Academic Researcher

Job Profile

Scientist 2

Researchers and Scientists

Full time

$81,500.00 USD Annual

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Are you passionate about conducting high‑quality quantitative research as part of a diverse research team? Do you love working to improve higher education access, inclusivity, and reach? How about researching emerging ways of learning with virtual reality technology? Then continue reading below for this Academic Researcher position!

EdPlus at ASU is a dynamic unit of Arizona State University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national, and international communities served by ASU.

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Academic Researcher to join our high‑performing, interdisciplinary Action Lab research team. Although you will officially report to the Senior Director of Academic Research, you will collaborate with other Action Lab researchers, staff, and faculty to co‑manage the Dreamscape Lear (DSL) quantitative research protocols and to collect, analyze, coordinate, communicate, and maintain research information.

Dreamscape Learn combines narratively driven virtual reality lab experiences with a newly designed curriculum to engage ASU’s diverse, 21st‑century learners. Although DSL products have been integrated into several courses for several semesters (or even years), ongoing mixed‑methods research aims to deepen our understanding of DSL’s immediate and long‑term effects on student learning and persistence.

Action Lab is a data‑driven, research‑focused service organization—an impact hub—that supports ASU and EdPlus initiatives by equipping leaders with the insights and analyses they need to make informed, evidence‑based decisions. Action Lab drives transformational change in education through data and research, focusing on learner behaviors and the factors that drive success.

Ideally, you will possess strong skills in quantitative data management, statistical analysis, and modeling, as well as a solid understanding of research methodologies and their applications in higher education.

• Uses various computer programs and software to perform data computation, statistical analysis, etc. (Proficiency in R is required; flexibility to work in other languages and environments, including Python or SQL, is desirable).
• Coordinates and determines compatibility of data from various sources (e.g., internal ASU data tables and external datasets) with support from data management teams.
• Manages data collection and compilation. Performs data cleaning, statistical analysis, and data visualization in R.
• Selects, develops, and/or recommends appropriate research design methodologies, data analyses, and statistical procedures; assists with determining appropriate methodology to be used for specific project(s).
• Understands, values, and contributes to the richness of co‑informed data‑driven insights (i.e., those formed from the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods).
• Contributes to internal Action Lab/DSL reports and presentations as needed; helps prepare formal research reports and presentations for dissemination to various audiences; performs literature reviews to inform research design.
• Collaborates with the DSL research team to conduct quantitative research to co‑inform instructional practices, pedagogy, engagement, and technology decisions.
• Manages a high volume of research files; tracks, manages, prioritizes, and reports daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
• Co‑manages survey research process in Qualtrics; designs, develops, and implements research surveys using Qualtrics.
• Assumes or coordinates other duties or projects as…