The Research Alliance for New York City Schools (www.ranycs.org), an independent research center housed in the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, invites applications for a Research Associate. The Research Associate will contribute to ongoing studies of Career and Technical Education and innovative supplemental apprenticeship programs.
About the Research Alliance for New York City Schools
The Research Alliance was formed in 2008 to conduct rigorous studies on topics that matter to NYC’s public schools. We strive to advance equity and excellence, including racial justice, in education by providing evidence about policies and practices that promote students’ development and academic success. Our access to longitudinal data from both the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and the City University of New York, coupled with our strong relationships with educators and policymakers, allows Research Alliance staff to undertake work that makes a meaningful difference for NYC students and communities. We are seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds, particularly from groups that are underrepresented in applied research.
Job Description
The Research Associate will play a key role in our studies of Career and Technical Education in NYC and afterschool STEM apprenticeship and internship programs (STEM Options). We also expect the Research Associate to assist with the development of new research projects that examine the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to educational inequalities in NYC. The term of this position is one year. Continuation is based on the development of additional funding.
Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Lead the design and execution of cost and cost-effectiveness studies of NYC’s CTE programs.
- Lead analyses of student participation and experiences in afterschool apprenticeships and summer internships. Assist with field-based research on program implementation.
- Assist with development and fundraising for new projects and studies by responding to calls for proposals, applying for grants, and networking with funders.
- Provide mentoring for junior research staff who assist with data collection, data management and analysis.
- Contribute to analyses utilizing Research Alliance longitudinal datasets, which include data from multiple sources such as administrative record data from the NYC DOE, teacher survey data, and student assessment and survey data.
- Author public- and practitioner-facing reports/briefs as well as other means of communication, including blog posts, infographics, and data visualizations.
- Present work to the NYC DOE and other audiences of policymakers and educators.
Requirements and Skills
- Ph.D. or Ed.D. in education, education policy, psychology, public policy, economics, sociology, or other relevant social science discipline.
- Experience conducting studies of Career Technical Education.
- Experience conducting cost studies of educational programs and interventions.
- Knowledge of New York City DOE and its recent policy initiatives is strongly preferred.
- At least three years’ experience conducting research in educational settings, including managing large-scale and longitudinal datasets and survey design/analysis.
- Strong programming and statistical analysis skills. Experience and skill in SAS is strongly preferred. Successful candidates will be required to learn and become highly proficient in SAS.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills. Must be able to communicate complex research findings in terms that are accessible to policymakers and practitioners.
- Ability to take initiative, work independently, and work in a team environment.
- Ability to manage competing demands and complete tasks within time constraints.
- We seek applicants who carry diverse perspectives and who bring experience and understanding related to the challenges and opportunities of urban education. Strong candidates are able to recognize how positionality and social/cultural biases may impact research and policy.
Compensation
- Starting salary: $90,000.
- Full package of NYU benefits, including tuition remission. (Read more information on benefits available to Professional Research Staff (nyu.edu)).
This position does not provide employment sponsorship; you must be eligible to work in the United States.
Application Process
To apply, please upload the following through NYU’s application portal:
- Curriculum vitae,
- Cover letter that discusses your qualifications, interest in the position, and research goals,
- One or two written examples of original sole-authored scholarship (e.g., grant applications, publications, manuscripts, dissertation chapters),
- A 500-word statement that describes your commitment to equity as an education researcher, and
- A 500-word description of a potential research project that you would propose for the Research Alliance and that would be of use to New York City schools. Please include a description of data sources and research methods.
After initial review, competitive candidates will be invited for interviews and a job talk (both conducted virtually). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The preferred start date is October 1, 2021.