Research Scientist

Description

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.