SRI Education is committed to bringing rigorous and equitable research and evaluation data to bear on important educational policy and practice decisions that ultimately benefit practitioners, children, and families. SRI Education, in collaboration with Catherine Hershey Schools for Early learning, is looking for temporary, part-time research assistants to conduct assessments with preschool children.

This position offers a great opportunity to gain valuable child data collection skills and experience using standardized child assessment measures. Training and certification on the instruments will be provided in February 2025. Data collection will be conducted in early learning programs beginning in February 2025 through summer 2025. Successful applicants will be paid for their training as well as for time collecting data, travel and other research activities. There is a possibility to participate in data collection in in subsequent project phases.

Data collection will take place in person in Harrisburg, PA and in early childhood centers in the surrounding area (Hershey and Middletown).

After an in-person training and reliability certification beginning in early February, data collection will be ongoing from  through July 2025 with the option to continue in fall as well as into 2026.

The project team will train research assistants to administer multiple assessments to measure executive function, language, and early math skills.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Psychology, Social Work or other related field is preferred
• Ability to work at least 24 - 32 hours per week
• Reliable transportation access
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and TB test.
• Although not required, individuals who are bilingual in Spanish and English are especially encouraged to apply.
• Data collectors are expected to comply with site-level health and safety regulations. For example, site requirements may include testing for COVID-19 prior to entering the school, providing proof of vaccination, and/or PPE (e.g., wearing masks while in the school).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience conducting research and/or working with young children in preschool and kindergarten school settings
• Experience administering math or literacy assessments

The salary range is: $25/hr.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For more than 75 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.