Open Rank Education Research Position

The Equity Through Education Research Group at the Graduate Center at the City University of New York is seeking applicants for open-rank positions with expertise in mathematics education and/or higher education. We anticipate hiring multiple researchers in different possible roles, depending on the particular applicant’s expertise and how this dovetails with the research group’s needs and existing strengths. This may include project managers, postdoctoral researchers, research associates, or related roles. These roles are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and are renewable based on individual performance and availability of funding. The Equity Through Education Research Group has had continuous external funding since 2012. Currently these positions can be done entirely remotely, and there is a lot of flexibility with the timing of specific work hours each week. We are primarily focused on hiring for full-time positions, but may be willing to consider a part-time position for the right candidate. Preference will be given to candidates willing to make a long-term commitment to the position, as the group is moving towards executing a long-term strategic vision.

These roles involve collaborating on various ongoing projects and specific assignments would depend on each applicant’s expertise. One current project is focused on generating and validating an assessment that measures algebraic conceptual understanding; another focuses on the impact of course scarcity on the college progress of STEM students who take online courses; and a third potential project that may be starting in the fall focuses on understanding factors that impact community college math majors’ trajectories. Funding applications for other projects are also ongoing, so other related mathematics education or higher education projects may be added to the research group’s portfolio in the coming years. The research group is multidisciplinary and covers a wide range of educational research, including many different types of research approaches and disciplinary perspectives.

Those hired will have access to extensive quantitative and qualitative data. More senior positions will have the opportunity to lead research projects independently, and postdocs and project managers will have opportunities for training in all aspects of this research, including project conceptualization, subject recruitment, data collection and analysis, manuscript and grant proposal preparation, publication, and conference presentations. All researchers will work closely with other members of the research group to review existing literature, analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, prepare scholarly journal articles, and to present at academic conferences. They will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively as part of the research team.

Much of the research is complex multi-site research that requires substantial coordination, however the balance between research administration and other research tasks will vary by position (i.e., project managers will be expected to undertake more coordination tasks and postdoctoral researchers will be expected to focus more on collecting and analyzing data and disseminating results; research associates might be expected to oversee projects more independently). However, all positions will have the opportunity to participate in the research based on the particular individual’s expertise and interest. The research group also has a wealth of research data, and there is the opportunity to pursue independent research projects with this data in coordination with the research group, as long as it does not negatively impact progress on other project duties.

Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge about relevant mathematics education and/or higher education research, especially as it relates to areas such as: environmental factors that impact academic outcomes in college; the experiences of groups that have traditionally been marginalized within STEM or higher education; learner’s algebraic thinking (especially college students); algebra instruction; or assessment.

Ability to manage a multi-site research project (prior experience with this preferred);

Ability to successfully navigate complex institutional bureaucracies and coordinating across multiple departments or colleges to collect data, organize technical or administrative supports, trouble-shoot logistical issues as they arise, or access institutional resources necessary for the completion of a project (prior experience with this preferred);

Experience conducting applied social science and/or educational research;

Preferred terminal degree in education, sociology, economics, psychology, or related field, or comparable professional experience (For some positions, e.g., project manager, less than terminal degree may be considered);

Preferred experience writing research articles in mathematics education and/or higher education;

Experience with qualitative and quantitative software, survey software, and MS Office programs, and an ability to learn new software programs as needed;

Strong written and verbal communication, and organizational skills;

Ability to problem-solve and work independently, as well as collaboratively.

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) was established as a not-for-profit educational corporation chartered by the State of New York in 1963. RFCUNY supports CUNY faculty and staff in identifying and obtaining external support (pre-award) from government and private sponsors and is responsible for the administration of all such funded programs (post-award).

RFCUNY stands between CUNY’s principal investigators (PIs) and the sponsors who support them and strives to fulfill its essential responsibilities to both groups. Working closely with individual PIs and Grants Officers on the campuses, RFCUNY oversees employment, accounting, audit, reporting, purchasing, and special responsibilities that include management of a planned giving program; liaison with governmental agencies and foundations; negotiation of agreements; facility construction and renovation; protection and commercialization of intellectual property; and compliance with applicable standards in research involving human subjects, animal care, environmental and radiological safety, and conflicts of interest.

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.