Alex Chewning Research Fellow

Funded by ECMC Foundation, Kresge Foundation and Gates Foundation

Position Summary

The Alex Chewning Research Fellow will work on research projects that advance uAspire’s understanding of its impact and inform program improvement. The Fellow will spend most of their time leading and supporting the design and implementation of two grant-funded studies. The first study will involve the development and delivery of a student loan repayment curriculum and an investigation and analysis of student outcomes related to the intervention. The second study will entail investigating qualitatively how students, families and school counselors experience the simplified FAFSA which launches in December 2023.

Both studies will require comfort applying quantitative (survey design, descriptive and inferential statistics) and qualitative (interview and focus group facilitation, coding and analysis of transcripts) research methods, as well as an ability to communicate findings to a variety of audiences through papers or reports; data visualizations; and presentations to staff, funders, and conference attendees. There will also be an opportunity to contribute to curriculum development and directly work with students and advisees. Beyond these two studies, the Fellow will have additional opportunities to collaborate with uAspire staff to identify important programmatic questions and challenges, and then analyze data to develop actionable insights and solutions.

The location of this fellowship is flexible. There is an opportunity to work remotely or from one of uAspire's offices in Boston, NYC, or the Bay Area; however, applicants must be based in the United States. The Fellow will report to the Senior Director of Research at uAspire, and will collaborate closely with research faculty at UMass-Boston. The fellowship is funded for a maximum of two years, beginning in the Fall of 2023 and concluding not later than the Fall of 2025.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume or CV by September 4, 2023.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

With support and direction from the principal investigators:

• Contribute to all phases of a research project—study design, literature review, primary data collection, mixed methods data analysis, interpretation and dissemination of findings.
• Lead semi-structured interviews and focus groups
• Prepare analysis summaries, written reports, and data visualizations
• Develop and refine research questions and analysis plans
• Present research findings to diverse audiences
• Develop and deliver a loan repayment curriculum to study participants
• Analyze data from multiple sources
• Develop survey and interview protocols

Qualifications And Experience

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

Education, Experience & Skills:

• Ability to effectively and clearly communicate research findings, including recommendations for practice and future research
• First-hand experience with qualitative research techniques, including design and implementation of interviews or focus groups, coding, and drawing trustworthy inferences from qualitative data.
• Passion for informing improvements in social programs through rigorous applied research
• Experience in a teaching, mentoring, or coaching capacity
• Experience conducting and drawing insights through quantitative data analysis
• Successful candidates will have earned a Ph.D/Ed.D or are ABD (all but dissertation, i.e., master’s degree plus doctoral coursework), with experience conducting mixed methods research, combining elements of qualitative and quantitative research approaches
• Experience using one or more programs for quantitative (R, Stata, SPSS, etc.) and qualitative (NVivo, otter.AI, Dedoose, etc.) data analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advising students
• Experience with curriculum development
• Research experience in higher education, financial literacy and wellness, college access and success, or related topics
• Experience with data visualization programs
• Knowledge and experience in application of intermediate and advanced statistical methods

ANTICIPATED START DATE: Flexible, as early as Monday, November 20 and as late as January 2, 2024

COMPENSATION: The salary for this position is $65,000 during the first 12 months and $70,000 during the second 12 months. Candidates are eligible for benefits available to full time uAspire staff.

STATUS: Exempt, full time (35 hours per week). Remote. Due to contractual obligations, candidates must be based in continental United States.

REPORTS TO: Jonathan Lewis, Senior Director of Research

About Uaspire

Organization Vision: uAspire envisions a society where structural obstacles are removed from postsecondary pathways for systematically oppressed students so they can experience an improved quality of life for themselves and future generation

Organization Summary: Our mission is to improve the economic mobility of underrepresented communities by creating financial solutions to diverse educational pathways.

• Training & Technical Assistance: We equip partners with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the financial aid process with their students by curating engaging trainings and student-centered resources.
• Student Advising: We guide students, families, and communities to navigate complex financial aid systems in pursuit of equitable access to affordable postsecondary pathways through in-person and virtual advising.
• Policy: We advocate for institutional, state, and federal policy change to transform financial aid and higher education systems, based on our students' lived experiences.
• Consulting: We collaborate with partners to assess their needs and offer uniquely designed solutions in the areas of content development, program improvement and systems change, by leveraging our financial aid expertise, student-advising experience, and student-centered research.
• Scholarship & Emergency Aid: We commit to placing money into the hands of students allowing them to use these funds to cover tuition bills and other unexpected expenses.

uAspire is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces and encourages applicants of every background. The company’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to

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