FELLOW, POST DOCTORAL

The Missouri Prevention Science Institute at the University of Missouri invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow with expertise in quantitative research methods and/or program evaluation, starting as soon as spring 2026. Preference to individuals who also have expertise in literacy for elementary school students.

The fellow will work on a project titled Amplify Literacy Learning: Research-based PD that Comes Alongside Classroom Teachers to Increase the Impact of Evidence-based Literacy Instruction. It is an Education Innovation and Research Program (EIR) grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The fellow will work primarily with Dr. Amanda Olsen, although they will also be working with the entire grant project team.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will gain experience working on a federally-funded research project within a team of affiliated faculty, two postdoctoral fellows, two GRAs, and various UGRAs. The fellow will be part of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute under Dr. Olsen's mentorship. The fellow will also have the opportunity to develop an independent line of research related to the study's activities. The fellow should be committed to seeking and securing external funding, producing original research, publishing their work in highly ranked conference proceedings and journals (as appropriate), and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research.

There will be annual travel to partner schools. You will need to pass school background checks. In addition to salary and benefits, this postdoc will also have funds for conference travel and technology. It is a 1-year position, with the possibility of renewal for a second year.

Communication and Other Skills:
* Strong professional writing skills, including research reports, peer-reviewed research articles, or other print and electronic publications.
* Excellent communication and organizational skills.
* Ability to communicate research results through talks at scientific conferences as well as to lay audiences.
* Familiarity with technology and online platforms for organizing teams and workspaces.
* Excellent problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities:
* Help design prosocial education content
* Lead weekly research team meetings
* Ensure quality control of research
* Collect, organize, and analyze data
* Mentor graduate research assistants
* Co-author research publications and annual reports
* Develop future grant proposals

Candidates will be evaluated on the following factors:
* Qualifications listed above
* Ability to develop and sustain an independent program of scholarly research
* Openness to learning
* Skills in participating in research projects and generating research ideas
* Research interests that align well with the project mission

The University of Missouri is committed to postdoctoral development. Postdoctoral fellows across all disciplines are supported with campus professional development opportunities, research and teaching awards, and small grants programs. Postdoctoral scholars can also further their academic career preparation through the University of Missouri's Preparing Future Faculty seminar program. For information about postdoctoral fellows at MU, visit: https://gradschool.missouri.edu/postdoctoral-education/

Minimum Qualifications:
* An earned doctorate in quantitative research methods and/or program evaluation or related disciplines at the time of appointment.
* Experience in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing quantitative data (using R)
* Experience with program evaluation.
* Experience in prek-12 students' literacy

Preferred Qualifications:
* K-12 teaching, counseling, or administration experience
* Experience conducting classroom observations
* Proficiency in English
* Prior federal grant experience
* Experience mentoring undergraduate students to conduct educational research
* Experience in collaborating as a member of a larger research team
* Proficiency with managing complex data sets and applying cutting-edge data analysis techniques
* Experience with elementary literacy
* Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
* Comfort with technology use.

* A letter of application that addresses the candidate's interest in the work, overall qualifications for the fellowship, and an explanation of how this fellowship will help prepare the candidate's future career interests and professional goals.
* A CV
* A writing sample
* List of three references

The CV must be uploaded in the Resume/CV and Cover Letter section at https://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job.

Formal review of applications will begin May 1st and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions should be directed to:

Dr. Amanda Olsen
Associate Professor
University of Missouri
16 Hill Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-2400
Email: aolsen@missouri.edu

MU Information
The College of Education is ranked #36 in the nation among public universities overall by U.S. News and World Report. Among programs especially relevant to the proposed study, MizzouEd is ranked #3 in graduate counseling programs and #21 in graduate special education programs. Today, the College has a student population of approximately 1000 undergraduates and 1,600 graduate students. The College is nationally recognized for its distance and online education programs.

About MU and the Surrounding Community
MU is the oldest state university west of the Mississippi River and the largest of the four institutions in the University of Missouri System. In 1867, MU became one of the first public universities in the nation to establish an academic program specific to teacher preparation. MU has a student body of over 34,000 and is designated as a Carnegie Research University with very high research activity. MU is one of only six universities in the U.S. that is both the flagship and land grant institution housing medicine, veterinary medicine, and law on the same campus. As an AAU member institution since 1908, MU is recognized as one of the top research and educational institutions in the nation. More information is available on the web at: education.missouri.edu

MU is located in Columbia, a metropolitan community of approximately 120,000 that has been rated by Money Magazine, Men's Journal and MSN.COM as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Columbia ranked 6th on Livability's 2019 list of Top 100 Best Places to Live. It has been ranked among the best college towns to live in. Columbia has been recognized as a bike-friendly community. Rails-to-trails conversions allow recreation and commuting to campus in natural spaces across the city. Cost of living is modest. Columbia is immediately surrounded by rural counties, while both Kansas City and St. Louis are within a 90-minute drive offering the shopping and cultural opportunities of major metropolitan areas. Columbia has high-quality public schools and provides many opportunities for art, music, culture, and film including the acclaimed "True/False Film Festival."

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.