Inside Higher Ed is hiring: TEMP UPS WORKER- Assistant Researcher in Lawrence

Position Overview: The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP) is seeking to hire a temporary Assistant Researcher on an NIH funded project. We are seeking a temporary Assistant Researcher for a study that 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 and Co-Investigators. Responsibilities will include assistance with child behavioral coding, collecting data, data entry and management, and team collaboration.

This position requires reliable transportation. It also requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work collaboratively with a team of professionals.

The position is at JGCP, located in downtown Kansas City, Kansas in the Children’s Campus of Kansas City building, 444 Minnesota Ave, Suite 300, Kansas City, KS 66101.

The initial training period will be onsite at JGCP. This position may then be a hybrid of on-site work and telework as training is completed and as deemed by supervisor and needs of the project.

Please note that all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the background check. Continuation is dependent on satisfactory yearly evaluation and funding.

Job Description

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

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 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 with the conduct of research on funded projects.
• Experience with graphic design, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Rush, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).

Additional Candidate 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 to Applicants: For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Thiemann-Bourque at thiemann@ku.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact Diana Skill at dskill@ku.edu.

Advertised Salary Range: $17-19 per hour commensurate with education and experience

Application Review Begins: Wednesday October 1, 2025

Anticipated Start Date: Monday October 13, 2025