Position Summary
The Marsico Institute for Early Learning seeks a part-time, non-benefited Research Associate to support several grants and contracts, with a focus on advancing inclusive early childhood STEM education. The Research Associate role will include, but is not limited to, developing inclusive STEM instructional materials, testing inclusive STEM investigations with children birth to five, engaging in STEM research, analyzing and organizing data, providing technical assistance, and supporting all projects in promoting inclusion. The Research Associate will report to the designated lead for each grant and contract they will support.
This is a temporary, grant-funded position that will begin work on or after July 1, 2024, and end on September 31, 2025. The Research Associate must be available to work shifts between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at least three days a week.
This is a non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.
Essential Functions
Research Activities
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to early childhood STEM education
- Organize data across multiple platforms ensuring confidentiality and accuracy.
- Support data collection and management efforts, including cleaning, coding, and entering data.
Collaboration and Teamwork
- Work closely with internal research teams to align efforts and share findings.
- Collaborate with external partners, including academic institutions, industry partners, and community organizations.
- Engage in interdisciplinary discussions and brainstorming sessions.
Development of Educational Tools and Resources
- Develop knowledge-building supports for the implementation of science, technology, and engineering learning trajectories, including implementation supports based on identified needs, video exemplars, and implementation guides.
- Contribute to the creation and adaptation of instructional content with a focus on both the implementation of inclusive practices as well as the learning trajectories approach.
- Provide technical expertise in inclusion and accessibility for the creation of web content and other digital platforms.
Technical Assistance and Service Development
- Plan for and conduct technical assistance for early childhood education programs
- Implement educational and training programs for various audiences.
- Engage in technical assistance activities focused on using early intervention coaching strategies to support embedding STEM within everyday activities for infants and toddlers and implementing the learning trajectory approach within center-based programs.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Excellent classroom management skills.
- Ability to work with children of varying abilities and adapt content in the moment to allow for the greatest access to the content.
- Ability to develop rapport with both children and educational staff.
- Strong ability to engage, collaborate, and build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including academic institutions, industry partners, and community organizations.
- Knowledge of early childhood special education practices.
- Knowledge of early childhood STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
- Experience with development of inclusive educational content.
- Exceptional writing skills.
- Close attention to detail.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Capability to successfully work both independently and as part of a team.
- Adaptability to shift priorities as needed.
- Experience with data collection and analysis.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field
- Professional experience working with young children or in a classroom setting
- English language proficiency
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctorate in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field
- Experience as an instructor, instructional coach, and/or classroom teacher
- Experience in social science research
- Spanish language proficiency
- Related content knowledge and experience
Work Schedule
Part-Time, varies. The average time commitment is 20 hours/week with some variability and flexibility. Occasional evenings and weekends as required. Regular local travel to campus is required. Occasional travel within the Denver-metro area is required.
This is a temporary, grant-funded position that will begin work on or after July 1, 2024, and end on September 31, 2025.
Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) July 5, 2024.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Hourly Range
The hourly range for the position is $28.00 - $32.00.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits
The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.