Recruit
Assistant Researcher of Higher Education in the Graduate School of Education
Position overview
Position title: Assistant ResearcherApplication Window
Open date: January 27, 2026
Next review date: Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Mar 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Assistant Researcher will support the coordination, implementation, research and evaluation of a national initiative advancing servingness in STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Working under the Principal Investigator, the Assistant Researcher will conduct independent research and provide leadership to advance the project’s mission to expand access, enhance engagement, and promote institutional transformation across two- and four-year colleges and university partners.
In this role, the Assistant Researcher is responsible for the autonomous oversight and management of research and evaluation activities that examine student-centered STEM practices. Key responsibilities include coordinating data collection across partner institutions, maintaining project documentation, supporting interviews and surveys with educators and students, and independently leading advanced data analysis and synthesis. The Assistant Researcher helps ensure that project deliverables and reports reflect the program’s goals and the National Science Foundation (funder) priorities for broadening participation in STEM.
This position also involves mentoring student researchers, supporting training in qualitative and quantitative methods, and cultivating an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. The Assistant Researcher will independently author research briefs, presentations, and manuscripts that translate findings into actionable insights for educators, institutional leaders, and policymakers.
All research practices are grounded in evidence-based strategies tailored to the specific needs and contexts of underserved student populations, highlighting how HSIs can sustain and (re)imagine servingness in STEM education. The role contributes to a focused line of inquiry examining how educators and institutional leaders conceptualize student-centered mindsets and apply them to strengthen STEM pathways.
Through this work, the Assistant Researcher will help document and amplify the grant’s collective impact—advancing broadening participation in STEM, strengthening institutional capacity, and fostering cross-sector collaboration that supports student success and belonging in STEM fields.
Qualifications
• Degree: Ph.D. in Education, Sociology, STEM Education, or a related social science or STEM field.
• Contextual Knowledge: Proven understanding of the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) landscape, including the concept of "servingness" and the unique institutional structures of two-year and four-year colleges.
• Project Management: At least one year experience coordinating data collection across multiple institutional partners or research sites
• Communication: Demonstrated proficiency in technical writing as evidenced by a history of contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts or federal grant reports.
• Research Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience conducting educational research or program
evaluation specifically within STEM contexts.
• A record of scholarly productivity as evidenced by at least one lead-authored peer-reviewed publication or technical report in the field of Higher Education or STEM.
• Methodological Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including at least 2 years of applied experience with data collection (interviews/surveys) and data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose, SPSS, Stata, or R).
• Scholarly Leadership: A proven record of independently mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers and the ability to autonomously foster an inclusive research environment.
Subject Matter Expertise: Specialized knowledge in broadening participation in STEM or organizational
transformation, with a focus on removing barriers for underserved student populations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience translating complex research findings into "actionable insights" for diverse audiences, including institutional leaders, educators, and policymakers.
• Bilingualism: Proficiency in Spanish is highly desirable given the project’s focus on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and community engagement.
• Grant Leadership: Previous experience serving as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, or demonstrated experience managing NSF-funded project components, including annual reporting (RPPR) and compliance with NSF's "Broader Impacts" and "Intellectual Merit" requirements.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Reference checks are conducted only for the final candidate(s) identified after the interview process has concluded. References will be contacted via phone. Applicants will be notified via email prior to any references being contacted to ensure transparency before a formal offer is extended.
Help contact: aaron.ballett@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.