Research Project Coordinator

Position Overview

KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) seeks a Research Project Coordinator to support projects related to educating and supporting young adults with disability and the professionals who work with them. This position will work across projects to coordinate project activities, monitor and communicate study progress, and assist with grant management and reporting tasks. These projects focus on the following areas:

• Professional development for and ongoing collaborations with secondary special educators and other professionals who work with young adults with disabilities.
• Integrated postsecondary education for young adults with intellectual disability in Kansas, particularly KU Transition to Postsecondary Education (KU TPE).

The research project coordinator is an important part of the KUCD team and may supervise the work of professional staff (e.g., research assistants or aides) and students supporting research project goals. The coordinator monitors tasks and responsibilities to ensure accurate and timely completion across projects and works collaboratively with team members to support task completion.

The University of Kansas, Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD) is recognized as a leading research center in the field of disability. KUCD implements and conducts grant‑funded research projects focusing on applied research on effective assessment and instructional methods with a particular focus on self‑determination and transition from high‑school to employment, postsecondary education, or community participation, and on interdisciplinary training in the disability field.

KUCD is part of the Life Span Institute (LSI), a leading research unit at the University of Kansas. KUCD is committed to fostering a supportive research and educational environment for all faculty, staff, and students.

This position is located at the University of Kansas‑Lawrence and occasional travel in Kansas and within the United States will be required.

The research project coordinator is a critical role and responsibilities include the following:

50% – Coordinate projects to provide all required deliverables and meet established goals within project timelines.

• Coordinate the development of materials/resources aligned with project goals and deadlines, working closely with project leadership to ensure alignment with grant goals and deliverables.
• Organize study activities such as recruiting and managing participants, tracking study activities and timelines, data collection organization and monitoring (including training data collectors and tracking data collection activities), and ensuring timely provision of participant incentives or other support (e.g., travel reimbursement, honoraria).
• Communicate regular, timely, thoroughly summarized project updates to all team members through careful planning of internal study team meetings, written status updates on a consistent schedule, and escalating items of concern to project leadership as needed.
• Organize inventory and ordering of necessary supplies and coordinate shipping of materials as needed.
• Strengthen team working relationships by communicating professionally with team members at multiple universities and local community organizations, study participants (e.g., teachers and students with disabilities), project funders, and the public around study details and activities as required and appropriate.

20% – Coordinate project meetings and events, including in‑person and virtual meetings, presentations and training sessions.

• Use efficient and effective methods to determine meeting times/places (e.g., using online calendars and meeting apps).
• Communicate with participants and sponsors via phone and digital means.
• Implement logistics (e.g., obtain meeting space, purchase food or materials, organize travel or travel reimbursement).
• Support the development of meeting/training materials and disperse them through a variety of methods (e.g., email, online, print).
• Attend and provide administrative support at meetings and trainings, as needed.
• Submit expense/travel materials per KU requirements.

20% – Provide project communications across…