Education Research Assistant Field Assessor, Tennessee

SRI International • Nashville, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

SRI Education is seeking temporary, part-time Research Assistants in Tennessee to conduct standardized literacy and vocabulary assessments with preschool students in early childhood centers. The role offers experience using standardized child assessment measures. SRI will provide mandatory training and certification in December 2026, primarily via Zoom, with possible in-person practice sessions during the first one to two weeks of January.

Assessors will visit one classroom at a time and assess 8–10 children per visit. Data collection will occur in two phases in 2027: pre-test assessments from early January through mid-February, lasting approximately 5–6 weeks, and post-test assessments in May and June, also lasting approximately 5–6 weeks. The position does not require travel to an SRI location, but does require driving to early childhood centers within Tennessee during the standard school day. Staff are paid for training, assessment work, cleaning assessment data, and entering data into a web-based database; travel costs are reimbursed. The temporary position runs from December 2026 through June 2027, with an anticipated commitment of at least 15–20 hours per week during assessment periods. The listed pay rate is $30.00 per hour.

Requirements

• Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills.
• Prior experience working with children, such as teaching or assisting in an elementary school, conducting child assessments, working in after-school programs, or serving as a youth camp counselor.
• Access to a car and a valid driver’s license and insurance; data collectors are expected to drive to participating schools within Tennessee.
• Access to a personal computer and reliable internet.
• Ability to participate in and complete all required security clearance measures and training.
• Availability for onsite work in Tennessee Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., at least three days a week during pre-test data collection in January–February 2027 and post-test data collection in May–June 2027.

Nice To Haves

• Some undergraduate coursework in psychology, education, social work, or early childhood.
• Experience with research, including conducting observations or assessments.
• Spanish language proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Attend up to two virtual training days in December 2026 to prepare for data collection.
• Travel to school sites to conduct direct child assessments for pre-test data collection in January–February 2027 and post-test data collection in May–June 2027.
• Communicate with the SRI project manager and teachers to schedule data collection activities.
• Enter data accurately and efficiently into a web-based database.
• Clean assessment data.

Benefits

• Travel costs reimbursed.
• Competitive benefits package.
• May qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or annual Performance Based Compensation program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed