Graduate Student Researcher

foundry10•Seattle, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

foundry10 is an education research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and creating direct value for youth. In collaboration with a wide range of partners, we surface, evaluate, and share opportunities to better support youth learning both inside and outside the classroom. Building on more than a decade of impactful work, our unique approach blends applied and basic research, philanthropy, and education programs rooted in evidence-based best practices. The Youth and Educator Social and Emotional Learning (YESEL) Lab at foundry10 is looking to hire a Graduate Student Researcher to assist in the design and execution of research studies focused on: Social and emotional learning (SEL) and technology in teacher preparation and education Youth play, sports, and recreation The role of school counselors in school-wide SEL efforts The Graduate Student Researcher will work closely with Dr. Helen Lee on research projects that require skills or expertise in the graduate student’s field of study. They will provide substantial collaboration on research projects, including helping to develop all aspects of the research process (e.g., designing a research study, recruitment parameters, data analysis techniques, technical and non-technical writing). Additionally, they will work with Junior Researchers in moving projects forward. The ideal candidate has (1) strong written communication skills, (2) research expertise in lab and Health & Well-Being Interest Area Team focus area, and (3) advanced training in qualitative and participatory/applied research methods. This is a part-time, temporary position with variable hours of 10-15 per week, for approximately 32 weeks, with an anticipated start date of October 13, 2026. Pay is $48/hr. Applicants must live in the state of Washington to apply. This is a hybrid position that requires in-person work and travel within the Seattle metropolitan area. We are not able to sponsor visa applications and candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. To protect our staff, partners, and the youth we serve, we require all foundry10 employees to adhere to our masking and COVID testing policies when working in person.

Requirements

Working towards a doctoral graduate degree (PhD) in Education, Social Work, or related social science field (e.g., Human Development, Psychology, Sociology)
Advanced training in qualitative (e.g., conducting interviews/focus groups, analyzing data) methods
Experience with participatory/applied methods (e.g., participatory action research, human-centered design, member checking, cognitive interviewing)
Competence in MAXQDA, Qualtrics, Canva, Google Suite, or similar research and data analysis software and platforms
Ability to organize and prioritize competing tasks and projects
Communication skills to collaborate with team members in a fast-paced environment
Strong attention to detail
Ability to work independently and in a hybrid environment
Experience writing for academic audiences
Experience supporting research in an academic, professional, or applied setting (e.g., faculty research lab, independent research project, research internship)
Experience conducting literature searches and reviewing and summarizing research literature
Experience supporting qualitative data collection and analysis (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, qualitative coding, data entry or cleaning)
Experience recruiting or communicating with research participants or community partners
Must be available to travel within WA state for in-person site visits and data collection.
Ability to maintain a consistent work schedule of 10-15 hours per week from Monday through Thursday, with specific hours to be determined.
Applicants must live in the state of Washington to apply.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience with children, youth, educators, and/or other education professionals
Familiarity with project topics
Experience communicating professionally with diverse audiences through email, virtual meetings, phone, or in-person interactions

Responsibilities

Assist in the development and execution of research projects for the YESEL Lab
Work with Senior Researchers and Junior Researchers on developing/executing all stages of the research process, with an emphasis on qualitative coding and writing, including: Searching for, reviewing, and synthesizing relevant literature, Preparing IRB approval forms, Leading and supporting online and in-person recruitment efforts, Supporting survey design (e.g., pulling appropriate survey measures, testing and suggesting changes on surveys), Leading and supporting data collection (e.g., logistical and administrative support for in-person and virtual focus groups, leading interviews, completing memos, monitoring responses, organizing data files, facilitating participant compensation)
There may be opportunities for the graduate student researcher to travel for data collection, depending on project need and timing
Preparing and analyzing data (e.g., data entry, data cleaning, qualitative coding, content analysis)
Contributing to written reports and other relevant mediums to share research (e.g., journal articles, presentations, blog posts, video summaries)
Contributing to research-informed resources for educators
Independently carry out data collection, analysis, and research communication with guidance and mentorship from Senior Researchers
Conduct background research and contribute to the writing of literature reviews
Assist in writing specific sections of peer-reviewed publications and/or present at a professional conference
Analyze data from research and translate it into other mediums for worthwhile sharing (e.g., reports, conference papers, research briefs)
Communicate actionable insights to various learning and research communities/fields as well as with lay-people in the community
Support the development of the YESEL knowledge base through exploratory research initiatives and literature reviews