Academic Researcher

Arizona State University•Scottsdale, AZ

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

Serves as a contributor to a research team. Contributes to the execution of one or more moderately complex research projects to support the advancement of research. This is an in-person, hybrid position located in Scottsdale, Arizona, requiring commuting three days a week. ASU EdPlus is focused on designing and delivering digital teaching and learning models to improve student success. Action Lab, housed within EdPlus, is a data-driven, research-focused service organization that supports ASU and EdPlus initiatives by providing insights and analyses for evidence-based decision-making. The lab's goal is to foster transformations in higher education, with an emphasis on online learning, predictive and evaluative analyses for student success and persistence, and supporting university stakeholders to improve student learning, motivation, persistence, and equity. The team operates in a fast-paced environment, driving change and achieving successes grounded in data and research. The Academic Researcher will support new and ongoing qualitative research on Principled Innovation (PI) to advance ASU’s ninth design aspiration, Practice Principled Innovation. This role will contribute to identifying and documenting best practices for integration into course experiences across ASU, in both digital and campus-immersion formats. Collaboration with faculty, staff, and PI subject matter experts will inform tactical and strategic decision-making, focusing on integrating PI into courses that may include virtual reality, immersive storytelling, and innovative pedagogy to enhance instructional practices, ensure course quality, and foster students’ moral, civic, and intellectual development.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Strong skills in qualitative data collection and analysis.
Knowledge of research methodology in an education setting.
Eagerness to grow presentation skills, research methods, and data-rich storytelling.
Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale Arizona three days a week.

Nice To Haves

PhD preferred, preferably in the social sciences or a related discipline.
Experience working with Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols.
Experience in educational research and practice.
Experience in educational technologies that are emerging, such as AI and virtual reality.
Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into general audience language and willingness to refine writing to meet the need for seamless, clear communication.
Evidence of effective communication and collaboration skills.
Experience with QDA software such as ATLAS.ti.
Experience with Slack, Jira, Qualtrics, Miro, and Google Workspace.
Demonstrated ability to track, manage, and prioritize daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

Responsibilities

Performs literature reviews to inform research design on a wide variety of projects.
Participates in research design and drafts Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols governing research projects.
Collects qualitative data through interviews, focus groups, observations, text, and other avenues.
Cleans qualitative data for further analysis using QDA software.
Collaborates and works with multiple stakeholders and groups across the University to conduct and oversee qualitative research to inform evidence-based instructional practices, pedagogy, engagement, and technology.
Collaborates on research investigations to enhance tactical and strategic decision-making, improve instruction, ensure quality courses, promote student success, and increase equity in representation.
Communicates with internal and external constituencies to obtain necessary information.
Prepares and presents research findings to various audiences.
Supervises, monitors, or coordinates the activities of research-focused student workers.
Seeks, evaluates, and assists in implementing new and emerging technologies with potential value for both research and digital teaching/learning.
Conducts and assists with the development of long- and short-range goals that influence tactical and strategic decision-making, improve instruction, ensure quality courses, and promote student success.
Organizes and follows through with the best practices of the lab.
Leans into the labs' ever-evolving organizational structure for managing a high volume of research files.
Performs other duties or projects as assigned or directed.