Research Associate

Company: National Louis University

Job Location:

Category: Other Administrative Positions

Type: Full-Time

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Research Associate at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood (MIEC) supports research projects focused on how to best meet the needs and elevate the importance of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) profession, while also researching the development and needs of ECEC leaders. Additionally, the Research Associate supports program evaluation efforts across the Institute. Key functions of this role include data management, statistical analysis, report writing, and project coordination. Relying on a strong background in early childhood education, the Research Associate utilizes advanced research skills as they assist the Research Director in all aspects of enacting the McCormick Institute’s Research Agenda. This role is responsible for supporting data collection and analysis, conducting and overseeing comprehensive literature reviews for pertinent studies, supporting the development and delivery of conference presentations, and publishing research manuscripts. This position offers opportunities to collaborate with university faculty, research staff, trainers, and external partners across local, national, and international projects, providing valuable experience in research, partnership development, and policy engagement.

Essential Responsibilities:

Research and Program Evaluation Support

• Contribute to the design and implementation of research studies and evaluation projects that assess the effectiveness of programs, initiatives, and leadership models within the early childhood sector.
• Apply both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to ensure robust and meaningful results.
• Help align evaluation tools with project goals, data integrity standards, and field best practices.

Data Collection and Analysis

• Lead and support primary data collection efforts through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation.
• Manage large datasets with attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Conduct statistical analyses (e.g., descriptive stats, inferential analyses, regressions) using tools like SPSS, R, or similar platforms to identify key trends and outcomes.

Literature Reviews and Field Scans

• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to synthesize current research, emerging trends, and gaps in early childhood education leadership and workforce development.
• Prepare annotated bibliographies, literature summaries, and issue briefs to support new research proposals and grant applications.

Report Writing and Publication

• Support the writing of research reports, policy briefs, and scholarly manuscripts for academic journals, funding agencies, and public dissemination.
• Translate complex data into accessible insights for a variety of audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and funders.
• Develop presentation materials (slides, posters, handouts) for academic and professional conferences.
• Co-present findings at regional, national, and international conferences to build visibility for MIEC's work and engage with the broader research community.

Project Coordination and Administrative Support

• Assist in managing project timelines, work plans, and deliverables.
• Coordinate meetings, track progress, and maintain documentation across multiple concurrent projects.
• Support grant reporting, budget monitoring, and compliance activities as needed.

Collaboration and External Engagement

• Work with university faculty, internal staff, and external partners to design and implement collaborative research projects.
• Participate in cross-institutional working groups, research-practice partnerships, and policy roundtables.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels.

Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies:

• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Educational Leadership, Applied Research, Program Evaluation, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related field.
• Three plus (3+) years experience using statistical software such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), STATA, or Statistical Analysis System (SAS), Tableau, Power BI, and/or Excel for data dashboards
• Three plus (3+) years demonstrated track record of working within or supporting research teams (including faculty researchers, program evaluators, fellows, and/or graduate students, etc.) in a university setting to conduct research and/or evaluate programs
• Three plus (3+) years demonstrated experience working within community-based early childhood (birth to five) programs.
• One plus (1+) year experience in securing research funding through competitive grants, contracts, or other funding.
• One plus (1+) year experience in collaborating across teams.

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