Job Description

• Education / Educ& Info Studies / UCLA



POSITION OVERVIEW

Position title: Associate Project Scientist Salary range: See Table 37-B. The salary range for this position is from $93,300 to $115,400.

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: March 23, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Apr 24, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Apr 24, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Overview:

The Department of Education in the School of Education & Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles announces an opening for a Project Scientist.

The Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCLA's School of Education and Information Studies (Ed&IS) is dedicated to partnering with the education ecosystem to bring about systems change through Humanizing Research, Validating Practices, and Transformative Policies with key stakeholders to support equitable educational outcomes for all students. Our vision is to be a catalyst for learning communities to boldly nurture and protect the dignity, wellbeing, and full potential of all students.

The Project Scientist will be supporting a research center that deeply values education justice and social justice as core to its work. In this role, the Project Scientist will lead a portfolio of externally funded research, evaluation, and technical assistance initiatives that advance equitable outcomes for California students and school communities. Responsibilities will include overseeing project strategy, research design, implementation, reporting, and deliverables; supervising project staff (including research analysts and graduate student researchers); and building partnerships with district, county, state, and community leaders to translate evidence into practice and policy. The incumbent is the lead for the Race, Education, and Community Healing (REACH) Network, the Project Scientist will direct statewide research–practice partnership activities focused on advancing alternatives to exclusionary discipline. This work will include developing and facilitating communities of practice, guiding the project’s applied research agenda, and producing practitioner- and policy-facing products that inform local implementation and state-level conversations. The Project Scientist will also lead an interagency agreement partnership with the California Department of Public Health, Office of School Health, to develop evidence-informed digital citizenship and wellness curricula for TK–12 students aligned to statewide prevention and youth wellbeing priorities. In addition, the Project Scientist will serve as an advisor for the evaluation of the California Black Educator Initiative in partnership with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Using mixed methods, this study will examine implementation, educator experiences, and outcomes associated with expanding Black teacher certification pathways and strengthening teacher diversity in California. The role will also include leading CTS’s work under an American Institutes of Research (AIR) technical assistance partnership through the West Comprehensive Center, supporting practitioner-facing products and capacity-building support for education agencies and school systems across the West region. Across the portfolio, the Project Scientist will engage cross-sector partners, contribute to extramural funding development aligned with CTS priorities, and support legislative briefings and convenings that elevate evidence and field-based implementation lessons. The Project Scientist will communicate and support project staff, PIs, and other members of the ED&IS and UCLA community to ensure projects are moving forward and following University policies and procedures.

The Associate Director, under the direction of the Co-Directors, works to advance the research and practice priorities of the Center through leadership, coordination, and collaboration across multiple domains of work. Core responsibilities include:

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assisting in developing and establishing the research agenda with the CTS faculty co-directors and CTS Executive Director.
• Under the supervision of the CTS Executive Director, assist in identifying future research projects and funding opportunities in securing extramural funding for the center.
• Cultivate relationships with scholarly, practitioner, and/or policy experts in order to promote CTS’ work.
  
• Collaborate with CTS leadership to develop recommendations for the evaluation reports and case studies on all projects, which will be presented to the State Legislature, Governor, and State Board of Education, among others.
  
• Present data and findings to local and state representatives.
• Independently prioritizes and completes ongoing tasks following established departmental guidelines and University policies.
• Supervise and provide guidance to 2-4 graduate student researchers.
• Supervise and provide guidance to 1-2 research analysts.

Required Qualifications

• The appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected in the fields of Education, Social Work, or related field.
• Strong background in research related to issues of racial equity in schools, linkages between poverty, social inequality and education, education policy and the academic, social and emotional factors that impact student learning.
• Exhibit a deep understanding of how in-school and out-of-school factors influence student achievement, the role of school systems to prioritize the success of its most vulnerable student populations and scholarship that examines the disproportionate impact of zero tolerance policies and practices on low-income students of color.
• Must have a program of research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how education policies can mitigate or address structural racism and social inequities.
• Knowledge or experience in the preparation of grant applications and other development activities.
• Skill in working as part of a team; ability to collaborate with colleagues.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic qualifications

Basic Qualifications (at time of application):

• The appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected in the fields of Education, Social Work, or related field.
• Strong background in research related to issues of racial equity in schools, linkages between poverty, social inequality and education, education policy and the academic, social and emotional factors that impact student learning.
• Exhibit a deep understanding of how in-school and out-of-school factors influence student achievement, the role of school systems to prioritize the success of its most vulnerable student populations and scholarship that examines the disproportionate impact of zero tolerance policies and practices on low-income students of color.
• Must have a program of research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how education policies can mitigate or address structural racism and social inequities.
• Knowledge or experience in the preparation of grant applications and other development activities.
• Skill in working as part of a team; ability to collaborate with colleagues.
Additional qualifications

Additional Qualifications (at time of application):

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Self-Statement/Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience

• EDI Statement

• Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form

• UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

  The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

  Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
  Expand our reach as a global university
  Enhance our research and creative activities
  Elevate how we teach
  Become a more effective institution

  Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

  Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

• Sample Publication 1 (Optional)

• Sample Publication 2 (Optional)

• Sample Publication 3 (Optional)

• Research Statement (Optional)

Reference requirements
• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Contact information for three professional reference (contact only)

Apply link:

Help contact: duong@gseis.ucla.edu

ABOUT UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

JOB LOCATION

Los Angeles, CA

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