Summary of Role

The Youth and Educator SEL Lab at foundry10 is looking to hire a Graduate Student Researcher to assist in the design and execution of research studies focused on social-emotional learning, nature-based learning, and the professional development of educators. 

• The Graduate Student Researcher will help develop a multi-method, multi-site research study that aims to learn how a mental health promotion pilot influences youth connections and social-emotional skill development within afterschool settings. This work will include collaborating with the PI and lab to prepare and pilot data collection protocols, instruments (e.g., interview guides, surveys, observation protocols), and trainings. 
• The Graduate Student Researcher will also assist on other projects related to the lab and foundry10’s Health and Well-Being Team, specifically in the communication of research findings to researchers, educators, and community organizations. Sharing pieces may include conference submissions, manuscripts for academic journals, community presentations, and blog posts.

The Graduate Student Researcher will work closely with Dr. Helen Lee on research projects that require skills or expertise in the graduate student’s field of study. They will provide substantial collaboration on research projects, including helping to develop all aspects of the research process (e.g., designing a research study, recruitment parameters, data analysis techniques, technical and non-technical writing). Additionally, they will work with Junior Researchers in moving projects forward. The ideal candidate has (1) strong written communication skills, (2) research expertise in lab and Health and Well-Being focus areas, and (3) advanced training in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

This is a part-time, temporary position with variable hours of 8-15 hours per week, for approximately 15 weeks or longer depending on project needs, with an anticipated start date in June 2024. Pay is $35/hr. Applicants must live in the state of Washington to apply.

foundry10 is an education research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and creating direct value for youth. Candidates must live in Washington State. Candidates may be asked to travel for site visits and data collection. We are not able to sponsor visa applications, and to be considered for this position, you must be eligible to work in the United States. To protect our staff, partners, and the youth we serve, we require all foundry10 employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of research projects for the Youth and Educator SEL Lab
• Work with Senior Researchers and Junior Researchers on developing/executing all stages of the research process, with an emphasis on writing, including:
  • Conducting literature reviews
  • Writing IRB Approval Forms
  • Survey creation (question writing, pulling measures)
  • Interview guide creation
  • Observation guide creation (pulling assessments)
  • Piloting data collection instruments (there may be opportunities for the graduate student researcher to travel for pre-data collection site visits, depending on need and interest)
  • Data cleaning
  • Data analysis (qualitative and quantitative)
  • Sharing results through written reports, presentations, conferences, and other relevant mediums
• Independently carry out data collection, analysis, and research communication with guidance and mentorship from Senior Researchers
• Conduct background research and contribute to the writing of literature reviews 
• Assist in writing specific sections of peer-reviewed publications and/or present at a professional conference 
• Analyze data from research and translate it into other mediums for worthwhile sharing (e.g., Medium posts, white papers)
• Communicate actionable insights to various learning and research communities/fields as well as with lay-people in the community
• Support the development of the Health and Well-Being Team’s knowledge base through exploratory research initiatives and literature reviews

Education and Experience

• Working towards a doctoral graduate degree (PhD) in Education, Social Work, or related social science field (e.g., Human Development, Psychology, Sociology)
• Advanced training in qualitative (e.g., conducting interviews/focus groups, analyzing data) and quantitative methods (e.g., survey design, statistical analysis and interpretation)
• Proficient in R
• Experience working with youth (preferably elementary and middle school students)
• Experience working with educators in school or informal learning environments
• Experience writing for academic audiences

Other Requirements

• Must be available to travel within WA state for in-person site visits and data collection. Outside of required travel for site visits and data collection, candidates may work remotely.
• Candidates may work remotely but must be located in Washington State and have the ability to attend in-person orientation in Seattle, WA

To be considered for this position, please submit your CV/resume and a 3-5 page writing sample. Applications without a writing sample will not be considered. A cover letter is optional. 

Writing Sample:

• The writing sample should be an example of prior work of which you are the sole author. 
• Samples should be no more than 5 pages and may include a literature review conducted for a college course, research proposal, conference proposal, a research thesis, report or draft of your research findings, or a popular press piece that synthesizes research findings. Samples can be excerpts of any of the above.
• If the sample is more than 5 pages, we will only read the first 5.

foundry10 is committed to creating a diverse environment where everyone can bring their full selves to work. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs. The organization strives to provide a work environment free from discrimination and harassment because of a protected characteristic. foundry10 does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, creed, citizenship, status, national origin, ancestry, gender, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, religion, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, physical or mental disability, marital status, parental status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities with the application and interviewing process as well as essential job functions.