Department

BSD SUR - OHNS: Thirty Million Words - Research Analysis & Transcription

About the Department

The TMW Center develops, tests, and implements evidence-based interventions designed to promote very young children’s cognitive and social-emotional development, with a priority placed on that of children living in poverty. TMW Center interventions are designed to be overlaid onto existing health, education, and social service systems working at scale in a given community in order to meet families where they already are. The TMW Center has a robust research and development strategy that includes further development and testing of TMW interventions; harnessing technology to support behavior change, intervention engagement, and analysis; and furthering strategies to engage adult caregivers (parents, early educators and others) in the TMW Center’s interventions across the health, early learning, and social service sectors.

Job Summary

The TMW Center is partnering with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to conduct multi-year field research in Connecticut infant and toddler child care settings. The research will use a novel technology to support teachers and demonstrate how teachers’ language inputs in birth-to-3 child care settings lead to positive child outcomes. Early pilots are generating learnings and inform a classroom implementation and professional development model. A randomized controlled trial will test whether the new professional development model positively impacts teacher knowledge and behavior, leads to more language interactions between teachers and children, improves job satisfaction and drives positive child outcomes.

This role will be based in Connecticut, with frequent travel throughout the state. The Coordinator of Assessments and Research Operations will report to the Lead Assessor and will provide on-the-ground research support. The Research Coordinator will work closely with both Connecticut-based and non-Connecticut-based TMW Center staff. The Research Coordinator of Assessments and Operations will be responsible for child assessments throughout the study and research operations such as distributing human subject payments to participants. As a member of the Connecticut-based team, this role will include additional responsibilities to support research operations and data collection.

As an on-the-ground point of contact for study participants, the Coordinator of Assessments and Research Operations will support positive relationships between TMW Center and childcare centers, classroom teachers, and families to ensure strong communication and a successful research partnership.

During specific time points and periodically throughout the study, significant in-state field work consisting primarily of regular site visits to child care providers and study participants will be required. Typically, other work will be completed from home. At times almost 90% of time may be spent working in the field. Site visits will be required at varying times across child care center operating hours, approximately 7:30am to 5:30pm. Additionally, some evening or weekend hours will be required to facilitate participant consent sessions or other activities. Sites will be located throughout the state.

In addition to the Connecticut-based project, the role will expand to include research operations support to additional TMW Center studies as needed.

The duration of this project-based role will be approximately 12-15 months and is expected to end in approximately August 2026.

Responsibilities

Assessments:

Administers 1:1 in-person cognitive and non-cognitive child assessments during 3 time points, as well as throughout the study for late enrollees or students who leave the study early.

Conducts assessments in both English and Spanish.

Communicates with school partners to set up the assessment schedule and procedures with each classroom and teacher.

Provides observations and assessment updates to the research team.

Enters and updates relevant data in REDCap.

Research Operations:

Coordinates human subject payment set up and processes in collaboration with Senior Project Manager or Research Operations and Director of Finance and Operations.

Distributes human subjects payments to participants (families, teachers, and childcare sites).

Issues payments and other incentives to study participants.  Ensures all payments are issued correctly and tracked with fidelity.  Ensures full compliance with all University and funder obligations related to human subject payments and recordkeeping.

Supports Connecticut-based team for any Spanish-related needs, such as participant questions on consents, payments, etc.

Supports other aspects of outreach, recruitment, consent, data collection and support as requested.

Provides support to study participants, ensuring proper implementation and delivery of TMW program in accordance with study protocol.

Implements data collection at the direction of TMW Center staff. Ensures quality of data collection and adherence to best practices. Facilitates and coordinates classroom-based research activities such as video recording.

Supports inventory management needs, including coordination and delivery logistics for technological devices and other materials provided to study sites. May be required to store some materials at a secure home office location.

Provides program implementation and technology support to additional partner orgs who provide TMW programs, as needed.

Project Support for Connecticut and other TMW Center Projects:

Provides technical, administrative and logistical support to the TMW Center Connecticut project team.

Participates in meetings and planning sessions to share observations and provide updates to inform program and process improvement.

Supports additional TMW Center projects as needed.

Other Responsibilities:

Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.

Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.

Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.

Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

Experience working with Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) State-funded programs.

Prior teaching and/or administrative experience within early childhood classroom settings (e.g., an accredited childcare center, Head Start Center, Pre-K, etc.).

Experience in early childhood research or early education.

Experience in a research lab or setting.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid driver's license.

Preferred Competencies

Knowledge and skills developed through work experience or training in early education, early childhood systems, applied research, or related discipline.

Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Advanced proficiency in verbal and written Spanish.

Has general awareness in research techniques, survey research methods or methods and relevant scientific knowledge.

Ability to adhere to strict protocols and data collection procedures.

Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and high attention to detail.

Capable of successfully working independently and as part of a team.

Previous work with children desirable

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)

Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$50,000.00 - $70,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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