Center for Public Partnerships & Research is hiring: TEMP UPS WORKER- Assistant

Overview

The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP) is seeking a temporary Assistant Researcher on an NIH funded project. The study aims to improve social communication skills of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending local preschools. The temporary Research Assistant will work 0.40 to 0.50 FTE (16-20 hours per week) with guidance from the project Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators. The initial training period will be onsite at JGCP in Kansas City, KS, with potential for hybrid work after training is complete and as deemed by the supervisor and project needs. All offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check and ongoing funding and evaluation requirements.

Responsibilities

• 80% - Coding of child communication and social behaviors, data entry, and data management.
• 10% - Assist with collecting child observational data.
• 5% - Assist with uploading and processing video recordings.
• 5% - Attend team meetings.

Position Requirements

• Reliable transportation.
• Travel time: 25-50%.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in speech-language pathology, psychology, special education, behavioral sciences, or a related field; or current enrollment in coursework toward one of these degrees.
• Six months of experience observing child behaviors or coding with observational platforms to measure behaviors in school, home, or community settings.
• Experience with data entry and management (e.g., Excel, REDCap, or similar platforms).
• Effective organization skills and attention to detail as evidenced by application materials and the interview process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience collecting and coding social communication behaviors of autistic children or other developmental disabilities in school settings.
• Six months experience conducting research on funded projects.
• Experience with graphic design, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).

Application Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Resume or CV
• A cover letter highlighting relevant skills and fit with the position
• Contact information for three references

Only complete applications will be considered. Application review begins October 1, 2025 and will continue until a qualified candidate is found.

Contact Information for Applicants

Questions about the position: Dr. Thiemann-Bourque at thiemann@ku.edu. Questions about the application process: Diana Skill at dskill@ku.edu.

Compensation and Start Date

Advertised Salary Range: $17-19 per hour, commensurate with education and experience. Anticipated Start Date: October 13, 2025.