Postdoctoral Research Scholar

About the NC State College of Education

As one of the nation’s top-ranked colleges of education, NC State’s College of Education leads the way in North Carolina in preparing extraordinary educators, conducting transformational research, and engaging communities where they are to improve the educational outcomes of all learners and advance the greater good. The college’s faculty are widely-recognized thought leaders who use their research to transform the practice of teaching, learning, and leading. They have particular strengths in improving technology-enhanced learning and teaching; fostering community-based learning and PK-16 partnerships; and innovating leadership and workforce development, educational policy, and evaluation. About two-thirds of the faculty are grant active. They are engaged in over 225 active projects totaling $151 million, making them the most productive in terms of research activity compared with other colleges of education in North Carolina and among the Top 5% in the nation. In FY24, the college’s research expenditures exceeded $20 million. The college has over 1,600 students studying across five graduate certificates, seven undergraduate majors, two undergraduate minors, 13 master’s degrees, three Ph.D., and two Ed.D. programs housed in three academic departments: Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education; and Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, with approximately 130 tenure-track and professional-track faculty, 110 support and professional staff, and about 160 graduate and teaching assistants. The College of Education is also home to the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, and Elevate, NC State’s inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The college has over 18,000 living alumni, with over 6,000 working in public schools in every county in North Carolina. Those who are teachers rate among the highest in effectiveness on surveys of school employers in North Carolina.

About The Belk Center

The Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research develops and sustains exceptional community college leaders who are committed to advancing college access and student success, the social and economic mobility of their colleges’ students, and the economic competitiveness of their regions. The center provides professional development and research related to current and emerging student success opportunities and challenges facing community college leaders and policymakers in North Carolina and the nation.

Primary Purpose Of Position

The Senior Research Associate (Postdoctoral Scholar) serves as a researcher supporting applied research initiatives within the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. This position designs, implements, and evaluates mixed-methods research projects focused on improving outcomes for adult learners, student parents, and community colleges. The position is responsible for leading quantitative and qualitative research activities, producing evidence-based recommendations, disseminating research findings through publications and presentations, and supporting statewide leadership development and institutional improvement efforts. The Senior Research Associate will also mentor graduate student researchers and collaborate with community college leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance the Belk Center’s mission of improving student success through applied research.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Research Design, Implementation, and Analysis (40%)

• Lead the design, implementation, and analysis of mixed-methods research studies.
• Design, administer, and analyze large-scale statewide surveys, including the Student Parent Survey.
• Conduct quantitative modeling, policy analyses, cost-benefit analyses, and other statistical evaluations to assess program effectiveness and student outcomes.
• Develop research methodologies and evaluation plans that produce rigorous, actionable findings.
• Ensure research quality through reproducible analytical methods and sound data management practices.

Data Collection, Reporting, and Dissemination (25%)

• Conduct quantitative analyses using statistical software such as Stata, SPSS, R, or Python.
• Support qualitative research through the design, facilitation, coding, and analysis of interviews and focus groups using software such as NVivo or Dedoose.
• Integrate qualitative and quantitative findings into comprehensive reports and recommendations.
• Prepare executive summaries, technical reports, scholarly manuscripts, practice briefs, guidebooks, and other research products.
• Present research findings to institutional leaders, policymakers, statewide partners, and professional organizations at local, state, regional, and national conferences.

Stakeholder Engagement and Program Support (20%)

• Facilitate the Student Parent Advisory Council.
• Support curriculum development for statewide communities of practice by contributing research findings, metrics, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Collaborate with community colleges, tribal colleges, state agencies, and external partners to support project implementation and continuous improvement.
• Engage with stakeholders to support study design, data collection, interpretation of findings, and dissemination of results.

Professional Scholarship and Mentorship (15%)

• Mentor and advise graduate student researchers and research assistants engaged in Belk Center projects.
• Publish and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts and other scholarly publications.
• Present research at regional and national conferences.
• Participate in professional development and contribute to advancing the Belk Center's research agenda.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree) in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution, conferred by the anticipated start date of employment.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and evaluating mixed-methods research.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience conducting survey research, policy analysis, and program evaluation.
• Proficiency with quantitative analysis software (Stata, SPSS, R, or Python).
• Experience using qualitative analysis software such as NVivo or Dedoose.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Ability to communicate complex research findings to academic and practitioner audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of adult learners, student parents, and community college systems.
• Experience conducting applied education research or workforce development research.
• Experience publishing scholarly research and presenting at professional conferences.
• Experience mentoring graduate students or research assistants.
• Experience working on statewide or multi-institution research initiatives.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 40 hours a week between regular business hours.