Associate Project Scientist (CTS)

The Department of Education in the School of Education & Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles announces an opening for a Project Scientist.

The Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCLA's School of Education and Information Studies (Ed&IS) is dedicated to partnering with the education ecosystem to bring about systems change through Humanizing Research, Validating Practices, and Transformative Policies with key stakeholders to support equitable educational outcomes for all students. Our vision is to be a catalyst for learning communities to boldly nurture and protect the dignity, wellbeing, and full potential of all students.

The Project Scientist will be supporting a research center that deeply values education justice and social justice as core to its work. In this role, the Project Scientist will lead a portfolio of externally funded research, evaluation, and technical assistance initiatives that advance equitable outcomes for California students and school communities. Responsibilities will include overseeing project strategy, research design, implementation, reporting, and deliverables; supervising project staff (including research analysts and graduate student researchers); and building partnerships with district, county, state, and community leaders to translate evidence into practice and policy. The incumbent is the lead for the Race, Education, and Community Healing (REACH) Network, the Project Scientist will direct statewide research-practice partnership activities focused on advancing alternatives to exclusionary discipline. This work will include developing and facilitating communities of practice, guiding the project's applied research agenda, and producing practitioner- and policy-facing products that inform local implementation and state-level conversations. The Project Scientist will also lead an interagency agreement partnership with the California Department of Public Health, Office of School Health, to develop evidence-informed digital citizenship and wellness curricula for TK-12 students aligned to statewide prevention and youth wellbeing priorities. In addition, the Project Scientist will serve as an advisor for the evaluation of the California Black Educator Initiative in partnership with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Using mixed methods, this study will examine implementation, educator experiences, and outcomes associated with expanding Black teacher certification pathways and strengthening teacher diversity in California. The role will also include leading CTS's work under an American Institutes of Research (AIR) technical assistance partnership through the West Comprehensive Center, supporting practitioner-facing products and capacity-building support for education agencies and school systems across the West region. Across the portfolio, the Project Scientist will engage cross-sector partners, contribute to extramural funding development aligned with CTS priorities, and support legislative briefings and convenings that elevate evidence and field-based implementation lessons. The Project Scientist will communicate and support project staff, PIs, and other members of the ED&IS and UCLA community to ensure projects are moving forward and following University policies and procedures.

The Associate Director, under the direction of the Co-Directors, works to advance the research and practice priorities of the Center through leadership, coordination, and collaboration across multiple domains of work. Core responsibilities include:

• Assisting in developing and establishing the research agenda with the CTS faculty co-directors and CTS Executive Director.
• Under the supervision of the CTS Executive Director, assist in identifying future research projects and funding opportunities in securing extramural funding for the center.
• Cultivate relationships with scholarly, practitioner, and/or policy experts in order to promote CTS' work.
  
  
• Collaborate with CTS leadership to develop recommendations for the evaluation reports and case studies on all projects, which will be presented to the State Legislature, Governor, and State Board of Education, among others.
  
  
• Present data and findings to local and state representatives.
• Independently prioritizes and completes ongoing tasks following established departmental guidelines and University policies.
• Supervise and provide guidance to 2-4 graduate student researchers.
• Supervise and provide guidance to 1-2 research analysts.

• The appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee's field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected in the fields of Education, Social Work, or related field.
• Strong background in research related to issues of racial equity in schools, linkages between poverty, social inequality and education, education policy and the academic, social and emotional factors that impact student learning.
• Exhibit a deep understanding of how in-school and out-of-school factors influence student achievement, the role of school systems to prioritize the success of its most vulnerable student populations and scholarship that examines the disproportionate impact of zero tolerance policies and practices on low-income students of color.
• Must have a program of research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how education policies can mitigate or address structural racism and social inequities.
• Knowledge or experience in the preparation of grant applications and other development activities.
• Skill in working as part of a team; ability to collaborate with colleagues.

Basic Qualifications (at time of application):

• The appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee's field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected in the fields of Education, Social Work, or related field.
• Strong background in research related to issues of racial equity in schools, linkages between poverty, social inequality and education, education policy and the academic, social and emotional factors that impact student learning.
• Exhibit a deep understanding of how in-school and out-of-school factors influence student achievement, the role of school systems to prioritize the success of its most vulnerable student populations and scholarship that examines the disproportionate impact of zero tolerance policies and practices on low-income students of color.
• Must have a program of research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how education policies can mitigate or address structural racism and social inequities.
• Knowledge or experience in the preparation of grant applications and other development activities.
• Skill in working as part of a team; ability to collaborate with colleagues.

Additional Qualifications (at time of application):

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Contact information for three professional reference (contact only)

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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