Context of the Job:

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Delaware (UD) currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Project Researcher. This is a full-time, twelve-month, onsite position.

The Researcher will contribute to the successful operation of a research grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation—Understanding How Elementary Teachers Take Up Discussion Practices to Promote Disciplinary Learning and Equity. The project manager will help initiate, plan, execute, and monitor all research activities. This is a grant-funded position with an annual contract that may be renewed pending performance and funding availability through the term of the grant: June 30, 2024.

The study focuses on the work of elementary teachers, who learn to orchestrate talk both within and across mathematics, science, and literacy. While research has identified discipline-specific discussion moves in each of these content areas, little is understood about how elementary teachers make sense of, coordinate, or experience contradictions in their development of discussion practices across content areas. Further, little is understood about how elementary teachers attend to inequities for children in the context of disciplinary discussions. Understanding how teachers learn to enact classroom discussions – across disciplines – that attend to deep disciplinary ways of knowing and to the power dynamics that exist in discussions is essential for developing robust theories about teachers’ learning and development and designing supportive learning environments.

We are entering the second year of school-based data collection activities, during which we enact and study teacher learning as a multi-sited phenomenon distributed across activity systems: job-embedded Learning Labs (developed by Elham Kazemi), teacher workgroup meetings, and classrooms of participating teachers. We co-design Learning Labs with local school- and district-level educators to focus on core instructional practices related to facilitating discussions across English language arts, mathematics, and science.

The research team includes Dr. Lynsey Gibbons (University of Delaware), Dr. Eve Manz (Boston University), Dr. Annie Wilhelm (Southern Methodist University), and Dr. Sarah Kavanagh (University of Pennsylvania).

Major Responsibilities:

The position is based on site at UD. The project manager will support all aspects of the research, with frequent school-based data collection activities.

Specifically, the project manager will be responsible for:

Strategic Planning

Collaborate with the Principal Investigators to develop and refine long-range strategic plans and project timelines to meet research goals. Continually track progress toward goals, working with PIs to revise processes and procedures as needed.

Operations and Technology

Support the management of tasks and time commitments of the study-related work of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, consultants, and project partners (about 5-7 people). Schedule and manage project meetings and communication rhythms. Monitor expenses; order supplies; manage invoices; facilitate contracts and payments for part-time and consultant team members as well as research participants. Manage multiple technology platforms on behalf of the team (e.g., video conferencing, cloud storage platforms, data analysis platforms, transcription services).

Data Collection and Management

Organize data collection efforts (e.g., planning, scheduling, communication). Participate in onsite data collection (e.g., observations and professional learning days). Develop and maintain guidelines for data management and ensure all team members are trained on data collection and management protocols. Manage secure technology platforms for data transcription, import/export, and storage.

Partnership Management

Serve as a liaison with all constituents, including district leaders, study participants, outside consultants, funding partners, and partners in other higher education & research institutions. Develop partnership materials and support recruitment of participants. Maintain ongoing relationships and communication rhythms with study participants.

Compliance and Dissemination

Oversee timelines and procedures for research permissions, staff certifications and clearances. Organize and update materials for IRB. Ensure team compliance with IRB and district expectations. Update and secure consent forms for research participants. Manage the development of project communication and dissemination materials. Collaborate with PIs to write annual progress and budget reports for the McDonnell Foundation.

The salary for this position is supported by a research grant from the McDonnell Foundation and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in Education or a related field
• Five years of experience in project or program management
• Knowledge of and experience working with schools and school districts
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and rapidly changing technical environment.
• Commitment to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated, and equity is a core value.

Other preferred attributes to be considered during the application process include:

• Teaching experience
• Experience managing data collection and analysis

Application Instructions

Please submit the following:

• A one-page cover letter that briefly summarizes qualifications and experience, interest in the project, and career / research goals
• Resume (CV)
• Name and contact information for three references

Send queries about the position to Dr. Lynsey Gibbons at lgibbons@udel.edu.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The desired position start date is August 2022.