Researcher- Theory & Practice In Teacher Education
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Full-time
Education
Posted on April 30, 2024
This position will serve as a Researcher for the Big Words project funded by Reading Reimagined, which is an inclusive Research and Development (R&D) program under the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF). AERDF is a national nonprofit initiative that pursues breakthrough outcomes in student learning, well-being, and opportunity. The position will start August 1, 2024, for up to one year and a half (up to December 2025 – position is soft-funded). The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.
The University and Region
UTK is the state’s flagship, land-grant university. We are a Research 1 university with 11 colleges and more than 30,000 students. With strong leadership at the system, university, and college levels, UTK is poised for dramatic positive change focused on solving some of the most audacious, pressing problems our country and world face today. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem surrounded by eight gorgeous lakes, with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene including internationally recognized festivals, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of cultural and outdoor activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, and Cincinnati. It is only a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people.
The Department
The Department of Theory and Practice in Education includes 4 research professors, 27 tenured and tenure- track faculty, 15 clinical-track, and 7 lecture-track faculty. The department provides undergraduate majors in education and audiology and speech pathology, deaf studies, and special education with multiple minors offered. The graduate programs offered are a Master of Science with 12 concentrations, an EdS, or Specialist in Education, and a PhD with three concentrations and several specializations. The mission of TPTE is to benefit local, regional, national, and global communities by conducting research, preparing teachers, and engaging in outreach and service.
Project’s Purpose: It is critical that students in the upper elementary grades have access to high quality, evidence-based instruction to read and write big words in order to be skilled readers and writers as they progress through school and to ensure later life success and career-readiness. Utilizing Design-Based Research methodologies and through a collaboration with upper elementary learners, teachers, and community experts, the project will develop and evaluate the effects of instructional components on students’ decoding, encoding, sentence production, fluency and their confidence to read when provided in online self-paced workshops.
Project Leaders: The project is led by Professors Zoi A. Traga-Philippakos from the University of Tennessee and Margaret Quinn at Texas A&M and consists of a dynamic team of student researchers and partners.
Qualifications :
Position: We seek a researcher to further the research and development work of the project. This position will work in collaboration with the project PI and CoPI to: select, develop and design curriculum and materials for adults and teachers and will provide instruction in the use of said materials as part of the scope of the project. This position will collect, organize, and record data as well as analyze and write reports. This position will provide guidance and/or supervision to graduate assistants, student and hourly workers; develop and manage timelines and deadlines for the project team; and will be the communications coordinator with project stakeholders.
Required qualifications: MS degree in Literacy Education or related field with a combination of at least two years’ experience working in classrooms as teachers of English Language Arts or interventionists and working in education as instructors of learners across K to 12 systems.
Required skills: skills in research principles, methods, and practices; analytical skills. Ability to understand, design, and evaluate instruction and professional development related to literacy. Skill in researching and analyzing problems and developing innovative solutions. Ability to develop and present data findings.
Skills as an effective leader: ability to delegate responsibilities and to hold others accountable; strong organizational skills; ability to plan, prioritize, and balance workload on research projects, collaborations, and completion of materials. Ability to collaborate and consult with others. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of research analysis packages (e.g., R, SPSS). Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Proficient writer and user of English Language.
Preferred qualifications: A doctoral degree in literacy education or related field. Experience teaching grades 3 to 8. Experience working with adults and supporting professional development. Knowledge of video editing and video software.
The Application review will begin immediately, and the position start date is August 1, 2024.
This position is full-time, MR09, exempt, with health/dental insurance, and other benefits. At UTK, we strive to provide eligible employees with a comprehensive suite of benefits. For complete information about insurance, retirement, and other available benefits, visit the UT System HR Benefits website.
For full consideration, applicants must complete an official application in the UT online job system (TALEO) submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience along with a resume and the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of three to five professional references.
