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Assistant Professor position - Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Posted: Friday, May 14, 2021

 

Assistant Research Professor Opening
Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities

The Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) is searching for an Assistant Research Professor to support research on self-determination for people with disabilities across the life course. This position will work across projects to contribute to the development of new and implementation of existing funded research projects, support research grant development, and author or co-author scientific papers or other dissemination products for presentation and publication. These research projects include focus in the following areas:

  • Large-scale training and coaching for self-determination intervention to support youth and young adults to engage in goal setting, action planning, and self-evaluation activities
  • Community-based research with young adults and adults with intellectual and development disabilities to support decision making, self-determination, and employment
  • School-based research with students with autism spectrum disorder and/or other disabilities using self-determination instruction and peer supports
  • Research focused on implementing evidence-based interventions, aligned with the tenets of implementation science

The Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) is recognized as a leading research center in the field of disability. KUCDD implements and conducts grant-funded projects focusing on (a) applied research on effective assessment and intervention practices with a particular focus on self- determination, transition to employment, supported decision making and (b) interdisciplinary training in the disability field. KUCDD is part of the Life Span Institute (LSI), a leading research unit at the University of Kansas. The KUCDD maintains facilities on the University of Kansas Lawrence campus, at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, and in Parsons in southeast Kansas. As a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the core functions of the KUCDD are:

  • Community Services (including technical assistance, community education, and direct services)
  • Information Dissemination
  • Interdisciplinary Training
  • Research

This position is located at the University of Kansas-Lawrence. Due to COVID restrictions, this position will begin teleworking and may transition to on-site work when deemed safe and necessary.

KUCDD research staff are expected to actively engage in research projects and disseminate research results through print, online resources, and direct, in-person presentation of information. KUCDD is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive research and educational environment for faculty, staff and students. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, KUCDD actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education, including people with disabilities.

Under the supervision of the Director of KUCDD, the Assistant Research Professor will advance research  in the disability field, including focus on areas such as: self-determination assessment and instruction and transition to post-secondary education and employment. The position will be expected to lead research design and statistical analyses in support of the development of new and implementation of existing funded research projects, and support grant preparation activities, including building their own line of research as well as author or co-author scientific papers or other dissemination products for presentation and publication. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and interest in disability, self-determination, and/or transition research; has a doctoral degree in quantitative methods in Educational Research, Psychology, or other related social or behavioral science field; and has previous experience with writing statistical methods and analysis sections for grant submissions in disability.

Job Description:

50% - Research design and statistical analyses: Provide statistical-analysis expertise as a Pl or member of a research team associated with KUCDD.

Specific statistical activities may include any of the following:

a. Select appropriate research designs and statistical techniques.

b. Assume full responsibility for the statistical analyses required for a particular study and document the analytic approach and results.

c. Provide consultation services related to as well as training in statistical methodology and data management strategies as appropriate for researchers and graduate students.

d. Collaborate on data validation for randomized controlled trials to address open science standards.

25% - Grant preparation activities: Serve as a Pl or member of a research team associated with KUCDD. Specific activities may include any of the following:

a. Consult with research team in order to select appropriate research designs and statistical techniques.

b. Perform power calculations and select appropriate sampling methods.

c. Assist with preparation of research questions, methods, and analysis sections of grant proposals. Often this will include assisting to develop and refine the research questions and writing the entire proposed methods and analysis plan.

d. Prepare and submit grant applications related to methodological issues (i.e., statistics and research design)

10% - Establish/continue a line of inquiry to test/disseminate statistical methods/applications relevant to advancing disability research, including publishing methods papers and/or measurement papers in scientific journals and conferences.

10% - Publication and presentation of content research findings: Based on results from statistical analyses related to ongoing Center grant-funded data collection, prepare statistical methods and results sections for manuscripts submitted for publication or presentations for conferences or other professional meetings.

5% - Stay current with advances in statistical methodologies/techniques: Read and review published research on statistical methodologies/applications. Attend appropriate workshops and lectures on quantitative topics. Participate in simulation and study groups focused on statistical methodologies/applications.

Required Qualifications:

  1. Doctoral degree in quantitative methods in Educational Research, Psychology, or other related social or behavioral science field.
  2. At least 2 publications in the area of disability, self-determination, and/or transition.
  3.  At least 2 years data analysis experience with databases from large, federally funded projects as evidenced by application materials.
  4.  Fluency in and at least 2 years applied experience with a major statistical package such as SAS, R or SPSS as evidenced by application materials.
  5. Experience in writing statistical methods and analysis sections for grant submissions in disability as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications:

  1. Additional advanced degree in related field (e.g., Special Education, School Psychology).
  2. Training in and experience applying each of the following advanced statistical methods: mixed-model analyses, structural equation modeling, and missing data procedures.
  3. Experience in teaching or presenting workshops on statistics and methodology.
  4. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams doing data validation.
  5. Demonstrated ability to work well with a wide variety of stakeholders.
  6. Publication record demonstrating ability to perform and effectively communicate advanced statistical analyses.
  7. Experiences with research, data analysis, and publication in self-determination and transition assessment and intervention research.

Contact Information to Candidates:
Karrie A. Shogren, Ph.D.
Professor and Senior Scientist, University of Kansas
Director, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities
[email protected]

For more information and to apply, please visit https://employment.ku.edu/academic/19001BR.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fair way, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses)