Research Scholar

North Carolina State University

$86,000- $90,000

United States, North Carolina, Raleigh

Dec 19, 2024

Posting Information

Posting Number	PG193864EP
Internal Recruitment	No
Working Title	Research Scholar
Anticipated Hiring Range	$86,000- $90,000
Work Schedule	Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Job Location	Raleigh, NC
Department	Friday Institute
About the Department	The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation is a large, multi-faceted Institute housed in a 33,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility on NC State University's Centennial Campusin Raleigh. Our work encompasses educational research, professional development, policy and program evaluation, and direct services to schools, districts, state departments of education and public- and private sector organizations. We are deeply involved in working throughout North Carolina, leading some of the major statewide K-12 education initiatives and working closely with the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, and the majority of school districts in the State on the transition to digital teaching and learning. Since opening in 2005, the Friday Institute has developed a strong national presence, working with organizations throughout the country, and is increasingly developing international connections. More information is available on our website.
Essential Job Duties	The Friday Institute seeks a Research Scholar to support national efforts in enhancing artificial intelligence and emerging technologies as part of the NSF AI Institute for Engaged Learning. This role will be pivotal in supporting school partnerships and managing products to drive internal and external exchanges among educational institutions, researchers, product developers, and educators. The successful candidate will be a strong project manager with a depth of experience in implementing digital learning and/or emerging technology initiatives. They should excel in collaborating with various teams, building relationships with the education community, and leveraging their experience with instructional design and learning sciences. The primary activities of the Research Scholar center on Project and Product Management: Creating and maintaining roadmaps for project activities, tracking timelines and progress toward project goals, coordinating testing and debugging platforms with engineers and researchers, gathering and managing requirements from educators and students, and tracking engagement metrics, including the number of students and educators using our products to advance research goals and enhance engagement outcomes Stakeholder Liaison: Serving as the primary contact between school partners, researchers, and project teams to facilitate collaborative research efforts and ensure effective communication of research findings and product outcomes); Research Compliance: Engaging with research activities and ensuring adherence to ethical research standards, district policies, and grant funding requirements); Operational Support: Coordinating internal and external logistical needs); Technical Expertise: Leveraging a solid foundation in AI and learning technology to inform product features and product enhancements); and Educational leadership:Providing insights into tool development and product alignment with educators' needs and educational best practices). While a Research Scholar is expected to contribute in various ways to assigned projects, typical responsibilities may include: Organize and lead working groups comprised of internal and/or external partners to advance project objectives Facilitate discussions, meetings, and trainings related to digital learning and emerging technologies, with a focus on translating research findings into practice Develop curriculum, programs, and trainings for a variety of audiences, topics, and priorities, Create, review, and publish materials and resources accessible for all educators, learners, and audiences, incorporating insights from research findings Manage projects and partner communications to ensure successful implementation of digital learning initiatives Build and foster relationships with internal teams, state partners, and community organizations to achieve digital learning goals Provide thought leadership and strategy around digital learning and emerging technologies, informed by ongoing research and innovation Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of digital learning programs and initiatives Provide technical support and guidance to educators, partners, and participants in digital learning programs Advocate for practices and policies that promote digital learning and emerging technologies in K-12 education, higher education, and the workforce, based on current research and best practices
Other Responsibilities	Facilitate and/or participate in convenings, trainings, and other opportunities Coordinate project meetings, organization structures, and communications Prepare, maintain, and update project materials for online and print dissemination Contribute to project and grant proposals In- and out-of-state travel to school sites, conferences, meetings, and events (up to 25%) Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Relevant Ph.D degree (or relevant terminal degree), or relevant Master's degree with at least 5 years of formal post-degree professional work experience. In rare instances, an individual with a comparable professional experience but less than a master's degree, plus 8 years of exceptional relevant professional experience may be considered.
Other Required Qualifications	Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly changing, multi-team environment Willingness to take initiative and learn new skills, especially related to digital learning and emerging technologies Ability to work with a team toward a common goal Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships Ability to communicate effectively to academic and practitioner audiences Skill in planning, organization, and coordination of activities Proven excellence for organizational and time-management skills Skill in design and word processing; such as Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, Canva, and major social media outlets Ability to develop instructional materials for in-person and online audiences; such as experience with learning management systems (Moodle, Canvas, etc) Skill presenting to groups, facilitating trainings, and working with a range of audiences Proficiency in task management, including organizing development task priorities, managing deliverables, and ensuring timely completion of milestones across multiple projects Preference for product development methodologies, ability to translate user requirements into technical specifications, basic understanding of coding languages, understanding of metrics like user engagement, familiarity with AI and machine learning concepts.
Preferred Qualifications	Direct experience developing and/or deploying educational tools, platforms, or systems. Familiarity with classroom environments through teaching experience or working closely with educators and schools. Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and research. Bilingual
Required License(s) or Certification(s)	N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required	No
Commercial Driver's License required	No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date	12/18/2024
Anticipated Close Date	Open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants	Cover letter, Contact information for 3 professional references, and Resume.

Position Details

Position Number	00111224
Position Type	Exempt Professional Staff
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)	1.0
Appointment	12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather	Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events	Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID	139001 - Friday Institute
AA/EEO	NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.