Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

JOB SUMMARY

The Center for the Future of Higher Education and Work seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead the research operations of The Future of Higher Education and Work at Northeastern University: Personalized Learning for Students and Customized Career Preparation, a study funded by the Davis Educational Foundation. The project tests whether real-time assessment and feedback during cooperative education placements accelerate students' development of durable skills — critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration — using a pre/post design with approximately 300 co-op students, paired with structured employer interviews and a library of just-in-time learning interventions. The Postdoctoral Associate will work under the Principal Investigators (Constance Yowell, Sasha Goldman, and Christine Bolzan) and alongside external collaborators with substantial latitude to shape the analytic approach and to lead publications and conference presentations from the pilot data.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in education, sociology, psychology, measurement/assessment, public policy, or a related field, completed by the start date or within six months of hire
• Demonstrated quantitative research skills, including experience with longitudinal or pre/post designs and proficiency in R, Python, Stata, or SPSS
• Experience with survey administration (Qualtrics or equivalent) and rigorous data management practices
• Record of scholarly writing and evidence of the ability to communicate findings to non-academic audiences

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Qualitative interviewing and coding experience (NVivo, Dedoose, or Atlas.ti)
• Background in higher education, work-integrated learning, cooperative education, or workforce development
• Experience managing IRB protocols

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

The level and mixture of the duties may vary by position but typically include a combination of the following responsibilities.

• Lead design and administration of the pre/post competency assessment pilot across participating colleges, including instrument selection, administration windows aligned to the six-month co-op cycle, and participation tracking
• Administer assessments and manage the merging, cleaning, and quality control of survey, assessment, and administrative data
• Conduct quantitative analysis of skill growth and produce findings for research, practitioner, and funder audiences
• Serve as day-to-day research liaison to assessment partners and collaborators at UC Irvine
• Maintain IRB protocols, the data management plan, and study documentation
• Lead drafting of the Davis Educational Foundation interim report (due February 28, 2027) and final report (due August 31, 2027)
• Author and co-author manuscripts, briefs, and conference presentations; support dissemination through practitioner networks

This is a grant-funded appointment through July 31, 2027, renewal is contingent on funding and satisfactory performance.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.