RESEARCH DATA ANALYST 3

UC San Diego

RESEARCH DATA ANALYST 3

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 /year

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence (CREATE; https://create.ucsd.edu/) is an energetic education research and partnership center that promotes equity in education by actively linking UC San Diego to the local K20 community (kindergarten through graduate school). We conduct and support education-related, equity-focused research and evaluation, and we also provide college preparation and success programs, school improvement efforts, and educator professional development. CREATE is housed within the School of Social Sciences at UC San Diego and exists as an independent, interdisciplinary research center. CREATE is committed to increasing national, statewide, and local understanding and development of education-related services, in particular for low-income, minority pre-K to 20 students. CREATE itself houses experts in K12 education, education policy, anthropology, psychology, cognitive science, and sociology, as well as experts in university outreach programming and K12 teacher development across mathematics, science, computer science, and language arts (reading and writing).

DESCRIPTION

The Research Data Analyst 3 (RDA3) selected for this position will work directly with Dr. Monica Sweet, CREATE's Co-Director of Research and Evaluation, on funded research and evaluation projects relating to education and/or equity in K20 education. This RDA3 will make independent contributions to CREATE and CSSI research and evaluation projects, under the general supervision of Dr. Sweet. These contributions will relate to the various data-related aspects of projects, including data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation, as well as report writing and dissemination of findings. The modal responsibility for this position will be quantitative data analysis, including the programming, use, and interpretation of descriptive and inferential statistics ranging from variable diagnostics and EDA techniques to more complex analyses such as GLM and GEE models containing both random and fixed effects, HLM models, SEM models, longitudinal multivariate models, and CITS models with control groups identified by propensity score matching. While the RDA3’s data-related activities will primarily involve quantitative data and complex quantitative datasets and analyses, most of Dr. Sweet’s research and evaluation projects also involve a qualitative component, necessitating some qualitative expertise in the RDA3 in addition to clearly demonstrated quantitative expertise.

The RDA3 will be asked to contribute to projects as funding and CREATE needs warrant, and it is highly likely that the RDA3 will be asked to work on 2+ projects in parallel, with workloads to sum to 100%. The primary project this RDA3 will be asked to work on is a large multi-year and multi-state evaluation of a K12 Computer Science Professional Development Program funded by the US Department of Education (ECSPDWk). Teachers who participate in this program choose from a menu of grade-level appropriate Computer Science professional development options and participate in a week-long intensive and immersive learning experience with other teachers; they then experience more training and community development during the subsequent school year.

The evaluation plan begins with teacher registration, continues through the summer CSPD Week activities, and then follows teachers back into their classrooms, with multiple time points of data collection relating to teacher participation and teacher impacts along the way. It also includes a multi-year, quasi-experimental study of student impacts with outcomes to include students’ (a) attitudes, beliefs, and identities relating to computer science, (b) computer science-related education and career interests and goals, and (c) academic achievement in computer science and STEM. The RDA3 will use skills as a seasoned, experienced research professional with a full understanding of in-depth statistical analyses and/or research software programming techniques. Demonstrate good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, or a related field and three to five (3 - 5) years of demonstrated experience with higher-level data management and analysis techniques, or an equivalent combination of experience/training.

• Theoretical knowledge of statistics, and extensive training in a related applied field such as education, psychology, human development, cognitive science, or economics.

• Solid conceptual understanding of complex inferential statistical models, including GLM, GEE, HLM, SEM, path modeling, and comparative interrupted time series models.

• Demonstrated experience and proficiency in conducting both formative and summative evaluations.

• Proven experience in using SAS to organize, manipulate, and analyze data.

• Expertise in data visualization techniques (e.g., Excel, Tableau, data dashboards).

• Proven experience and proficiency in coding qualitative data and conducting qualitative data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis).

• Proficiency in Qualtrics or other online survey software.

• Skills to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing. Interest in issues concerning increasing social and educational equity and mobility for all students/communities.

• Strong organizational skills. Ability to multitask in juggling multiple projects (and/or multiple aspects within a complex project) concurrently, including projects at different stages, with different types of design, levels of involvement, stakeholders, reporting requirements, etc.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Education, Psychology, Economics or a related field with a specialization or sub-specialization in Quantitative Methods or Evaluation preferred.

• Knowledge of K12 education and education policy, particularly relating to STEM.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

Job offer is contingent on successful engagement in the UC COVID-19 Vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral).

Apply Online:

http://50.73.55.13/counter.php?id=228532

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html