Job Description

The Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) seeks an Assistant Research Scientist to support and conduct literacy research, helping advance evidence-based reading practices and educational initiatives in the areas of reading and/or writing disabilities, literacy instruction, and teacher professional development. This role involves designing and executing studies, analyzing data, and contributing to reports, publications, and presentations for funded projects. This role will collaborate and coordinate with internal and external partners, including school sites and key personnel, to impact student literacy outcomes by developing and facilitating professional development, providing technical assistance to district leadership, and facilitating district partner data analysis and dissemination.

This is a 100% specified term position through June 30, 2025. May be eligible for renewal.

Flexible work arrangements within the state of Iowa may be arranged with approval from IRRC.

Hybrid within Iowa: This position is eligible for a combination of on-campus and remote work within Iowa. Work arrangement options will be discussed during the hiring process. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.

Specific Job Duties and Tasks

• Design and conduct experiments or simulations related to literacy interventions, reading comprehension, and language development in collaboration with other researchers and educational experts.
• Design and adapt study protocols based on literature and identified needs in literacy research.
• Conduct literature and systematic reviews on relevant topics in literacy and education to inform ongoing projects.
• Collect and manage data from experiments, interventions, or observational studies, ensuring data integrity.
• Summarize findings, identifying key trends, patterns, and implications for literacy practice and policy.
• Draft detailed research reports, outlining methodology, findings, and recommendations for stakeholders.
• Assist in drafting, editing, and submitting research grant proposals, including the background, methodology, anticipated impact of the research, and budget planning in alignment with grant requirements.
• Contribute to ongoing grants by coordinating progress reports, tracking milestones, gathering data, and ensuring compliance required for reporting to funding agencies.
• Engage in collaborative research activities with other reading scientists, educators, and university faculty to strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Participate in community outreach and education programs, such as workshops for teachers or informational sessions for parents, to share findings and promote literacy practices.
• Assign research tasks and responsibilities, delegating specific tasks to team members based on their expertise and providing training to support team members ability to achieve desired outcomes.
• Regularly review work outputs, offering constructive feedback to improve quality, accuracy, and efficiency.

To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact Alex-Schutman@uiowa.edu

About the Iowa Reading Research Center

The purpose of the Iowa Reading Research Center is to improve the literacy proficiency of pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. IRRC’s work is done in four main categories: Research: Conducting research in practical settings to evaluate the effectiveness of literacy practices and the usefulness of assessments for guiding literacy instruction. Professional Learning: Facilitating professional learning for educators on literacy instructional strategies and related topics online through eLearning and in-person at workshops and conferences. Technical Assistance: Collaborating with local education agencies to provide technical assistance involving planning and implementation to address a specific literacy issue. Family Resources: Offering family resources to help family members and caregivers take an active role in their children’s literacy skill development; assisting families affected by a reading disability through assistive technology consultation and eLearning. All efforts of the Iowa Reading Research Center are conducted in collaboration with educators, parents, community representatives, and policymakers. Results have a direct application to literacy policy and education in Iowa.

Education Requirement

• PhD in Education, Literacy, Special Education, School Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, or a related field and 1 year of experience.

Required Qualifications

• Relevant scholarship and experience in reading and/or writing disabilities, literacy instruction, literacy assessment and/or professional development.
• Strong data analysis skills and experience interpreting quantitative results, including systematic reviews/meta-analyses, single-case design, and quasi- or experimental designs.
• Teaching experience in PreK-12 schools or prior involvement in literacy or reading intervention programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with writing grant proposals, securing research funding, or working on funded projects.
• Experience with data analysis with observational and fidelity monitoring.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines while working independently and in teams.

Application Details

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For questions, contact Alex Schutman at Alex-Schutman@uiowa.edu

Benefits Highlights

Regular salaried position. Pay Level 5A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
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