Overview

The Education Practice Area (EdPA) at RTI International empowers learners of all ages by advancing equitable, science-based practices and policies to improve access to high-quality education and training that prepares all learners for an ever-changing workforce and world. We leverage cutting-edge methodologies, education survey techniques, and practical educator experience to improve education and education policy.

A postdoctoral researcher position is immediately available within the EdPA. The applicant will work closely with Dr. Michael Willoughby on two federally funded projects. The primary project is investigating the efficacy of an educational robotics curriculum for improving children’s cognition (i.e., executive function and computational thinking skills; fluid reasoning) and math proficiency. The second project is investigating the association between home and preschool-based toxicant exposures with children’s executive function skills.

Major responsibilities for both projects involve conducting statistical analysis, supporting and leading dissemination activities, and contributing to project management activities. This position is a 12-month assignment with potential for annual renewal up to 3 years, pending available funding and ongoing performance.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities for primary project:

• Conduct statistical analyses, including psychometric and outcome analyses, and ongoing quality control checks of new data collection.
• Contribute to project management activities, including project documentation, participant recruitment, Institutional Review Board and annual project reporting.
• (Co-)Lead dissemination activities (conference presentations, peer-reviewed manuscripts).
• Conduct a literature review and co-author a manuscript related to computational thinking skills in the early elementary grades.
• Support new collaborations between staff in the EdPA related to early STEM education.
• Perform other duties as assigned by PI.

Responsibilities for secondary project:

• Conduct statistical analysis, including psychometric analyses of questionnaire and interview data and descriptive and data reduction analyses of toxicant and executive function data.
• Contribute to project management activities, including project documentation, participant recruitment, Institutional Review Board and annual project reporting.
• (Co-)Lead dissemination activities (conference presentations, peer-reviewed manuscripts).
• Support new collaborations between staff in the Education and Environmental Practice Areas related to toxicant exposure, cognition, and academic achievement.
• Perform other duties as assigned by PI.

Qualifications

• PhD in developmental psychology or closely related field (dissertation must be successfully proposed at the time of application).
• Demonstrated proficiency in statistical analyses, including SAS and Mplus software.
• Demonstrated experience in the analysis of executive function and toxicant data.
• Demonstrated experience in administering, training, and overseeing child cognitive assessments with preschool and/or early elementary aged students.
• Previous project management experience, including participant recruitment, IRB, developing and implementing quality control procedures, monitoring data collection progress, and project reporting.
• Demonstrated success in (co)authoring peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in English.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

EEO & Pay Equity Statements

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States.

RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Hiring Salary Range

$58,000 - $72,000