Research Associate

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service.  We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Research Associate at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood (MIEC) supports research projects focused on how to best meet the needs and elevate the importance of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) profession, while also researching the development and needs of ECEC leaders. Additionally, the Research Associate supports program evaluation efforts across the Institute. Key functions of this role include data management, statistical analysis, report writing, and project coordination. Relying on a strong background in early childhood education, the Research Associate utilizes advanced research skills as they assist the Research Director in all aspects of enacting the McCormick Institute’s Research Agenda.   This role is responsible for supporting data collection and analysis, conducting and overseeing comprehensive literature reviews for pertinent studies, supporting the development and delivery of conference presentations, and publishing research manuscripts. This position offers opportunities to collaborate with university faculty, research staff, trainers, and external partners across local, national, and international projects, providing valuable experience in research, partnership development, and policy engagement.

Research and Program Evaluation Support

• Contribute to the design and implementation of research studies and evaluation projects that assess the effectiveness of programs, initiatives, and leadership models within the early childhood sector. 
• Apply both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to ensure robust and meaningful results. 
• Help align evaluation tools with project goals, data integrity standards, and field best practices. 

Data Collection and Analysis

• Lead and support primary data collection efforts through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation. 
• Manage large datasets with attention to detail and confidentiality. 
• Conduct statistical analyses (e.g., descriptive stats, inferential analyses, regressions) using tools like SPSS, R, or similar platforms to identify key trends and outcomes. 

Literature Reviews and Field Scans

• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to synthesize current research, emerging trends, and gaps in early childhood education leadership and workforce development. 
• Prepare annotated bibliographies, literature summaries, and issue briefs to support new research proposals and grant applications. 

Report Writing and Publication

• Support the writing of research reports, policy briefs, and scholarly manuscripts for academic journals, funding agencies, and public dissemination. 
• Translate complex data into accessible insights for a variety of audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and funders. 
• Develop presentation materials (slides, posters, handouts) for academic and professional conferences.
• Co-present findings at regional, national, and international conferences to build visibility for MIEC's work and engage with the broader research community. 

Project Coordination and Administrative Support

• Assist in managing project timelines, work plans, and deliverables. 
• Coordinate meetings, track progress, and maintain documentation across multiple concurrent projects. 
• Support grant reporting, budget monitoring, and compliance activities as needed. 

Collaboration and External Engagement

• Work with university faculty, internal staff, and external partners to design and implement collaborative research projects. 
• Participate in cross-institutional working groups, research-practice partnerships, and policy roundtables.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels. 

• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Developmental Pyschology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Educational Leadership, Applied Research, Program Evaluation, social Sciences, Public Policy, or related field.
• Three plus (3+) years experience using statistical software such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), STATA, or Statistical Analysis System (SAS), Tableau, Power BI, and/or Excel for data dashboards
• Three plus (3+) years demonstrated track record of working within or supporting research teams (including faculty researchers, program evaluators, fellows, and/or graduate students, etc.) in a university setting to conduct research and/or evaluate programs
• Three plus (3+) years demonstrated experience working within community-based early childhood (birth to five) programs.
• One plus (1+) year experience in securing research funding through competitive grants, contracts, or other funding.
• One plus (1+) year experience in collaborating across teams.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range of the grade for this position is $50,453 to $73,157 annually.  Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity. 

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form