Job location: Charlottesville, VA

Youth-Nex (The UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development) at the School of Education and Human Development is seeking highly qualified applicants for a one-year Postdoctoral Research Associate position, with the possibility of extension to two years based on an annual basis dependent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Youth-Nex trains scholars to conduct research related to promoting effective youth development, intervention, and programming, including preventing problem behaviors. A focus of the center’s work is on translational research and research-practice partnerships in the out-of-school time and/or middle school areas. This position will lead the Youth Action Lab (YAL) and support additional Youth-Nex projects.

YAL partners with local teachers, schools, and youth-serving organizations to train and support youth, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, in using research to improve their lives and communities. Through Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), young people learn to systematically research issues they care about and take action to address them. The Youth Action Lab curriculum engages youth as scientists in all aspects of the research process, from developing research questions to analyzing data and using findings to inform solutions. This position will support existing YAL partnerships and help build the research infrastructure for YAL, with a goal of developing a line of research on the processes and outcomes of YPAR as a type of youth development programming.

The ideal candidate for this position must demonstrate:

• Research interests in issues of adolescent development, particularly in the areas of youth leadership, civic engagement, and youth participatory action research.
• Familiarity with multi-methods approaches to research, including participatory methods.
• Substantive understanding of and interest in the fields of Positive Youth Development.
• The ability to synthesize a research literature and draw implications for practice.
• The ability to knowledgably apply qualitative and quantitative research methods in researching effective youth development.
• The ability to collaborate with and lead a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers.
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection and design, management and analysis skills (software such as Dedoose, online tools such as Qualtrics, QuestionPro, or SurveyMonkey).

This full-time position will incorporate work on additional Youth-Nex projects related to positive youth development scholarship and initiatives (e.g., development of a credentialing program for positive youth development; supporting statewide effort to build community-wide youth support and assessment systems).

Qualifications:

Education: Applicants have an earned Ph.D. in Education, Psychology, or a related field.

Experience:

• Conducting applied or translational research in educational and/or community-based out-of-school settings.
• Synthesizing research literature, data management and collection of field studies, and management of research and student assistants.
• Expertise in youth leadership, out-of-school time, youth civic engagement, and/or youth participatory action research is required.

Preference will be given to applicants who have direct experience engaging youth in participatory research, translating research for practitioner audiences, and/or partnering with practitioners on research and using an interdisciplinary approach to either education or youth development.

Physical Demands: This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require walking some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $55,000 to $60,000 (commensurate with qualifications). For more information see this link on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA.

Application:

For questions about the position, please contact Youth-Nex, and for questions about the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks.

Please apply through Workday, and search for ‘Postdoctoral Research Associate, Youth Action Lab at Youth-Nex". Complete an application online and attach:

• Cover letter (addressed to Nancy Deutsch)
• CV/resume
• Statement of research interests
• Two publications or writing samples
• Contact information for three references

Submit all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field, alternatively you can merge your materials together and submit as one. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Applications that are missing materials will not receive full consideration.

Research Associates are appointed annually, and continuation is dependent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Review of applications will begin 10 days after posting and will remain open until filled.

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The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.