Temporary - Research Scholar

The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation is a large, multi-faceted Institute housed in a 33,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility on NC State University's Centennial Campus in Raleigh. Our work encompasses educational research, professional development, policy and program evaluation, and direct services to schools, districts, state departments of education and public- and private sector organizations. We are deeply involved in work throughout North Carolina, leading some of the major statewide K-12 education initiatives and working closely with the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, and the majority of school districts in the State on the transition to digital teaching and learning. Since opening in 2005, the Friday Institute has developed a strong national presence, working with organizations throughout the country, and is increasingly developing international connections. More information is available at http://www.fi.ncsu.edu.

The Program Evaluation and Education Research ( PEER) Group at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation seeks a highly qualified Research Scholar to play a pivotal role within the PEER Team. The selected candidate will function as an experienced, autonomous researcher and collaborator, leading the design and execution of rigorous quantitative studies that draw on state-level educational data to inform decisions made by school and district leaders, state agencies, and policymakers in North Carolina and beyond. Key responsibilities include:

* Designing rigorous quantitative and mixed-method studies that address research and evaluation questions of importance to PEER's K-12 and higher education partners.

* Cleaning, managing sensitive data, and analyzing large administrative and longitudinal datasets, including educational data from K-12 and higher education systems, and, where relevant, data from other state sectors such as workforce and healthcare.

* Interpreting findings and translating complex results for lay audiences, including school and district leaders, state agency staff, policymakers, and the broader public.

* Working with state agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ( NCDPI) and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology ( NCDIT), to navigate data sharing agreements, secure access to administrative data, and share results responsibly.

* Serving as a primary point of contact with external research teams, state-level leaders, and school and district partners on data access, data quality, and data use.

* Serving as a co-investigator or principal investigator on funded research and evaluation projects.

* Writing grant proposals essential to the acquisition of research and evaluation funding.

* Reviewing research progress, evaluating results, and identifying options for strengthening study quality.

* Identifying and addressing research challenges and recommending effective solutions.

* Presenting research and evaluation findings to state-level leaders, school and district audiences, funders, other research teams, and policymakers in clear, accessible language.

* Preparing reports, briefs, presentations, and publications based on project work.

* Establishing effective communication channels with project partners throughout the research and evaluation process.

* Overseeing the work of research staff and graduate assistants on project-related tasks.

* Serving as a liaison with varied entities, including other departments (e.g., NCDPI, NCDIT, NC State University), organizations, partners, institutions, and funders, to ensure streamlined collaborative research and evaluation efforts.

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare discounts, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

This individual will contribute to the day-to-day operations of research and evaluation projects, serving as a contact between school personnel, project team members, graduate assistants, and faculty members. Responsibilities include collecting, cleaning, editing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, as well as creating and managing databases and data sharing agreements.

This person will conduct site visits, classroom observations, focus groups, and interviews as needed. In addition, they will contribute reports for the local education agencies (LEAs) and schools participating in studies, the funding agencies, and interested educators, researchers, and policymakers.

This person will also be responsible for preparing papers for publication and presentation at professional meetings and will contribute to proposals for additional research and evaluation projects.

Relevant Master's degree in Education or Technology, or relevant Master's degree plus 5 or more years of experience as a K-12 educator, technology leader, or researcher.

* Expertise working with educational data in K-12 and/or higher education contexts
* Ability to design rigorous quantitative studies, including selecting appropriate methods, sampling strategies, and analytic approaches
* Strong skills in collecting, cleaning, managing, and analyzing quantitative data
* Ability to interpret findings and communicate them clearly to lay audiences, including state-level leaders, school and district staff, and the public
* Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience presenting to a range of audiences
* Experience or ability to work with state agencies to access, share, and use administrative data
* Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with partners and collaborators
* Ability to work both independently and as part of a team toward shared goals
* Skill in planning, organizing, and coordinating research activities
* Willingness to take initiative, learn new skills, and adapt to evolving project needs
* Skill in the use of personal computer and related software applications (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Apps for Education)

Doctoral degree in education, public policy, statistics, economics, sociology, psychology, or a related field.

Experience working with educational data in both K-12 and higher education contexts.

Familiarity with state administrative data outside of education (e.g., workforce, healthcare, social services) and with the processes and partnerships required to access cross-sector data.

Experience presenting research findings to state-level leaders, school and district audiences, and other research teams.

Technical proficiency in one or more of the following software applications (or equivalent):
* R, Stata, or SAS (statistical analysis and data cleaning)
* Tableau or Power BI (data visualization and dashboards)
* Qualtrics (survey software)
* SQL or other database query tools

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NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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