Research Specialist, Civic Education Research Lab (CERL) - Georgetown University

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

Requirements

Job Overview

 The position is for a Research Specialist, Civic Education Research Lab (CERL)/Georgetown University who will work on research tasks associated with grant-related activities of the Literacy for We the People (LWTP) and Documents of Democracy (DOD) projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education being conducted by Dr. Diana Owen of the Communication, Culture, and Technology (CCT) program at Georgetown University. The Research Specialist (a three-year renewable term position) has the ability to conduct research at the highest level of professional competence, including manipulating, computing, and critically analyzing quantitative data and evaluating qualitative data to assess students’ reading and writing literacy. The position will collaborate with Dr. Owen and CERL staff on complex research projects. The position will work with the CERL team to develop instruments to measure students’ civic literacy, political knowledge, and civic competencies. The position will produce charts/graphs/tables and slide decks of results, conduct and transcribing recorded student and teacher interviews, and produce reports based on the research. The position has specialized skills in performing advanced statistical analysis using SPSS. The LTWP grant supports collection of data and analysis to determine the effectiveness of professional development programs (PD) on civics/social studies/American government teachers and the influence of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (WTP) curriculum intervention on their students civic and literacy competencies. The DOD  grant supports collection of data and analysis to determine students’ acquisition of advanced history and civics knowledge in conjunction with America’s 250th Anniversary and beyond. The teacher professional development programs and curricula are designed and implemented by the Center for Civic Education (CCE), a non-profit, non-partisan education organization located in Calabasas, CA.  This position will work closely Dr. Owen on designing research, conducting the studies, disseminating research results, and organizing related events and symposia.

 

 Work Interactions

The position supports the administrative, research, and evaluation functions of the LWTP and DOD. The position reports directly to Dr. Diana Owen, Professor in the CCT program, who is the Director of CERL and principal investigator for the LWTP and DOD research programs. The position will have supervisory responsibilities, including supervising undergraduate and graduate CERL research assistants. The position is central to carrying out the research required by the LWTP and DOD grants. It is integral to the research function of Georgetown University and to the goals of supporting large, grant-funded projects.

Additional duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performing tasks related to research design, data collection, data cleaning, and conducing basic and advanced statistical analysis of survey data using SPSS at the highest level of competence
• Producing charts/graphs/tables/slide decks of research protocols and results
• Producing reports based on the research that are disseminated to stakeholders, including educators, academics, and policy-makers
• Supervise and mentor Georgetown University undergraduate and graduate student research assistants
• Contribute to CERL’s public-facing communication about its research, including CERL’s Substack
• Share research findings and content knowledge at professional meetings
• Help prepare articles for publication

Requirements and Qualifications

 

• Master’s Degree in relevant field and 5-7 years of related experience
• Operates with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated strong research, analytical, and writing competencies.
• Strong statistical methodology skills, especially experience analyzing large survey research and experimental data. Proficiency in SPSS and Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to perform independently, communicate scientific results effectively, and participate in a highly collaborative environment.
• Must possess a strong work ethic and be self-motivated to learn and become familiar with primary scientific literature.
• Knowledge of research principles, concepts, practices, and methods.
• Excellent communication, time management, and organizational skills are essential. Attention to detail is necessary.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Doctoral degree (strongly preferred)
• At least two years of hands-on experience conducting research on K-12 civic education
• Strong knowledge of American history, politics, and government
• Familiarity with the American educational system

 

Work Mode Designation

 This position has been designated as Hybrid. Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the evolving needs of the University.  Such review may necessitate a change to a position’s mode of work designation. Complete details about Georgetown University’s mode of work designations for staff positions can be found on the Department of Human Resources website: https://hr.georgetown.edu/mode-of-work-designation.

Cover letter and resume required for consideration.

Pay Range:

The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is:

$47,586.00 - $87,558.13

Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University’s business needs and external factors.

Current Georgetown Employees:

If you currently work at Georgetown University, please exit this website and login to GMS (gms.georgetown.edu) using your Net ID and password. Then select the Career worklet on your GMS Home dashboard to view Jobs at Georgetown.

Submission Guidelines:

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at Georgetown University you must submit a resume for each position of interest for which you believe you are qualified. Documents are not kept on file for future positions.

Need Assistance:

If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process, please visit the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance website for general information about requesting accommodations, as well as information about requesting accommodations specifically for applicants. You also can also contact the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance at (202) 687-4798 or oeoc@georgetown.edu.

Need some assistance with the application process? Please call 202-687-2500. For more information about the suite of benefits, professional development and community involvement opportunities that make up Georgetown's commitment to its employees, please visit the Georgetown Works website.

EEO Statement:

GU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, race, religion, personal appearance, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits:

Georgetown University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, work-life balance benefits, employee discounts and an array of voluntary insurance options. You can learn more about benefits and eligibility on the Department of Human Resources website.