"Research Scholar"

Research Scholar

Company:
North Carolina State University

Job Location:

Category:
Computer Science

Type:
Full-Time

Join the Pack! A community with nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, and 30,000 students. NC State is one of the largest employers in North Carolina, offering a large range of career opportunities. Visit us at https://jobs.hr.ncsu.edu/.

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:
The Friday Institute seeks a Research Scholar to support efforts in artificial intelligence education, computer science education, and emerging technologies. This role will be pivotal in supporting a variety of national, state, and local projects with educational institutions, researchers, and educators. The successful candidate will be a strong project manager with a depth of experience in professional development, instructional design, and integration of emerging technologies (classroom, school, or district). They should excel in collaborating with varied teams, building relationships with the education community, and leveraging their experience with instructional design and learning sciences. We are particularly interested in individuals who have experience that extends across elementary, middle school, and high school grades.

The primary activities for the Research Scholar centers on:

• Educational Leadership: Provide strategic and policy-focused leadership in AI, computer science, and emerging technology education by aligning research, systems design, and instructional goals with state and national priorities. Collaborate with education agencies, school systems, and research institutions to co-develop frameworks, guidance documents, and strategic plans that shape future-ready technology integration and open new opportunities for collaboration and growth
• Professional Development: Lead the design and refinement of professional learning programs that support the effective implementation of project-aligned resources and tools. Ensure content quality, usability, and alignment with partner needs by coordinating development, field-testing, and continuous improvement cycles
• Partner Liaison: Serve as a key point of contact for school, district, and research partners to ensure timely communication, shared understanding, and alignment across project activities. Coordinate updates, track milestones, and maintain clear documentation of deliverables and partner engagement. Identify opportunities for future collaboration and funding in partnership with internal and external stakeholders
• Program Development: Contribute to the sustainability and growth of digital learning initiatives by identifying new partnership opportunities, supporting grant development, and aligning project proposals with funder and partner priorities.
• Research Compliance & Operational Support: Ensure adherence to research ethics, district policies, and grant requirements across all project activities. Coordinate logistical and operational support to keep internal teams and external partners aligned and on track. Support the development of grant proposals and reporting processes that sustain and grow project work
• Technical Expertise: Leverage knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and digital learning technologies to inform the development of research-based resources, tools, and programs.

While a Research Scholar is expected to contribute in various ways to assigned projects, typical responsibilities will include:

• Organize and lead working groups composed of internal and/or external partners to advance project objectives
• Facilitate discussions, meetings, and trainings related to digital learning and emerging technologies, with a focus on translating research findings into practice
• Develop curriculum, programs, and trainings for a variety of audiences, topics, and priorities
• Create, review, and publish materials and resources accessible for all educators, learners, and audiences, incorporating insights from research findings
• Manage projects and partner communications
• Build and foster relationships with internal teams, state partners, and community organizations to achieve digital learning goals
• Provide thought leadership and strategy around digital learning, AI, and computer science, informed by ongoing research and innovation
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of digital learning programs and initiatives
• Provide technical support and guidance to educators, partners, and participants in digital learning programs
• Advocate for practices and policies that promote digital learning and emerging technologies in K-12 education, higher education, and the workforce

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• Facilitate and/or participate in convenings, trainings, and other opportunities
• Coordinate project meetings, organization structures, and communications
• Prepare, maintain, and update project materials for online and print dissemination
• Contribute to project and grant proposals
• In- and out-of-state travel to school sites, conferences, meetings, and events (up to 25%)
• Report in-person to NC State University duty station a minimum of two days each week to support collaboration, team engagement, and project success
• Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Minimum Experience/Education:

• Relevant Ph.D. degree (or relevant terminal degree), or relevant Master's degree with at least 5 years of formal post-degree professional work experience.
• In rare instances, an individual with a comparable professional experience but less than a master's degree, plus 8 years of exceptional relevant professional experience may be considered.

Required Qualifications:

• Domain expertise in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence applied to teaching and learning; leadership in teacher professional learning for novel, innovative technologies; experience developing hybrid, virtual, and in-person professional development
• Ability to develop business opportunities and secure external funding
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly changing, multi-team environment
• Willingness to take initiative and learn new skills, especially related to digital learning and emerging technologies
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate effectively to academic and practitioner audiences
• Skill in planning, organization, coordination of activities; proven excellence for organizational and time-management skills
• Skill in research analytics software; design and word processing; Knowledge of the Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, Canva, and major social media outlets
• Ability to develop instructional materials for in-person and online audiences; Knowledge of learning management systems (Moodle, Canvas, etc)
• Skill presenting to groups, facilitating trainings, and working with a range of audiences
• Proficiency in task management, including organizing development task priorities, managing deliverables, and ensuring timely completion of milestones across multiple projects

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant master's degree in education or computer science (with emphasis on K-12 education) preferred.
• Direct experience developing and/or deploying educational tools, platforms, or systems.
• Familiarity with classroom environments through teaching experience or working closely with educators and schools.
• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and research.
• Preference for basic understanding of technical and coding languages, understanding of metrics like user engagement, familiarity with AI concepts such as computer vision, planning, machine learning, and AI ethics.

Required License or Certification:
N/A