RES SCTST

The Lastinger Center for Learning is an education innovation hub within UF’s College of Education focused on creating equitable education systems that improve teaching and learning across early childhood and K-12 education. Specifically, the Center targets kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency as critical milestones in children’s educational trajectory that are predictive of success in school and life. The Center works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems that leverage educational technologies and improve the implementation of research-based practices. Housed in one of the nation’s elite public research universities, the Center operates as a dynamic, entrepreneurial workplace focused on executing against UF’s service mission to strengthen the human condition and improve the quality of life. 

Research 

• Assist PI to track and facilitate all early learning research activities.
• Lead or assist in the development of all research manuals and protocols, assess protocol feasibility, and make changes as necessary.
• Manage evaluation and data collection activities in coordination with project investigators and project staff, including data collection scheduling, qualitative interviewing and transcription, online survey development and administration, response tracking, entry, cleaning and preparation for analysis, and descriptive summary presentation using research-related software.
• Educate partners and staff on study protocols and monitor compliance.
• Draft, edit, and review IRB and other regulatory study documents, such as consent and recruitment documents, as well as IRB protocol
• Maintain relevant trainings for this position and funded studies, including IRB, university, and federal regulations and policies.
• Maintain cooperative, collaborative working relationships with project leaders and personnel across projects.
• Visit project sites as needed.
• Participates in internal/external research related conferences and investigator meetings to build and maintain relationships.
• Assist in the recruitment and relationship building of participants, arranges study visits, and provides instructions to meet the goals of studies.
• Participate in the Research, Evaluation, and Data (RED) Committee to support the center’s research and evaluation efforts.
• Contribute to the grant-writing process in support of researching and developing early childhood products and services.
• Collaborate with affiliate faculty to support the research and development efforts. 

Subject-Matter Expertise & Content Development 

• Conduct literature reviews to inform research and development of the early learning product line.
• Develop and review detailed innovative content for early learning professional learning products that are context-based, focus on building a conceptual understanding of the science of child development, including developmental domains, interactive instructional content, extension activities, and assessments, and are based on specific standards, including but not limited to IACET, The Council for Professional Recognition, and state specific early childhood standards.
• Ensure that professional learning content and pedagogy aligns with relevant research.
• Design engaging and innovative learning activities that leverage technology, research-based strategies, and best practices for early childhood education.
• Identify opportunities for data collection (including, but not limited to pilot studies) to support research related to early learning products and the leaders, teachers, facilitators, and coaches who engage with them.
• Contribute to the Center’s overall early learning product line design, development, and evaluation. 

Grants 

• Prepares grant narratives, budgets, and budget narratives.
• Prepares, negotiates, and manages study contracts. 

Collaboration 

• Collaborates with research staff, students, OPS, or other research team members and/or other coordinators.
• Facilitates and/or runs research/project team meetings as needed.
• Builds and maintains a broad network of professional relationships with participants, principal investigator, co-investigators, research study staff, and other collaborators to ensure successful research collaborations. 

Other Duties as Assigned 

$100,000-$110,000

• Terminal degree in education with demonstrated research knowledge and skills

• Experience working in early learning settings.
• Knowledge and practice developing and delivering professional development to professionals serving children birth through age 5 and their caregivers.
• Experience with data collection and management software (e.g. Qualtrics) and project management software.
• Εxperience Managing research projects that are conducted in applied settings.
  • Proficiency with research software (e.g. Qualtrics, Envivo).
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• High level of professionalism, attention to detail, organization, communication skills, ability to work independently, prioritize and manage multiple competing demands, meet deadlines, anticipate and identify conflicts, and flexible thinking to solve problems quickly and calmly.
• Proven ability to work well in a demanding, fast-paced deadline-driven work atmosphere with the ability to assess the environment and adjust plans according to situation.
• Demonstrated integrity, dependability, sound judgment, teamwork and resourcefulness to establish and maintain collaborative, positive and effective working relationships with multiple internal and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage work.
• Ability to manage multiple projects

Applicants should upload all materials to the University of Florida’s employment website https://jobs.ufl.edu. If you need any technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at 352-392-2477. Please provide: (1) a letter of application addressing qualifications, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) email addresses and phone numbers from three colleagues who will be contacted to provide references. Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Search Chair, Dr. Tyran Butler, at tyran@ufl.edu. Review of candidates will begin May 9, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Applications received after this date will be reviewed at the discretion of the search committee. 

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. 

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.