The Senior Research Associate will support a large-scale evaluation of the Massachusetts Literacy Launch Initiative, a statewide effort to improve literacy instruction from pre-K to grade 3. The incumbent will join a large team supporting this evaluation to help explore the implementation and impact of several state early literacy policies on teacher and student outcomes.  The incumbent will help develop and lead key research analysis projects as part of the evaluation.

The incumbent will be part of the Annenberg Institute’s Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL) research team, led by Annenberg faculty John Papay and Nathaniel Schwartz. RPPL is a partnership that brings together professional learning (PL) organizations, district and state education systems, and researchers from the Annenberg Institute to strengthen how the field learns about and improves teacher professional learning. RPPL’s central goal is to rethink how we learn about teacher PL, shifting from studies that explore whether a specific program works to a broader learning agenda designed to identify how PL design features and the enabling conditions of PL improve teachers’ instructional practice and, as a result, students’ classroom experiences, well-being, and academic growth. RPPL focuses on supporting the learning of teachers who work with students from historically marginalized groups.

Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Principal Investigators, the Senior Research Associate drives all aspects of project planning for multiple research projects for this research team in a dynamic, layered team setting. The position takes a lead role in designing studies, leads data collection and analysis efforts, develops project models, engages practitioners and PL organizations as partners in research work, and writes academic papers, reports, presentations, and grant reports.

The incumbent will need to have a strong understanding of early literacy policy and practice and extensive expertise in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods. We are particularly interested in applicants with demonstrated experience using research to inform policy and practice.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in related field (PhD or EdD preferred) with 5-7 years of research experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to work independently or as a member of a team

• Experience working on large-scale research studies

• A strong quantitative background.

• Strong background in education research.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical and writing skills.

• Training and expertise in utilizing quantitative research methods, including experience working with complex data sets.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong ability to explain methods to research staff and provide guidance on models and interpretation of output.

• Experience reviewing code and ensuring data best practices are being followed by the research team.

• Experience distilling and translating substantive takeaways from analyses to policy/practitioner audience.

Additional Information:

This position is 100% grant funded and is for one year with the possibility of renewal, based on satisfactory work performance and dependent upon funding.

Please include a resume as one attached .pdf document, 2 writing samples as one attached .pdf document, and the cover letter, transcript, and letters of recommendation or names of references (3) as another single .pdf document (for a total of three attachments).

Background and education check required.

The Research Scientist will support a large-scale evaluation of the Massachusetts Literacy Launch Initiative, a statewide effort to improve literacy instruction from pre-K to grade 3. The incumbent will join a large team supporting this evaluation to help explore the implementation and impact of several state early literacy policies on teacher and student outcomes.  The incumbent will help develop and lead key research analysis projects as part of the evaluation.

The incumbent will be part of the Annenberg Institute’s Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL) research team, led by Annenberg faculty John Papay and Nathaniel Schwartz. RPPL is a partnership that brings together professional learning (PL) organizations, district and state education systems, and researchers from the Annenberg Institute to strengthen how the field learns about and improves teacher professional learning . RPPL’s central goal is to rethink how we learn about teacher PL, shifting from studies that explore whether a specific program works to a broader learning agenda designed to identify how PL design features and the enabling conditions of PL improve teachers’ instructional practice and, as a result, students’ classroom experiences, well-being, and academic growth. RPPL focuses on supporting the learning of teachers who work with students from historically marginalized groups.

Reporting directly to the Principal Investigators, the Research Scientist drives all aspects of project planning for multiple research projects for this research team in a dynamic, layered team setting. The position takes a lead role in designing studies, leads data collection and analysis efforts, develops project models, engages practitioners and PL organizations as partners in research work, and writes academic papers, reports, presentations, and grant reports.

The incumbent will need to have a strong understanding of early literacy policy and practice and extensive expertise in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods. We are particularly interested in applicants with demonstrated experience using research to inform policy and practice.

We welcome earlier career scholars to apply instead to a related Senior Research Associate role, for which we are also hiring.

The Annenberg Institute is Brown University’s education research institute. Our vibrant community includes Brown University faculty, postdoctoral research associates, staff, students, and multiple partners in Rhode Island and across the US. We partner with education leaders and scholars to connect people, evidence, and practices to build toward a more effective and equitable education system that enables all students to thrive academically and in other ways. Our knowledge initiatives catalyze conversations across the research landscape, synthesizing what we know and mobilizing practitioners, policymakers, and researchers toward collaborative impact.

This position is 100% grant funded and is for one year with the possibility of renewal, based on satisfactory work performance and dependent upon funding.

For this position, Brown does not sponsor the H-1B visa classification for scholars who need immigration sponsorship in order to enter the U.S. and commence lawful employment under the terms of their appointment.

Qualifications

• An earned doctorate in Education, Public Policy, Economics, Sociology, Political Science or other affiliated fields is required by the position start date.
• Ability to work independently or as a member of a team
• Experience working on large-scale research studies
• Strong background in education research.
• Candidates will be assessed based on research output and post-degree experience. 

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, two writing samples and contact information for three references. 

Candidates should address in their cover letter how they would contribute to the research and/or teacher missions of our diverse and inclusive university community. 

Annenberg provides small grants to doctoral students from across the University whose work centrally engages with education (writ large). Grants are typically up to $5,000 but can be larger in exceptional cases. Seed funding can support research, partnership, or dissemination efforts (e.g., conduct fieldwork, collect or purchase data, conduct exploratory research, travel for partnership work, summer funding, etc.). The goal is to seed and support empirical research in education.

Applications will be accepted at three deadlines: April 1, September 1, and January 1. Preference will be given to existing Annenberg Doctoral Affiliates who engage actively in the Institute and to projects most directly tied to the Institute’s goals.

 To apply, please submit an application of no more than two pages describing:

• Project Title
• Short Title (10 words or fewer)
• A brief description of the project (what work will the funding advance?)
• A clear rationale for the award (why do you need these funds?)
• A description of the product(s) that will result (what are the specific products/outcomes?)
• A timeline, budget and justification (how will the funding be used?)

Send applications to annenberg@brown.edu with “Annenberg Doctoral Student Seed Funding” in the subject line. 

Recipients are expected to become Annenberg Doctoral Affiliates and  participate in the Annenberg community (e.g., attend seminars whenever possible), and present their work in progress. Award recipients may be asked to serve on a proposal review committee in future years. Students who are actively engaged in the Institute will have priority in funding decisions.

Notes: 

• We will accept off-cycle applications as need arises.
• In rare cases, we are open to funding conference travel for students who are making presentations. We request that applicants exhaust other mechanisms of funding available before requesting conference funding from Annenberg, including one or more of the following options:
  • Graduate Student Travel Funding
  • Conference and External Travel Funding | Graduate Student Council

The Research Scientist will support a body of work related to shared measures of teacher professional learning and growth as part of the Annenberg Institute’s Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL) research team, led by Annenberg faculty John Papay and Nathaniel Schwartz. RPPL is a partnership that brings together professional learning (PL) organizations, district and state education systems, and researchers from the Annenberg Institute to strengthen how the field learns about and improves teacher professional learning. RPPL’s central goal is to rethink how we learn about teacher PL, shifting from studies that explore whether a specific program works to a broader learning agenda designed to identify how PL design features and the enabling conditions of PL improve teachers’ instructional practice and, as a result, students’ classroom experiences, well-being, and academic growth. RPPL focuses on supporting the learning of teachers who work with students from historically marginalized groups.

Reporting directly to the Principal Investigators, the Research Scientist helps develop and lead key research analysis projects, driving all aspects of project planning for multiple research projects for this research team in a dynamic, layered team setting. The position takes a lead role in designing studies, leads data collection and analysis efforts, develops project models, engages practitioners and PL organizations as partners in research work, and writes academic papers, reports, presentations, and grant reports.

The incumbent will need to have a strong understanding of educational measurement, particularly the practical use of measures, to support a large body of work supporting organizations and school districts in developing shared measures to support organizational learning. They must also have the ability to describe measurement processes and procedures; conduct statistical analyses and validation studies; lead instrument/survey design and development; state intended interpretations and uses of survey response data and expertise in creating and using measures in robust and practical ways. Psychometric expertise is a benefit but not required.

We welcome earlier career scholars to apply instead to a related Senior Research Associate role, for which we are also hiring.

The Annenberg Institute is Brown University’s education research institute. Our vibrant community includes Brown University faculty, postdoctoral research associates, staff, students, and multiple partners in Rhode Island and across the US. We partner with education leaders and scholars to connect people, evidence, and practices to build toward a more effective and equitable education system that enables all students to thrive academically and in other ways. Our knowledge initiatives catalyze conversations across the research landscape, synthesizing what we know and mobilizing practitioners, policymakers, and researchers toward collaborative impact.

This position is 100% grant funded and is for one year with the possibility of renewal, based on satisfactory work performance and dependent upon funding.

For this position, Brown does not sponsor the H-1B visa classification for scholars who need immigration sponsorship in order to enter the U.S. and commence lawful employment under the terms of their appointment.

Qualifications

• An earned doctorate in Education, Public Policy, Economics, Sociology, Political Science or other affiliated fields is required by the position start date.
• Ability to work independently or as a member of a team
• Experience working on large-scale research studies
• Strong background in education research.
• Candidates will be assessed based on research output and post-degree experience.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, two writing samples, and contact information for three references.

Candidates should address in their materials (cover letter or statements) how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community.