EdPolicyWorks at the University of Virginia is seeking a Research Specialist to work with education policy faculty on large-scale studies that aim to advance educational and economic opportunity for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, from birth through the workforce. EdPolicyWorks is a joint collaboration between the School of Education and Human Development and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy which seeks to bring together researchers from across the University of Virginia and the State to focus on important questions of educational policy. This position is ideal for recent graduates who want to gain hands-on experience conducting applied, quantitative, education research. Applicants who may ultimately pursue graduate studies in education, public policy, etc. are encouraged to apply. There is an option for remote and/or hybrid work in this position.

The Research Specialist will report to one or more faculty members or senior research personnel, and operate with a degree of independence. Our projects use multi-disciplinary teams, where all team members play an active role and often wear multiple hats. The Research Specialist may have the opportunity to:

• Work on a variety of projects that involve agencies like the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Community College Systems, the Louisiana Department of Education, and others.

• Work with leaders in the fields of education policy to conduct rigorous, quantitative research that will directly inform pressing policy issues ranging from early childhood education, K-12 education reforms, teacher labor markets, college access, and workforce supports.

• Gain valuable insights into the processes required for securing research funding, building and maintaining partner relationships, and communicating results to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be involved in every stage of a research project by:

• Reviewing and synthesizing research literature

• Collecting, cleaning, and managing data from multiple sources

• Performing initial data analyses

• Assisting in conducting rigorous impact analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions

• Assisting in drafting academic papers and policy memos detailing the results of the project

• Coordinating work with the Research Team and external partners to track progress toward achieving deadlines and goals

• Potentially earning co-authorship status for academic publications on one or more project

• Gain valuable insights into the processes required for securing research funding, building and maintaining partner relationships, and communicating results to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.

• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Interest in early childhood, K-12, higher education, or workforce policy issues

• The ability to take initiative, work independently, and effectively manage one's own time

• Organizational skills and ability to work across multiple projects at the same time

• Established written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Minimum Requirements
Education: Bachelor's degree in related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in economics, public policy, statistics, political science, sociology, psychology, computer science, or related field

Experience: Experience conducting rigorous quantitative research, either through coursework, thesis writing, or working as an undergraduate/professional research assistant, strong performance in quantitative coursework (e.g., statistics, econometrics); and coding skills in Stata or a related program.

Compensation: Full-time position with an anticipated range of $40,000 - $60,000. Salary is commensurate with education, experience, and ability to meet minimum qualifications as outlined above; includes UVA benefits.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Application Instructions: Please apply through Workday and complete an application online. Include the following documents:

• A CV/Resume

• A Cover Letter

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For questions about the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks, Academic Recruiter. Before a formal offer of employment is extended, the selected candidate will undergo a background check per university policy.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements and guidelines for employment at UVA.