Part-Time Research Assistant, STEM

Apply now Job no:495309
Work type:Staff Part-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Research

The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is housed in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver. We have dedicated ourselves to improving learning environments and outcomes for children, birth to age 8. We identify the best in early learning research, practice, and policy, and we deliver that information at just the point it will be useful to academics, practitioners, policymakers, and parents — the people who can create and implement changes to improve the lives of young children. The quality of relationships and learning opportunities that young children experience can set the stage for what they will be able to accomplish throughout the rest of their lifetimes. 

Position Summary  

The Marsico Institute is accepting applications for a part-time (20 hours / week on average) Research Assistant who will work as part of a team dedicated to developing and enhancing the knowledge base on engagement in STEM learning opportunities for young children with disabilities. Under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator and co-Project Leads, the Research Assistant will develop, validate, and refine learning trajectories and instructional activities in STEM and design adaptations to instructional activities to help young children with disabilities advance along those progressions. The Research Assistant may also contribute to content on our Learning and Teaching with Learning Trajectories ([LT]2) website, which is a professional development tool that grounds teachers in how children learn mathematics. To learn more, visit our research projects webpage at https://www.du.edu/marsicoinstitute/whatwedo/researchandeval.html , the STEMI2E2 website at https://stemie.fpg.unc.edu/ , and https://www.learningtrajectories.org/ .  

This is a non-benefited position, not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Essential Functions 

• Help develop, validate, and refine learning trajectories for and instructional activities in science, technology, and engineering, while continuing to refine and validate existing trajectories for math 
• Design adaptations to instructional activities to help young children with disabilities advance along those learning trajectories 
• Validate materials by testing them at designated incubator sites and collecting data, including video recording, data entry, and coding 
• Help coordinate incubator site visits 
• Participate in relevant STEMI2E2 team meetings 
• Adapt written instructional activities to accommodate children with special needs, using Learning and Teaching Early Math and similar research-based resources 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Facility with MS Office Suite/O365 programs, videotaping equipment, and basic features of virtual collaboration software 
• Excellent writing skills 
• Close attention to detail 
• Excellent time management and organizational skills 
• Capable of successfully working independently and as part of a team 
• Knowledge of early childhood STEM 
• Knowledge of universal design and RTI 

Required Qualifications 

• Some college coursework 
• Experience working with young children, in a classroom setting, or in social science qualitative research 
• English language proficiency 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Special education experience 
• Early childhood STEM experience 
• Experience developing instructional content 
• College coursework in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field 
• Bachelor’s degree  
• Spanish language proficiency 
• A passion for making educational opportunities both inclusive and equitable for all children 

Time Commitment 

On average, the Research Assistant is expected to work 20 hours/week, with some flexibility. This is a temporary, grant-funded position to begin work on or after August 15, 2022, through May 31, 2023, with the option to extend, conditional upon strong performance and available funding. The Research Assistant must be available to work shifts between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at least 3 days a week. This is a non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year. 

Work Schedule and Work Site 

Part-Time, Varies. Evenings and weekends as required. Regular local travel to campus and local incubator sites is required. 

Application Deadline 

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Special Instructions 
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu  to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. 

Salary Range

The hourly range for this position is $20.00/hr - $27.00/hr, commensurate with education and experience.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.