Temporary Health & Education Policy Research Associate: College of Nursing - UTK
About The Position
The College of Nursing (CON) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), the state's flagship research institution, is seeking a health and education policy research associate. This role is part of an interdisciplinary research team, working under the direct mentorship of Clea McNeely, DrPH. The associate will contribute to an applied research project funded by the William T. Grant Foundation. This project examines school attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy by utilizing linked longitudinal administrative data from Maryland’s education and juvenile justice systems (Maryland Longitudinal Data System). A key focus of the project is to identify "bright spot" middle and high schools that maintain strong attendance outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students, while simultaneously reducing punitive responses to absenteeism, such as labeling unexcused absences, in-school suspensions, and truancy petitions to court. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.
Requirements
- Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, education, public policy, sociology, statistics, or related social science).
- Experience with quantitative data analysis.
- Familiarity with longitudinal administrative data.
- Strong research skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with school attendance, chronic absenteeism, or truancy research.
- Knowledge of the Maryland Longitudinal Data System or similar data systems.
- Experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS).
- Experience working with diverse student populations.
- Familiarity with qualitative data analysis methods.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to an applied research project examining school attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy.
- Utilize linked longitudinal administrative data from Maryland’s education and juvenile justice systems.
- Identify "bright spot" middle and high schools that sustain strong attendance outcomes for specific student populations.
- Analyze data to understand and reduce punitive responses to absenteeism.
Benefits
- Access to career development and coaching.
- Continued education opportunities.
- Extensive development and training possibilities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
