obtain and analyze data in the Texas ERC.
• Assist EPIC staff and external clients with Institutional Review Board (IRB) process and documentation.
• Develop data sharing agreements, formalize IRB documents, and Memoranda of Understanding on research and evaluation projects.
• Develop and/or identify appropriate content-specific instrumentation for conducting research and evaluating project metrics as needed.
• Conduct interviews, focus groups, site visits, and/or classroom observations as needed.
• Collaborate with Center staff to manage the secure storage and handling of all research and evaluation data.
• Conduct quantitative research and evaluation (e.g., survey design, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics).
• Contribute to the research/evaluation team, collaborating with EPIC faculty, staff, and graduate research assistants as needed.
• Develop annual reports and/or project evaluation components of required reports to funding agencies.
• Create data visualizations, such as Tableau dashboards, and briefs to communicate research and evaluation findings to multiple audiences.

Dissemination of Findings/Services

• Write and submit research articles and presentation proposals.
• Disseminate research and evaluation results at national and regional conferences in coordination with research/project team.
• Represent EPIC and TACC at local, regional, and national events, promoting EPIC’s research and evaluation services.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mathematics or Science Education, Educational Psychology, or other STEM Education-related fields with a strong background in STEM education research.
• Experience in educational research, program evaluation, and collaborating with a research team to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Five or more years of research or program evaluation experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Quantitative Researchers: Proficient in statistical analysis software (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R, or SAS) and data visualization software (e.g., Tableau).
• Qualitative Researchers: Proficient in qualitative methodologies, improvement science, organizational theory, or evaluation of collective impact and systemic change.
• Experience analyzing national or statewide educational data such as the Texas Education Research Center.
• Content knowledge and skills in conducting research in Mathematics, Science, Engineering, or Computer Science education.
• Recent peer-reviewed publications in STEM education or program evaluation.

Salary Range

$77,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.
• Travel may be required (10-15%) for data collection or research dissemination.
• A hybrid work schedule of 3 days on campus and 2 days telecommuting option will be available for an undetermined period of time. Remote work may be considered.

Requirements

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest