The Center for Children and Technology (CCT) is a research and development center within EDC and is based in New York City. We conduct basic, applied, and casual and formative research, working in collaboration with educational, corporate, government and research institutions. We also design and develop prototype software and instructional resources that support engaged, active learning.

EDC|CCT is seeking a part-time, temporary, field researcher to administer assessments with young children in several locations across the country as part of a research study. The study’s focus is to learn about participating families use of videos, games, and activities in the home and may help identify new ways to help young children improve their learning.

This position is ideal for a graduate student or recent graduate seeking experience with data collection with young children or for an experienced early childhood educator seeking an opportunity to engage in research. This position is based in New York City, but requires both local travel as well as multi-night stays in up to five additional sites across the country. Data collection sites could include locations in the South, Midwest, Southwest, and West. This position requires training and participation in data collection efforts at two different points over a three-month research study period. Training will take place in February, the first site visits will take place during the months of Late February/March and April, and second site visits will take place beginning in May through June. Data collectors will work with a team of 8-9 researchers at each site, and in addition to conducting assessments, responsibilities may also include assisting the research team with other tasks during study orientation meetings with participating families.

EDC casual employees generally work as needed. A casual position receives statutory benefits of Social Security contributions, Medicare contributions, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and sick leave. A casual position ends when work is complete.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues and their partners. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

Under management and guidance, the Casual I (Researcher) provides support to the data collection efforts, including:

• Participating in all assessment and data collection trainings
• Traveling to local and national data-collection locations
• Conducting assessments with children
• Possibly conducting interviews with families
• Communicating effectively with families participating in study
• Facilitating project teamwork; engaging collaboratively in feedback
• Coordinating and communicating with study team leaders to follow established data collection protocols, and to submit data collected in a timely fashion
• Assisting with administrative tasks relevant to the study, including data management efforts

This position requires demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; superior organizational skills; the ability to work independently and in groups; and strong interpersonal skills. Specific requirements include:

• Experience working with young children
• Experience working with families of young children
• Experience administering assessments to children preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education & research or other related experience required
• Coursework in psychology, education, or early childhood is a plus
• Experience serving as a teacher or assistant teacher in an early childhood or early elementary classroom is a plus
• Experience with data entry. Familiarity with databases a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred 
• Familiarity and experience with Native (Alaskan) populations preferred. This study will involve data collection nationally in areas that are likely to potentially include Spanish-speaking and/or Native populations
• Availability from February through June 2020, with the flexibility to visit data collection sites for up to five days at a time (including weekends).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.