Iowa State University
Location
Ames, IA | United States
Job description
The Postdoctoral Researcher will work on projects funded by the US Departments of Health and Human Services and Education and state of Iowa Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Management, and Workforce Development focused on policy-relevant research in the areas of early childhood, family well-being, family systems, home visiting, prenatal care and public health, child care, child welfare, and school readiness. The successful candidate will join a productive team of investigators at Iowa State University led by Dr. Heather Rouse including co-investigators Cassandra Dorius, William Abraham, Carla Peterson, and Kere Hughes-Belding (see for more information about the HDFS department including faculty homepages), as well as co-investigators Ji Young Choi ( and Christine Lippard ( This specific team of investigators specializes in mixed-methods research that includes large national datasets, state administrative datasets, and survey/focus group approaches to understand early risk and protective experiences in home and neighborhood contexts.
The focus of the postdoctoral research area will include studying familiesâ involvement with public home visiting programs and formal early childhood educational programs such as preschool or Head Start. Additional research may include overall child and family involvement with public service systems such as health, education, and child welfare; early education and care environments across the birth-to-five system; recruiting and sustaining a quality child care and home visiting workforce; and the relations between early childhood experiences and wellbeing outcomes for young children and their parents. The Postdoctoral position will primarily involve advanced statistical modeling, conducting survey and focus group research to augment the administrative data foci, preparing communications for state and local audiences, and writing journal manuscripts. Additional responsibilities will include management of active projects, preparing policy briefs and presentations, and co-writing grant proposals.
This position is a 1-2 year fixed term position, with possibility of renewal contingent on funding.
Doctoral degree
⢠PhD in psychology, human development and family studies, educational policy, sociology, or a related field
⢠Advanced proficiency in dataset management and analytics using Stata, R, and/or other specialized statistical software
⢠A strong record of analytic writing in the areas of early childhood, education, or family studies including evidence of publication
⢠Experience analyzing national datasets such as the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort and/or population-level (national or state) data
⢠Experience conducting advanced quantitative analyses including longitudinal and multilevel modeling, profile analysis (latent class), and propensity score analysis
⢠Demonstrated experience translating quantitative findings for both academic and non-academic audiences
The research team at Iowaâs Integrated Data System for Decision-Making (I2D2) consists of faculty, professional staff, graduate and undergraduate students who work closely with state government agencies and stakeholders to provide relevant data for decision-making in early childhood programs. I2D2 works to transform state administrative data to answer important questions about how our systems are working and improve system coordination and effectiveness for Iowa families. ( We are a motivated, action-oriented team who values communication and collaboration. We function as a blend of virtual and in-person meetings and support a flexible environment and healthy work/life balance. We strive to support one another, celebrate each otherâs successes, and leverage each individualâs areas of strength. Â
To apply for this position, please click on âApplyâ and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
About Iowa State University
Iowa State University is classified as a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top public universities in the nation. Over 36,000 students are enrolled and served by over 6,200 faculty and staff (see Ames, Iowa is a progressive community of 60,000, located approximately 30 minutes north of Des Moines, and recently voted the best college town in the nation (see Iowa State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and strongly encourages applications from all qualified applicants, including women, underrepresented minorities, and veterans. ISU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples, is dedicated to work-life balance through an array of policies, and is an NSF ADVANCE institution. Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status and will not be discriminated against.
Connections working at Iowa State UniversityJob tags
Salary
