Job Description:

Participant Outreach & Recruitment:

• Serves as a primary point of contact for current and future research study participants. Maintains regular contact with study participants, updating them on study progress and ensuring that their contact information is updated. Maintains records of all communication efforts.

• Conducts targeted outreach and recruitment to study participants (child care sites, educators, parents, etc.).  Organizes and coordinates recruitment activities. Partners with TMW Center staff members and other stakeholders to ensure current and upcoming studies have adequate amounts of participants. Collaborate to strategize approaches for pursuing new participants and partners. 

• Obtains and maintains consents for all program participants in accordance with IRB protocol and TMW research standards. Ensures ongoing and new research subjects are onboarded properly and promptly.

• Regularly reports updates on participant recruitment, study progress, and study completion to relevant parties.

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

Implementation & Participant Support:

• Provides implementation support, coaching, and training to study participants, ensuring that study activities are delivered with fidelity and that technical support is available promptly. â‹

• Visits study sites across Connecticut for routine and as-needed in-person observation activities and support.

• Provides technical assistance, troubleshooting and on-call technical and implementation support to study participants, ensuring proper implementation and delivery of TMW program in accordance with study protocol.

• Tracks data related to these processes and other aspects of implementation.

• Supports TMW Manager of Training and other TMW staff by coordinating and/or facilitating training sessions and regular meetings for implementing staff.

Research Support:

• Engages with study participants and other partners to collect data and gather user feedback to inform device optimization, program refinement, professional development model and implementation model.

• 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.

• 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.

• Distributes technology and assists with inventory management, coordination and delivery logistics for technological devices and other materials provided to study sites. Stores some materials at a secure home office location. 

Partnership Building:

• Builds and nurtures relationships with child care centers, classroom teachers, families, OEC staff and other stakeholders to ensure strong communication and ultimate success between the TMW Center and these individuals and groups.

• Identifies additional childcare providers or organizations that could serve as future research partners. 

• Serves as an ambassador of the TMW Centerâ™s mission and resources to partners, families/caregivers, and the public.

Project Support:

• Provides technical, administrative and logistical support to the Connecticut early childhood research project team.

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

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.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience working with Connecticut 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.

• Firm understanding of current best-practice pedagogy related to language development instruction, as well as some familiarity with quality improvement strategies, professional learning practices and tools (such as Teaching Strategies Gold, CLASS, LENA etc.).

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

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues, especially those of differing backgrounds.

• Verbal and written ability to communicate in Spanish.

Working Conditions

• Significant in-state field work consisting of regular site visits to child care providers and study participants required. Up to 90% of time may be spent working in the field. Must have access to reliable transportation.

Pay Range

• $51,000 to $61,000 per year

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

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

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

About University of Chicago (UC)

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to our Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

Connections working at University of Chicago (UC)