December Graduates: Research Opportunity

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS NEEDED FOR STUDIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 

Dr. Brenda Jones Harden, Professor, Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland College Park (UM), is seeking to hire full-time or part-time (i.e., at least 20 hours per week) research assistants (RAs) to collect data from young children and their families.

The RAs would be part of a busy and thriving research-practice group – the Prevention and Early Adversity Research Lab (PEARL) in UM’s College of Education. This position is ideal for a young professional wanting to work with children and families and/or seeking to attend graduate school at a later point. Professional development activities are integrated into the work of RAs.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The RA positions are related to two projects: 1) an evaluation of the Baltimore Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten program; and 2) an evaluation of an initiative to improve infant/toddler care in Washington, DC. Both projects will require assessments and interviews in families’ homes. RAs will develop relationships with parents and school personnel in order to recruit families for study participation. The RAs’ major role will be to collect a variety of child and family data in families’ homes, including developmental, language, and academic assessments, and parent-child interaction videotapes. Additional duties include entering, coding, managing, and analyzing data, writing sections of reports, reviewing relevant literature, and contributing to presentations and manuscripts, as well as other assigned tasks.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, child development, family science, or a related discipline. Experience working with children and families and conducting child assessments is preferred but not essential. Background using SPSS and data entry programs is a plus. One of the positions is reserved for a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) person. Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and organizational skills are required. Comfort going into low-income, minority neighborhoods and families’ homes is essential.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send resume, names of 3 references, and unofficial transcript to Brenda Jones Harden (bjharden@umd.edu).