Senior Research Associate

Job Description:

About Brown:

Brown University is a leading research university distinct for its student-centered learning and deep sense of purpose. Our students, faculty and staff are driven by the idea that their work will have an impact in the world.

Brown University offers a flexible work/life balance; summer hours, winter break and a comprehensive Benefits package including time off, annual paid holidays; benefits offerings including health, dental, vision, tuition assistance, retirement, wellness, employee discounts and more.  To learn about Brown University’s benefits, visit the University Human Resources web page for further information.

About the Annenberg Institute:

The Annenberg Institute is Brown University’s education research institute. Our vibrant community includes Brown University faculty, postdoctoral research associates, staff, students, and multiple partners in Rhode Island and across the US. We partner with education leaders and global scholars to connect people, evidence, and practices to build toward a more effective and equitable education system that enables all students to thrive academically and in other ways. Our knowledge initiatives catalyze conversations across the research landscape, synthesizing what we know and mobilizing practitioners, policymakers, and researchers toward collaborative impact.

About the Opportunity:

The Senior Research Associate will support a body of work related to shared measures of teacher professional learning and growth as part of the Annenberg Institute’s Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL) research team, led by Annenberg faculty John Papay and Nathaniel Schwartz. RPPL is a partnership that brings together professional learning (PL) organizations, district and state education systems, and researchers from the Annenberg Institute to strengthen how the field learns about and improves teacher professional learning. RPPL’s central goal is to rethink how we learn about teacher PL, shifting from studies that explore whether a specific program works to a broader learning agenda designed to identify how PL design features and the enabling conditions of PL improve teachers’ instructional practice and, as a result, students’ classroom experiences, well-being, and academic growth. RPPL focuses on supporting the learning of teachers who work with students from historically marginalized groups.

The incumbent will need to have a strong understanding of educational measurement, particularly the practical use of measures, to support a large body of work supporting organizations and school districts in developing shared measures to support organizational learning. They must also have the ability to describe measurement processes and procedures; conduct statistical analyses and validation studies; lead instrument/survey design and development; state intended interpretations and uses of survey response data and expertise in creating and using measures in robust and practical ways. Psychometric expertise is a benefit but not required.

Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Principal Investigators, the Senior Research Associate helps develop and lead key research analysis projects, driving all aspects of project planning for multiple research projects for this research team in a dynamic, layered team setting. The position takes a lead role in designing studies, leads data collection and analysis efforts, develops project models, engages practitioners and PL organizations as partners in research work, and writes academic papers, reports, presentations, and grant reports.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

●        Master’s degree in related field (PhD or EdD preferred) with 5-7 years of research experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

●        Ability to work independently or as a member of a team.

●        Experience working on large-scale research studies.

●        A strong quantitative background.

●        Strong background in education research.

●        Psychometric expertise is a plus but not required.

Competencies:

●        Strong analytical and writing skills.

●        Training and expertise in utilizing quantitative research methods, including experience working with complex data sets.

●        Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

●        Ability to describe measurement processes and procedures; conduct statistical analyses and validation studies; lead instrument/survey design and development; and state intended interpretations and uses of survey response data.

●        Strong ability to explain methods to research staff and provide guidance on models and interpretation of output.

●        Experience reviewing code and ensuring data best practices are being followed by the research team.

●        Experience distilling and translating substantive takeaways from analyses to policy/practitioner audience.

Additional Information:

This position is 100% grant funded and is for one year with the possibility of renewal, based on satisfactory work performance and dependent upon funding

Please include a resume as one attached .pdf document, 2 writing samples as one attached .pdf document, and the cover letter, transcript, and letters of recommendation or names of references (3) as another single .pdf document (for a total of three attachments).

Background and education check required.

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Please review additional information on the Benefits of Working at Brown.

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-08-10

Job Posting Title:

Senior Research Associate

Department:

Annenberg Institute for School Reform

Grade:

Grade 10

Worker Type:

Employee

Worker Sub-Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

37.5

Position Work Location:

Remote

Submission Guidelines:

The designated Position Work Location for each position determines the approved modality of work. Positions are classified based on the operational and business needs of the department and may be designated as on-site, hybrid, or remote.

Employees with a designated position work location as remote must reside and perform their work in a state where Brown University is registered to do business. Brown University is a registered employer in the following states: Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

Please note that to be considered for a staff position at Brown University, you must submit a separate application for each position you wish to be considered for. Applications are reviewed only for the specific position to which they are submitted and are not automatically considered for future openings.  

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact [email protected].

Brown is an E-Verify Employer.

EEO Statement:

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.