Arizona State University — Research Scientist
Filed in Administrative on March 11, 2023
Research Scientist
89340BR
Off-Campus: Scottsdale
Mgmt Research Analyst
Job Description
EdPlus at ASU is currently seeking a motivated and skilled Quantitatively Minded Mixed-Methods Researcher to join our high-performing Action Lab team. Action Lab is a learning laboratory inside EdPlus that provides key research findings to improve the ASU learning environment. With an emphasis on online learning, our predictive and evaluative analyses support student success and persistence. Action Lab works on transformational projects to increase the scale of learning through rigorous and multidisciplinary scholarly research committed to improving equity, inclusivity, and quality of education for learners everywhere.
This position will directly support research for the Dreamscape Immersive Classroom product. Dreamscape Immersive Classroom enables students to interact in real-time as fully rendered life-like avatars, with eye contact and lip-synch, in immersive 3D virtual learning environments. These environments can take students anywhere in the universe, from inside a Hydrogen atom, to the Egyptian pyramids or the surface of Mars. They can be networked with other immersive classrooms located anywhere in the world that has robust internet connectivity, allowing students and faculty to interact and collaborate remotely inside a shared 3D contextual environment. The product is underdevelopment and will require a researcher who is excited by the idea of conducting research on a developing product during R&D cycles. Working alongside other researchers in the Action Lab, faculty members on campus, and student users, this researcher will explore affordances of the new platform, best practices, conduct efficacy testing, literature reviews of similar ideas, and product analysis evaluating the landscape of similar products.
Action Lab is a matrixed organization meaning on different projects and for different phases of a project a researcher may report through different work streams. For the initial phase of this project, the researcher will directly report to the Executive Director of the Action Lab, this researcher will co-manage research development, implement processes, and draft as well as co-author report findings. This position co-develops, analyzes, coordinates, and maintains research information, including but not limited to: IRB documents, survey information, databases, archival files, and information systems for evaluation and decision making. This researcher will suggest and align methodologies with research goals. To do this, they will use a range of tools to acquire information and analyze/interpret data, write up reports, and present findings to management and other stakeholders. This researcher will identify trends and patterns and conduct fieldwork and tests. This researcher will regularly extract, clean, merge, transform, and analyze data. This researcher will co-develop presentations on research findings to be presented by the Executive Director and share these findings internally with colleagues and other non-research colleagues who are part of the development team. We are seeking a researcher who will be resourceful and demonstrate excellent time management, willingness to collaborate, learn new things, and patience to succeed.
This opportunity might be perfect for you if you are passionate about conducting high-quality quantitatively minded mixed-methods research and love working to improve higher education access, inclusivity, and reach while researching new ways of learning through and with VR/immersive learning.
EdPlus is a unit of the ASU Enterprise focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national and international communities served by ASU.
ASU offers a total compensation package that includes valuable employee benefits.
• Healthcare
• Financial Security
• Retirement
• Family Resources
• Tuition Reduction (Eligible ASU Employee, their dependents and spouse.)
• Discounts
Job Family
Research & Laboratory
Department Name
EdPlus at ASU DTL Action Lab
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full-Time
VP Code
EdPlus at ASU
Scope of Search
Open
Grant Funded Position
This is a grant funded position. Continuation is contingent on future grant funding.
Salary Range
$60,000 – $73,000 per year; DOE
Close Date
22-March-2023
Category
02
Essential Duties
• Collaborates to conduct and oversee qualitative and quantitative research to inform evidence-based instructional practices, pedagogy, engagement, and technology.
• Seeks, evaluates, and assists with implementing new and emerging technologies that have potential value for both research purposes and online teaching/learning.
• Recommends appropriate research design methodologies, data analyses, and statistical procedures; Assists with determining appropriate methodology to be used for particular project(s).
• Communicates with internal Action Lab colleagues, Action Lab Sr. Researchers, other Dreamscape researchers (such as UX team or experience team), internal EdPlus colleagues, and external constituencies to obtain necessary information to make strategic research plans.
• Coordinates and determines compatibility of data from various sources (e.g. internal ASU data tables, external datasets) with support from data management teams.
• Manages data collection and compilation; Analyzes and interprets quantitative data and collaborates on qualitative and mixed-method data.
• Prepares (and sometimes presents) research findings to various audiences on research results.
• Co-writes Action Lab internal reports, presentations, and strategically as needed and approved authors articles for publication.
• Collects qualitative data through interviews, focus groups, observations, text, and others.
• Cleans qualitative data for further analysis using QDA software.
• Performs literature reviews to inform research design.
• Manages a high volume of research files.
• Tracks, manages, prioritizes and reports daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
• Utilizes various computer programs and software to perform data computation, statistical analysis, etc. (ability to read and program in R is highly desired; flexibility to work in other languages and environments including Python, Julia, SQL, and Alteryx is desirable)
• Assists with the development of long- and short-range goals.
• Assumes or coordinates other duties or projects as assigned or directed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field AND three years of experience in research, information analysis or program evaluation; OR, Master's degree in a related field AND one year of experience in research, information analysis or program evaluation; OR, Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Desired Qualifications
• Evidence of creative research design ideas to elicit defensible and co-informed research findings.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed and team environment.
• Experience in data management, and statistical analysis and modeling in R or similar.
• Experience in survey design/implementation/analysis, focus groups, interviews, and qualitative methods in general.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with SQL and Alteryx or an ability to learn.
• Experience with quantitative research methods (experimental/quasi-experimental design, descriptive and inferential statistics, etc.) and mixed-methods integration of qualitative and quantitative research.
• Broad experience/interests in a variety of statistical abilities and interest in developing skills to match needs in these areas.
• Evidence of effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience in higher education research and practice preferred.
• Evidence in having a PhD, preferably in education/learning sciences, data science, or related discipline; will consider candidates that are close to defense date/ABD.
Working Environment
EdPlus at ASU is located at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. The center houses a diverse business community that links technology, research, education, and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledge economy.
Activities are primarily performed in a regular, climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting or standing. Daily use of desktop or laptop computer is required. Ability to clearly communicate to perform essential duties. Regular review of completed tasks.
EdPlus at ASU supports flexible work options, ranging from alternate work schedules to hybrid remote work schedules, subject to approvals per ASU policy.
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