Research Associate

Mission or Goal of Unit :

The School of Education (SOE) is committed to excellence in the initial preparation and continuing development of professionals for leadership, teaching, service and scholarly inquiry in culturally diverse settings across the life span.

Our mission and values are grounded in and committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement.

Established in 1983, the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) provides resources for professionals, individuals with disabilities, and their representatives.

Our team of nationally and internationally renowned researchers is committed to developing and advancing evidence-based practices to increase the hiring and retention of employment for individuals with disabilities.

Chief Purpose of this position :

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC), School of Education, invites interested candidates to apply for an exciting opportunity as a Research Associate.

The RRTC focuses on attaining competitive integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities through research and technical assistance activities.

The faculty member should have research interests that promote disability inclusion in education, employment, and other major life domains.

The work scope will include designing, implementing, and evaluating clinical research, participating in efforts to secure external funding, and the development of activities to disseminate research findings.

Note to Applicants : This is a grant-funded position.

Position Responsibilities :

The Research Associate will serve as an instructor in state and national virtual certification courses on employment interventions (e.

g., supported employment, customized employment) for vocational rehabilitation service providers, community rehabilitation providers, or other stakeholders (e.

g., educators, supervisors, etc.). Additionally, the Research Associate will :

Disseminate research findings via knowledge translation activities (e.g., develop plain language summaries, info-graphics, micro-learning videos, etc.

• for different audiences (e.g., job seekers or employees with disabilities, businesses, service providers, educators, and families);
• Assist with research development as it relates to the RRTC goals of enhancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities;

Lead and assist in the development of grant proposals from external funding sources (e.g., government agencies, non-profits, etc.

• for disability and employment research;
• Prepare research documents for review by the VCU Institutional Review Board (IRB) and participate in ongoing IRB interactions as required during active studies;
• Implement research protocols with precision as approved by the VCU IRB;
• Establish and maintain certification compliance with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Training);
• Conduct peer-reviewed literature reviews and other activities related to identifying and summarizing the base of knowledge surrounding topics related to disability and employment;
• Participate in the collection and analysis of research-derived data spanning a variety of methodologies including interviews, focus groups, surveys, secondary databases, and standardized assessments;
• Utilize data entry and analysis programs (e.g., RedCAP, SPSS, Excel, Nvivo, Atlas TI, Qualtrics, etc.);
• Pursue publications in discipline-specific peer-reviewed journals and other efforts to disseminate research (e.g., conferences, white papers, etc.);
• Complete required documentation of grant-related activities for funders;
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate level students in research activities;
• Serve in a professional capacity that promotes the RRTC and university’s research initiatives via various activities such as acting as a peer-reviewer for journal articles, conference submissions, grants submissions, etc.);
• Maintain excellent communication with supervisor, co-workers, and external staff through written and verbal communication;
• Work collaboratively with other research team members;
• Respond to requests for information promptly through electronic communication and other means;

Complete additional projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications :

Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g., education, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, psychology, biostatistics, or closely related field)

• Record of publications in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating expertise in relevant disciplines;
• At least 2 years of experience in data collection, management, and analysis;
• At least 2 years of experience in writing, monitoring, and / or implementing grant activities;
• Extensive knowledge of evidenced-based practices that facilitate inclusive outcomes for people with disabilities;
• Excellent communication skills;

Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications : Expertise / publications in a specific area or concentrated line of inquiry in a relevant discipline (e.

• g., education, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, psychology, biostatistics, or closely related field);
• Experience teaching or presenting research or clinical content for different stakeholder groups (e.g., families, service providers, individuals with disabilities, etc.);

Clinical experience working with people with disabilities in inclusive settings (e.g., education, employment, community living, etc.).