Research Assistant III - 530915
About The Position
The Research Assistant III supports higher-complexity research tasks with minimal supervision and may assist with ordering and setting up equipment, conducting experiments, monitoring results, collecting data, and preparing support materials. The role may supervise students or other support workers assigned to the research project. The University of Alabama College of Education’s Department of Special Education seeks two Research Coordinators for Project LIFT (Literacy Improvement through Focused Tutoring), a five-year Education Innovation and Research Mid-Phase grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Project LIFT will scale Friends on the Block, an evidence-based early literacy intervention, in primarily rural Alabama elementary schools. It will serve struggling K–12 readers, including students with disabilities, across three implementation cohorts. This position is a primary point of contact for participating districts, schools, educators, staff, and families. It ensures recruitment, consent, communication, and retention activities are completed on schedule and in compliance with University, IRB, and federal requirements. The position supports the research process through relationship management and administrative coordination. Regular travel to consortium districts and schools across rural Alabama is required. The position is eligible for hybrid work subject to University policy.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED and four years of research support experience; or an associate degree and two years of research support experience; or a bachelor's degree or higher and some research support experience.
- Valid U.S. driver's license.
- At least 19 years of age at time of hire and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report in compliance with University policies; applicants under age 21 will have some driving restrictions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to build effective, trust-based relationships with school leaders, teachers, caregivers, and project partners.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to manage schedules, contacts, and tracking systems for multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, make decisions, solve problems, and work through barriers that may affect recruitment or retention.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and comfort using cloud-based file-sharing systems such as SharePoint, Box, or OneDrive.
- Ability to maintain participant confidentiality in compliance with IRB, FERPA, and federal human-subjects protection requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, Public Health, Communications, or a related field.
- Familiarity with rural Alabama school districts, the Alabama Literacy Act, or the Alabama educational context.
- Project or program coordination experience in education, research, or a K–12 school setting.
- Experience recruiting and retaining participants in a federally funded education or health research study, such as IES, EIR, OSEP, NIH, or NSF studies.
- Experience coordinating informed consent and child assent procedures.
- K–12 teaching, school leadership, MTSS or reading coach, school counselor, paraprofessional, or educational service delivery experience.
- Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey and participant management platforms and implementing human-subjects protection processes.
- Experience with the science of reading, high-impact tutoring, early literacy interventions, or MTSS.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
Responsibilities
- Assist with higher-complexity research tasks under minimal supervision.
- Assist with ordering and setting up equipment and supplies, performing experiments, monitoring results, collecting data, and preparing support materials.
- May supervise students and/or other support workers assigned to the research project.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for participating districts, schools, educators, staff, and families.
- Ensure recruitment, consent, communication, and retention activities are completed on schedule and in compliance with University, IRB, and federal requirements.
- Support research through relationship management and administrative coordination.
- Travel regularly to consortium districts and schools across rural Alabama.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
