United States onlySWORPS Division of Applied Research and Evaluation (DARE) is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative individual to fill the position of a Full Time Research Associate (RA) to assist with ongoing research projects. The RA will contribute to a variety of research projects from proposal to publication. DARE currently offers applied research and program evaluation in several closely related fields including early childhood education, child welfare, public health, K-12 education, and support for non-custodial care-givers. This candidate would likely begin work focused on the early childhood context but their portfolio of work may soon grow beyond ECE depending upon need.
- Support the development of new research projects and grant opportunities by conducting literature reviews based on interests of client to identify new opportunities
- Conduct background research for literature reviews and needs assessments in order to provide senior staff with complete written drafts of literature reviews for client facing documents
- Assist with the collection of qualitative and quantitative data, including preliminary survey development in order to organize and do initial analyzing of data to assist senior researchers
- Solve complex and varied problems using qualitative and quantitative methods
- Provide professional contributions including but not limited to reviewing documents prior to submission to client, organizing and checking source materials and reference list and preparing supporting documents for grant submissions for research programs and projects requiring specialized knowledge and experience or expertise in a specific field of study.
- Perform components of a research program independently or with guidance from a senior member of the research team or principal investigator
- Contribute to the work of other researchers to complete projects
- Communicate effectively with team members as well as members of partner organizations
- Draft emails, memos, reports, help arrange focus groups, travel documentation for research team, communicating with partners organizing joint meetings and events as well as other tasks needed to support the work of the Applied Research Team
Required Qualifications
- Education: Masters Degree
- Experience: 2 years experience in conducting original research either independently or under senior researchers
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to perform complex research-related work assignments.
- Experience in solving a range of straightforward problems that may include proposing and implementing procedural and design modifications.
- Makes independent judgments and decisions, including theoretical approaches, design of experiments and conclusions.
- Ability to perform research tasks independently, or with limited supervision.
- Advanced data analysis (qualitative or quantitative)
- Basic knowledge of statistical software including SPSS, R, Tableau, PowerBI
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Doctoral Degree
- Experience: 3 - 5 years experience conducting independent research and furthering an identifiable research agenda
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Data management experience
Work Location
- Location: position is fully remote
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: MR 08
- Anticipated hiring range: Around 75% of the range
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.
Interested individuals should provide the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 Professional References
About The College/Department/Division
The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.
Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.
Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
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