Job Description

MU Thrive in the Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum department of the College of Education and Human Development.

Lead researcher, in strategy and design, instrumentation, data collection, coding, analysis, interpretation, dissemination, and publication. 

Research Specialist II responsibilities include co-leading Thrive research projects, cleaning, coding, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; writing literature reviews and scholarly articles for presentation at national conference and for publication; preparing data reports; developing research strategies; designing instruments used in data collection and annual program evaluation of Thrive communities of practice; supporting and guiding work assigned to research fellows.

• Candidate must prove competent in quantitative research. 
• Candidates are required to have direct research experience.
• Candidates with social science backgrounds and experience in promoting equity as bridge-builders in STEM, will be prioritized for interviews.

The RSII must also support Thrive during event-based activities, assist Thrive in researching on-going funding opportunities, and co-writing grants, drafting assigned portions of annual reports, co-drafting news releases and media PSAs, disseminating email campaigns and community announcements to invested Thrive research communities and stakeholders, on-campus professional development of aspiring student researchers and faculty.

Key Responsibilities:

§  Co-creates research projects, co-designs methods and instruments, and co-writes articles and literature reviews

§  Organizes incoming/collected data and supervises cleaning processes

§  Manages statistical analysis and checks the data ahead of interpretation

§  Manages Thrive’s research archive to ensure easy access; updates website with research-related artifacts, grants, or reports

§  Attends/leads Thrive educational workshops

§  Advises participants in Learning Communities on their research strategies and research projects

§  Attends/leads Thrive educational workshops§  Attends/leads Thrive educational workshops§  Attends/leads Thrive educational workshops

May fulfill technology-related tasks, such as platform updates for on-demand and digital course management

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

§  quantitative social sciences research

§  qualitative social sciences research

§  academic writing

§  facilitating professional development for graduate students and/or faculty

§  tech and organizational support

§  knowledge of theories, frameworks, practices, and procedures within the Research function

§  at ease with autonomy, possesses excellent organizational skills, and maintains an unwavering attention to detail on all tasks 

§  an adaptive mindset and responsive manner of communication.

devotion to the values of Thrive; committed to promoting equity in STEM.

This is a hybrid position with both in-person and virtual responsibilities. We offer flexible hours, with some scheduled meetings and events.

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience and at least 1 year of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

§  Master’s degree, EdD or EdSP in relevant educational emphasis, or PhD in social sciences, journalism, and/or a related S.T.E.M.-based field, showcasing candidate’s capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration, critical reflection, and a proven record of advancing equity in higher education 

§  Proven competence in:

¿   Quantitative research and strategy; designing and validating instruments; collecting, cleaning, coding, analyzing, and managing primary and secondary datasets; running various statistical analyses

¿   Proficient in relevant software and platforms: SPSS, Stata, Python, NVIDIA

¿   Curriculum development in creating professional development content for researchers

¿   Training for graduate student and postdoc researchers

¿   Delivery and archiving of in-seat workshops, webinars, and on-demand content.

Presentation at national conferences, in one or more professional subject area(s)

Salary Range: $24.87-$31.18 hourly

Grade: GGS-8

University Title: Research Specialist II

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

This position is not eligible for University benefits.  Individuals in non benefit eligible positions may choose to participate in the Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (403b).  For information about this plan, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement.  This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-7976.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.