Assistant Research Scientist

University of Iowa • Iowa City, IA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) seeks an Assistant Research Scientist to support and conduct literacy research, helping advance evidence-based reading practices and educational initiatives in the areas of reading and/or writing disabilities, literacy instruction, and teacher professional development. This role involves designing and executing studies, analyzing data, and contributing to reports, publications, and presentations for funded projects. This role will collaborate and coordinate with internal and external partners, including school sites and key personnel, to impact student literacy outcomes by developing and facilitating professional development, providing technical assistance to district leadership, and facilitating data analysis and dissemination of research findings.
This is a specified term position with possibility for annual renewal. This full-time position will be located on site in Iowa City, Iowa in the College of Education Iowa Reading Research Center.

Requirements

• PhD in Education, Literacy, Special Education, School Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, or a related field and 1 year of experience.
• 1 year - minimum related experience.
• Relevant scholarship and experience in reading and/or writing disabilities, literacy instruction, literacy assessment and/or professional development.
• Strong data analysis skills and experience interpreting quantitative results, including systematic reviews/meta-analyses, single-case design, and quasi- or experimental designs.
• Teaching experience in PreK-12 schools or prior involvement in literacy or reading intervention programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with writing grant proposals, securing research funding, or working on funded projects.
• Experience with data analysis with observational and fidelity monitoring.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines while working independently and in teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct experiments or simulations related to literacy interventions, reading comprehension, and language development in collaboration with other researchers and educational experts.
• Design and adapt study protocols based on literature and identified needs in literacy research.
• Conduct literature and systematic reviews on relevant topics in literacy and education to inform ongoing projects.
• Collect and manage data from experiments, interventions, or observational studies, ensuring data integrity.
• Summarize findings, identifying key trends, patterns, and implications for literacy practice and policy.
• Draft detailed research reports, outlining methodology, findings, and recommendations for stakeholders.
• Assist in drafting, editing, and submitting research grant proposals, including the background, methodology, anticipated impact of the research, and budget planning in alignment with grant requirements.
• Contribute to ongoing grants by coordinating progress reports, tracking milestones, gathering data, and ensuring compliance required for reporting to funding agencies.
• Engage in collaborative research activities with other reading scientists, educators, and university faculty to strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Participate in community outreach and education programs, such as workshops for teachers or informational sessions for parents, to share findings and promote literacy practices.
• Assign research tasks and responsibilities, delegating specific tasks to team members based on their expertise and providing training to support team members ability to achieve desired outcomes.
• Regularly review work outputs, offering constructive feedback to improve quality, accuracy, and efficiency.

Benefits

• Regular salaried position. Pay level 5A.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees