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, students, and families. SRI Education, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, is looking for temporary, part-time research assistants to conduct assessments and observations with preschool and kindergarten children.

This position offers a great opportunity to gain valuable child assessment skills and experience using standardized child assessment measures. Applicants should have experience conducting research and/or working with children in preschool and elementary school settings. Assessments will be conducted in schools in Spring of 2025. Training and certification on the assessment instruments will be provided in February and March of 2024 (Up to 6 training dates, via real time Zoom call or in-person). Successful applicants will be paid for their training as well as for time conducting assessments and other research activities. This is a temporary position starting in February 2025 and ending in late-May 2025.   

Work will take place in Sonoma County CA Classrooms, 1:1 with students.

Position requirements:

• Attend up to six training days in February/March to prepare for data collection responsibilities.
• Conduct direct child assessments and observations during spring data collection periods (March-May 2025).
• Communicate with SRI project manager and teachers to schedule data collection activities.
• Enter data in a web-based database.
• Must be willing and able to travel in-person to school sites and conduct assessments 1:1 with students outside the classroom

Required qualifications:

• Some undergraduate coursework in psychology, education, social work or early childhood
• Strong organizational, and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience working with children (e.g., as a teacher or assistant teacher in an elementary school, conducting assessments with children, working in afterschool programs)
• Access to a car or reliable transportation, as data collectors are expected to drive to participating schools
• Access to a computer/digital device and reliable internet
• Willingness to complete all security measures and training required by the study
• Morning & early afternoon availability (8am-2pm) at least three days a week, Monday through Friday 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with research
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish
• The position is estimated to require approximately 18-24 hours per week during the data collection periods.  

Pay for this role is $30 / hour.

SRI International, an over 75-year strong pioneering research institute, has a rich history supporting government and industry. Our innovations have created new industries, billions of dollars in market value and lasting benefits to society. SRI is organized around broad disciplines and capabilities, with research and development divisions and labs to groups who excel at identifying new opportunities, developing products and creating custom solutions. Our organization is driven by impact - delivering unique solutions for the world's important challenges and transforming ideas into reality for clients and partners.