EdPolicyWorks Research Specialist

EdPolicyWorks at the University of Virginia seeks applicants for one or more Research Specialists to work with education policy faculty on large-scale early childhood and K-12 studies.

EdPolicyWorks is a joint collaboration between the School of Education and Human Development and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy which seeks to bring together researchers from across the University of Virginia and the State to focus on important questions of educational policy. Th e s e position s are ideal for recent graduates who want to gain hands-on experience conducting applied, quantitative, and education research , as well as for more experienced data analysts . Applicants who may ultimately pursue graduate studies in education, public policy, etc. are encouraged to apply.

The Research Specialist will report to one or more faculty members or senior research personnel, and operate with a degree of independence.

The Research Specialist may have the opportunity to:

1. Work on a variety of Research er-Practitioner Partnerships with the Virginia Department of Education , the Louisiana Department of Education , Richmond Public Schools, the Denver Publi c Schools and more.

2. Work with leaders in the fields of education policy to conduct rigorous research that will directly inform pressing policy issues related to early childhood and K-12 policies .

3. Be involved in every stage of a research project by:

• Meeting with practitioner and policy partners and stakeholders to discuss research projects
• Reviewing and synthesizing research literature
• Contributing to the development of survey instruments
• C ollecting, cleaning, and managing data from multiple sources

• Performing initial data analyses
• Assisting in descrip tive , quasi-experimental, and experimental resear ch
• Assisting in drafting policy and research briefs, reports, and academic papers , potentially earning co-authorship status for academic publications on one or more project s

4. Gain valuable insights into the processes required for securing research funding, building and maintaining partner relationships, and communicating results to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.

In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned. The ideal candidate will have:

• Interest in early childhood or k-12 policy iss ues ;
• The ability to take initiative, work independently, and effectively manage one’s own time ;
• Organizational skills and ability to work across multiple projects at the same time ;

• Established written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills . ;
• Ability to interact collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders ;
• Strong performance in quantitative coursework ( e.g. , statistics, econometrics) ; and,
• Coding skills in Stata or a related program.

Minimum Requirements

Education : Bachelor's degree in economics, public policy, statistics, psychology, computer science, or related field

Experience : Experience conducting rigorous quantitative research, either through coursework, thesis writing, or working as an undergraduate/professional research assistant

Licensure : None.

Preferred Requirements

Education: MA or MPP degree

Experience : 2+ years experience as a Research Assistant conducting social science/education research, either in an academic or professional setting, e xperience working with education data; and d emonstrated interest in education and or social/policy

**Please note that this is a restricted position and continuation beyond a year is dependent upon the availability of funding and satisfactory performance . * *

Application Instructions

Internal UVA Applicants : Please apply through your Workday Home page, search “Find Jobs”, and search for EdPolicyWorks Research Specialist. Complete an application online and attach:

• Cover letter,
• CV/resume,
• Writing sample and
• Contact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, address)

External Applicants: Please visit the UVA job board Workday , complete the application and attach:

• Cover letter,
• CV/resume,
• Writing sample, and
• C ontact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, address)

This position is open until filled. For questions about the application process, please contact Margaret We e ks , Academic Recruiter.

In addition to this posting, our department has an other related opening available for your application. Should your qualifications align and the description piques your interest, we encourage you to apply to be considered in each pool. To preview and apply to these additional postings, visit the links below. If you are interested, please apply through your Workday by searching EdPolicyWorks Data Management Specialist.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require walking to attend meetings , and programs.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visitthe UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpageprior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirementsandguidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.