Graduate Student Researcher

foundry10 is an education research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and creating direct value for youth. In collaboration with a wide range of partners, we surface, evaluate, and share opportunities to better support youth learning both inside and outside the classroom. Building on more than a decade of impactful work, our unique approach blends applied and basic research, philanthropy, and education programs rooted in evidence-based best practices.

Summary of Role

The Youth and Educator Social and Emotional Learning (YESEL) Lab at foundry10 is looking to hire a Graduate Student Researcher with advanced quantitative methodological training and experience to lead and support quantitative analysis across multiple applied research projects. The primary focus of this role will be preparing, managing, and analyzing cross-sectional and longitudinal data sets; applying advanced statistical methods to examine relationships and evaluate program outcomes; and translating quantitative findings into actionable insights. Research projects will focus on:

• social and emotional learning (SEL) in teacher preparation and education,
• student and teacher emotional responses to and use of artificial intelligence tools, and
• evaluation of social-emotional and behavioral supports in out-of-school-time settings.

The Graduate Student Researcher will work closely with Dr. Helen Lee on research projects that require skills or expertise in the graduate student’s field of study. A central responsibility will be independently conducting quantitative analyses and communicating approaches and results to the team. They will also collaborate on other stages of the research process (e.g., designing a research study, recruitment parameters, data analysis techniques, technical and non-technical writing). Additionally, they will work with Junior Researchers in moving projects forward.

The ideal candidate has (1) advanced training and applied experience in quantitative research methods, including longitudinal and quasi-experimental approaches, (2) experience independently preparing and analyzing complex datasets, (3) strong written communication skills, and (4) research expertise in lab focus areas.

This is a part-time, temporary position with variable hours of 10-15 per week, for approximately 32 weeks, with an anticipated start date in November 2026. The rate of pay is $48/hr. While this position can be remote, candidates must live in WA, MA, IL, AZ, TX or PA. Candidates working near the foundry10 office are welcome to work hybrid (in-person and at home as needed).

We are not able to sponsor visa applications. To be considered for this position, you must be eligible to work in the United States.

To protect our staff, partners, and the youth we serve, we require all foundry10 employees to adhere to our masking and COVID testing policies when working in person.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of research projects for the YESEL Lab
• Work with Senior Researchers and Junior Researchers on developing/executing all stages of the research process including:
  • Searching for, reviewing, and synthesizing relevant literature
  • Preparing IRB approval forms
  • Leading and supporting online recruitment efforts
  • Supporting survey design (e.g., pulling appropriate survey measures, testing and suggesting changes on surveys)
  • Preparing data (e.g., data entry, data cleaning, preparing descriptive summaries)
  • Analyzing cross-sectional and longitudinal data
  • Contributing to written reports and other relevant mediums to share research (e.g., journal articles, presentations, blog posts, video summaries)
  • Contributing to research-informed resources for educators
• Independently prepare, manage, and analyze quantitative datasets, including cross-sectional and longitudinal data
  • Clean, merge, and restructure data sets; assess data quality; address missing data; and prepare descriptive summaries
  • Apply appropriate statistical approaches (e.g., interrupted time series, regression discontinuity, multilevel level/mixed effects models), with guidance and mentorship from Senior Researchers
  • Develop and document reproducible analysis workflows using R or similar statistical programming software
  • Interpret and communicate findings through visualizations and written communication
• Conduct background research and contribute to the writing of literature reviews
• Assist in writing specific sections of peer-reviewed publications and/or present at a professional conference
• Analyze data from research and translate it into other mediums for worthwhile sharing (e.g., reports, conference papers, research briefs)
• Communicate actionable insights to various learning and research communities/fields as well as with lay-people in the community
• Support the development of the YESEL Lab knowledge base through exploratory research initiatives and literature reviews

Required Education and Experience

• Working towards a doctoral graduate degree (PhD) in Education or related social science field (e.g., Economics of Education, Education Policy, Psychology, Sociology, Applied Statistics, Social Work)
• Advanced training in quantitative methods (e.g., multi-level/mixed-effects modeling, causal inference)
• Experience preparing data for analysis and working with longitudinal data analysis (e.g., merging waves of data)
• Proficient in R or similar programming language
• Strong academic writing and publication experience
• Experience supporting research in an academic, professional, or applied setting (e.g., faculty research lab, independent research project, research internship)
• Experience conducting literature searches and reviewing and summarizing research literature
• Ability to organize and prioritize competing tasks and projects
• Communication skills to collaborate with team members in a fast-paced environment
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and in a hybrid environment

Preferred Qualificiations

• Context expertise in SEL, adolescent development, educator preparation, out-of-school-time programming, or youth and AI/technology
• Experience translating findings for non-academic audiences
• Competence in Qualtrics, Google Suite, or similar research and data analysis software and platforms
• Experience supporting quantitative data collection and analysis
• Experience with youth and educators in schools or out-of-school settings
• Experience communicating professionally with diverse audiences through email, virtual meetings, phone, or in-person interactions

Other Requirements

Ability to maintain a consistent work schedule of 10-15 hours per week from Monday through Thursday, with specific hours to be determined. Some flexibility is possible, but it is preferable for Graduate Student Researchers to have a relatively stable schedule.

To be considered for this position, please submit your CV/resume and a 3-5 page writing sample. Applications without a writing sample will not be considered. A cover letter is optional.

Writing Sample:

• The writing sample should be an example of prior work of which you are the sole/primary lead author.
• Samples should be no more than 5 pages and may include a literature review conducted for a college course, research proposal, conference proposal, a research thesis, report or draft of your research findings, or a popular press piece that synthesizes research findings. Samples can be excerpts of any of the above.
• If the sample is more than 5 pages, we will only read the first 5.

The hiring team will begin reviewing applications on November 2, 2026, and will continue to accept and review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs. foundry10 strives to provide a work environment free from discrimination and harassment because of a protected characteristic. The organization does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, creed, citizenship, status, national origin, ancestry, gender, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, religion, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities with the application and interviewing process as well as essential job functions.