Researcher - City Connects, Center for Thriving Children

Background: The Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children (CTC) at Boston College uses research and data to identify and evaluate strategies that successfully transform schools and communities into systems of opportunity for all students. We conduct interdisciplinary research that builds on the strengths of science and practice to understand what it takes to produce a true opportunity for all. CTC houses the City Connects intervention, an innovative and evidence-based approach to addressing the out-of-school factors that can impact students’ achievement and thriving in schools. 

Core Responsibilities:

You are invited to apply to join a multi-disciplinary team that is passionate about opportunities to use rigorous evidence to promote child and youth development through systemic student support in schools. The new Researcher will be part of a research and evaluation team that focuses on analyzing the impact of intervention efforts, supporting the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices in the field of effective student support, and generating new knowledge for consideration by the leadership team and key stakeholders. The Researcher will:

• Collaboratively develop and carry out primarily quantitative and some mixed-method research for a range of research projects, with significant contributions to quantitative and mixed-methods study design and analytic techniques
• Contribute to ongoing major projects, as well as provide input into new directions for existing research and evaluation efforts
• Initiate and participate in successful ideas and proposals for new projects that meaningfully support and enhance the Center’s research portfolio 
• Contribute to research translation efforts, including developing manuscripts for publication, creating summaries and reports, as well as presenting findings for various audiences (e.g., academic audiences, boards of research advisors, school personnel, and other educational stakeholders)
• Support the identification of new funding opportunities and conceptualization of original grant proposals 
• Collaboratively enhance the quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center’s research work

Core Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in educational research, developmental psychology, sociology, economics, or other social science-related fields
• Proven familiarity with education data 
• A good understanding of the school context and priorities of the K-12 education system in the U.S. 
• Experience with social science quantitative methodologies (e.g., propensity score matching/weighting, difference-in-differences, etc.) and qualitative analytic methods (e.g., case studies) 
• Experience working with large secondary datasets, as well as collecting primary data (e.g., through surveys, interviews, and focus groups).
• Experience analyzing quantitative data using standard software packages (e.g., Stata, SPSS) and qualitative data using Atlas-ti or NVivo
• Experience translating research results into actionable insights and recommendations

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-3 years of postdoctoral experience
• Knowledge of causal inference methods (e.g., instrumental variables estimation, regression discontinuity, etc.) 
• Experience with peer-reviewed publications, either as an author or a reviewer

Skills and Abilities:

• Self-motivated and proactive
• Flexible and adaptable
• Exceptional organization skills and ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects 
• Strong strategic, operational, and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate (both written and verbally) and have excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work productively with a diverse team in a collaborative, team-oriented workplace

Application Requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter addressing reasons for engaging in this work
• A writing sample (lead author preferred) that demonstrates research or analysis skills

This position will be based at Boston College.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, marital status, or sexual orientation. Acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives, we are committed to employing individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences. Members of historically marginalized communities and candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply.

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