About the Opportunity This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. JOB SUMMARY The Center for the Future of Higher
Education
and Work seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead the research operations of The Future of Higher
Education
and Work at Northeastern University: Personalized Learning for Students and Customized Career Preparation, a study funded by the Davis Educational Foundation. The project tests whether real-time assessment and feedback during cooperative education placements accelerate students' development of durable skills — critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration — using a pre/post design with approximately 300 co-op students, paired with structured employer interviews and a library of just-in-time learning interventions. The Postdoctoral Associate will work under the Principal Investigators (Constance Yowell, Sasha Goldman, and Christine Bolzan) and alongside external collaborators with substantial latitude to shape the analytic approach and to lead publications and conference presentations from the pilot data. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS PhD in education, sociology, psychology, measurement/assessment, public policy, or a related field, completed by the start date or within six months of hire Demonstrated quantitative research skills, including experience with longitudinal or pre/post designs and proficiency in R, Python, Stata, or SPSS
Experience
with survey administration (Qualtrics or equivalent) and rigorous data management practices Record of scholarly writing and evidence of the ability to communicate findings to non-academic audiences PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Qualitative interviewing and coding experience (NVivo, Dedoose, or Atlas.ti) Background in higher education, work-integrated learning, cooperative education, or workforce development
Experience
managing IRB protocols KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES The level and mixture of the duties may vary by position but typically include a combination of the following responsibilities. Lead design and administration of the pre/post competency assessment pilot across participating colleges, including instrument selection, administration windows aligned to the six-month co-op cycle, and participation tracking Administer assessments and manage the merging, cleaning, and quality control of survey, assessment, and administrative data Conduct quantitative analysis of skill growth and produce findings for research, practitioner, and funder audiences Serve as day-to-day research liaison to assessment partners and collaborators at UC Irvine Maintain IRB protocols, the data management plan, and study documentation Lead drafting of the Davis Educational Foundation interim report (due February 28, 2027) and final report (due August 31, 2027) Author and co-author manuscripts, briefs, and conference presentations; support dissemination through practitioner networks This is a grant-funded appointment through July 31, 2027, renewal is contingent on funding and satisfactory performance. Position Type Research Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.