Research Assistant Professor

University of New Hampshire

2d•$65,000 - $74,658

About The Position

The University of New Hampshire’s Community Literacy Center (CLC), housed in the Department of Education within the College of Liberal Arts, supports literacy learning for area PreK–12 learners, families, and educators through collaboration with schools and community organizations. This grant-funded position focuses primarily on research and requires a high level of scholarly independence and expertise across literacy-related initiatives. The Research Assistant Professor will lead and contribute to research for the SLATE program, a U.S. Department of Education-funded initiative combining near-peer tutoring for middle school students with teacher professional learning to enhance literacy, writing, and STEM achievement. The role also supports CLC community-based research, including the Multilingual Book to Art program and Community Storytime. Community Storytime brings UNH students to local community sites to read with children, lead book-inspired activities, and provide books in partnership with organizations such as food pantries, libraries, and afterschool programs. The position includes advising and mentoring graduate students funded through the grant, providing mentored practicum opportunities for UNH Education students through Community Storytime and SLATE activities, and supporting the CLC’s broader programmatic and community engagement work. The position is not considered essential staff and is not required to report during periods of university curtailment.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Education.
Knowledge of current research and evidence-based practices in literacy instruction, including foundational literacy skills and reading and writing development across PreK–12 settings.
Knowledge of issues and best practices related to multilingual learners and underrepresented student populations in literacy and STEM education.
Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods, with expertise in community-based research practices, including practitioner research, action research, community action research, and research-practice partnerships (RPPs).
Skill in analyzing and interpreting research data and translating findings into accessible formats for educators, community partners, and funding agencies.
Skill in scholarly writing and the ability to produce publications, grant reports, and conference presentations.
Skill in grant writing and securing external funding, including identifying funding opportunities and contributing to proposal development.
Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with K–12 schools, community organizations, families, and university colleagues.
Ability to mentor and support undergraduate and graduate students in research and tutoring contexts.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a complex, grant-funded work environment.
Ability to work effectively with diverse communities, including families and children from historically underserved backgrounds.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to represent the CLC and SLATE program professionally in community and academic settings.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting research in community-based or K–12 school settings, particularly in literacy or STEM education.
Experience working with multilingual learners and/or underserved student populations.
Experience mentoring or supervising undergraduate or graduate students in research or tutoring contexts.
Experience building and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, schools, or families.
Demonstrated record of scholarly publication and/or conference presentation in literacy, education, or a related field.
Experience contributing to grant writing and/or managing externally funded projects.
Familiarity with the SLATE program or similar cross-disciplinary literacy and STEM initiatives.
Experience with program evaluation or assessment in educational settings.

Responsibilities

Design, conduct, and oversee research studies related to the SLATE tutoring program, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Disseminate research findings through scholarly publications, conference presentations, and reports to funding agencies.
Support UNH student tutors in lesson planning and instructional practice through mentorship and guidance.
Collaborate with SLATE team members, partner schools, and community organizations to support program implementation and a shared research agenda.
Advise and mentor doctoral students funded through SLATE.
Lead and contribute to CLC community-based research projects, including the Multilingual Book to Art program and Community Storytime.
Support the implementation and ongoing development of CLC community engagement programs in partnership with community organizations, schools, and families.
Contribute to grant reporting, documentation, and compliance activities for funded projects.
Participate in departmental and CLC meetings, committees, and initiatives as appropriate.
Support future grant development related to literacy research and community engagement.