Education Research and Evaluation Specialist (CELL)

Job Description

The Education Research and Evaluation Specialist will work closely with the Executive Director at CELL to create and implement the evaluation, assessment, and research strategy across CELL and other university units. This role will involve identifying and facilitating opportunities for cross-institutional research, with a strong focus on externally funded research projects tailored to the needs of this emerging unit.

REQUIREMENTS/MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience: Demonstrated experience developing and executing research projects, with a preference for candidates who have progressively taken on responsibility, including independently developing proposals and cultivating funding for research projects.
• Education: An earned doctorate in educational psychology, education policy, economics, statistics, or a related field with a focus in quantitative methodology.
• Licenses/Certifications/Credentials: Strongly preferred—Holding or in progress of becoming a Certified Reviewer in Advanced Group Design Standards or Single-Case Design Standards through the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Conducting Research
   • Designing Studies: Plan and design research projects addressing important questions in education relative to the needs of identified partners or funding opportunities.
   • Data Collection: Gather data through surveys, interviews, assessments, classroom observations, standardized tests, or ethnographic studies.
   • Literature Review: Review existing literature to identify gaps, build upon previous work, and inform the design of new studies.
   • Data Analysis: Use statistical tools and software to analyze data, drawing meaningful conclusions and interpreting results in the context of educational theory and practice.
2. Developing and Evaluating Educational Interventions
   • Program Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of educational programs, curricula, and teaching methods, offering evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
   • Innovative Practices: Investigate new educational practices, technologies, or strategies to enhance learning outcomes, equity, and accessibility in classrooms.
3. Collaborating and Networking
   • Working with Educators: Collaborate with teachers, administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to identify research needs and ensure research is aligned with real-world educational challenges.
   • Collaboration with Institutions: Partner with universities, research institutes, and schools to gain access to data, conduct field studies, and implement interventions.
   • Cross-Disciplinary Research: Work with professionals from other disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, or neuroscience, to incorporate diverse perspectives into educational research.
4. Disseminating Findings
   • Publishing: Write papers, articles, and reports to share findings with the educational community, policymakers, and the general public.
   • Conferences and Presentations: Present research at conferences, workshops, and seminars to foster discussion and contribute to the field.
   • Policy Advocacy: Translate research findings into practical policy recommendations for improving educational practices, curriculum design, and educational equity.
5. Ensuring Ethical Research Practices
   • Adherence to Ethical Standards: Ensure research follows ethical guidelines, including securing informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring participants’ welfare.
   • Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of the diverse backgrounds of research subjects and ensure research respects cultural differences, ensuring inclusivity and fairness.
6. Continuous Learning and Development
   • Stay updated with the latest research trends, methods, and technologies in education to ensure research remains relevant and innovative.
   • Participate in workshops, training, and conferences to develop skills, network, and stay informed about emerging challenges and solutions in education.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience and demonstrated ability in independently conducting rigorous quantitative or mixed methods research studies.
• Training and experience focused on the development and application of statistical methods in educational research or other related settings (e.g., nonprofit organizations, think tanks, industry).
• Experience and/or interest in working with diverse student populations and doing work across diverse communities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and collegially across higher education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of a strong and established programmatic line of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or other relevant research products.
• A record of securing external sponsored funds.
• Experience with evaluations using qualitative methods to understand and describe phenomena, and quantitative methods to make causal inferences, including randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity designs, matching approaches, and other quasi-experimental designs.
• Evidence of leadership in the field (e.g., serving on editorial boards of methodological journals, professional committees, and sponsored grant review panels).
• Experience with Knowledge Brokering relationships that may include Research-Practice partnerships across the educational ecosystem.

Required Dispositions:

• Willingness to learn and adapt in a continually evolving work environment.
• Comfort with ambiguity and evolution, including the position’s roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet critical deadlines while remaining flexible and gracious in responding to changing requirements.
• Effective interpersonal skills exemplified by initiative, courtesy, diplomacy, a positive attitude, and a high bar of professional ethics and integrity.
• A commitment to advancing knowledge and research for upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Discount
• Retirement Savings Plan - 403B
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time Accruals
• Paid Holiday time and additional University days off
• Employee Discounts & Services
• Free Parking
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center

For more information about the benefits of being a staff member at UIndy, visit our Benefits site.

Company Description

Thank you for your interest in the University of Indianapolis! The University is a private, liberal arts university located on 65 acres just minutes from downtown Indianapolis. With more than 700 faculty and staff, it is a place where you can become part of a close-knit campus community that emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in the future growth of the University.

UIndy’s mission is to prepare its graduates for effective, responsible, and articulate membership in the complex societies in which they live and serve and for excellence and leadership in their personal and professional lives. The motto of "Education for Service" provides the foundation for our work to better our communities, both near and far.

As University employees, we know the work we do is important to our students and our communities. To accomplish our mission, we welcome talented, civic-minded, and diverse individuals from all career levels to help maintain our high standards of excellence and quality. If you want to join our dynamic environment and experience hard work, creativity, and teamwork, we welcome your application!

The University of Indianapolis is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, citizenship status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Indianapolis does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission as required by Title IX.