The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is housed in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver. We have dedicated ourselves to improving learning environments and outcomes for children, birth to age 8. We identify the best in early learning research, practice, and policy, and we deliver that information at just the point it will be useful to academics, practitioners, policymakers, and parents — the people who can create and implement changes to improve the lives of young children.

The quality of relationships and learning opportunities that young children experience can set the stage for what they will be able to accomplish throughout the rest of their lifetimes.

Position Summary The Marsico Institute for Early Learning seeks a Research Associate to support multiple grant-funded research and development projects focused on early childhood STEM education, particularly mathematics teaching and learning. This position integrates research implementation, data management, testing and evaluation, and instructional development.

The Research Associate will support and lead components of research studies and development projects, including monitoring consent procedures, developing data collection protocols, conducting child assessments and interviews, facilitating digital math game testing, coding and organizing data across platforms to ensure accuracy and confidentiality, and educational resource development, training, and testing.

Responsibilities include leading or supporting classroom observations and child data collection, validating instructional activities at incubator sites, and contributing to data cleaning, coding, analysis, and reporting.

The role also includes planning and facilitating professional development workshops, providing coaching and technical assistance to educators implementing curriculum or interventions, adapting instructional materials, and monitoring implementation fidelity.

The Research

Associate will collaborate closely with project teams, manage timelines for assigned tasks, and participate in project planning and progress meetings. The position reports to designated Project Lead(s) for each assigned grant or contract.

This is a grant-funded position with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance and continued funding availability.

Essential Functions

Research and Data Management

- Monitor and document study consents and permissions
- Organize and manage data across platforms, ensuring confidentiality and accuracy
- Develop data collection protocols and surveys
- Lead and support data collection efforts, including cleaning, coding, entry, and preliminary analysis
- Oversee data management on one or more research projects
- Conduct in-person and virtual interviews and focus groups
- Participate in project progress, management, and planning meetings

Testing and Evaluation
- Conduct digital math game testing following established protocols
- Conduct child assessments and interviews
- Validate instructional activities at designated incubator sites, including video recording, data entry, and coding




- Conduct in-person and virtual classroom observations to measure program implementation and content-specific teaching

Instructional Development and Implementation
- Plan and facilitate in-person and virtual professional development workshops for early childhood educators
- Provide coaching and technical assistance to teachers implementing curriculum or interventions, including modeling instructional practices
- Monitor teacher implementation and complete coaching logs and debrief documentation
- Contribute to and adapt instructional materials for trainings
- Adapt or develop written instructional activities based on Learning and Teaching Early Math and related research-based resources
- Utilize video and virtual collaboration tools to support training and implementation

Project Support and Leadership
- Develop and manage tasks and timelines for project support staff and consultants
- Support end users of digital platforms
- Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Knowledge of early childhood STEM education
- Certification in the REMA child assessment and COEMET classroom observation measure
- Strong facilitation and presentation skills
- Ability to build rapport with young children and school personnel
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Effective time management and ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proficiency with MS Office/O365, virtual collaboration tools, and video equipment
- Experience with data collection and analysis software (e.g., Qualtrics, SPSS, or similar)

Required Qualifications

- Master’s degree in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field, or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum of three (3) years of related professional experience
- Professional experience working with young children or in a classroom setting
- Experience supporting research, data collection, or instructional implementation
- English language proficiency

Preferred Qualifications

- Master’s degree in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field
- Experience as an instructor, instructional coach, or classroom teacher
- Experience in social science research and data analysis
- Experience in early childhood education or early childhood special education
- Experience working with Clements’ and Sarama’s Learning Trajectories approach

Working Setting

- Standard office environment.
- Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
- Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

- Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST)



September 29, 2026.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is 10.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $71,500.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

- Resume
- Cover Letter The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.

📌 Research Associate, Marsico Institute for Early Learning (Quinte West)
🏢 University of Denver
📍 Quinte West