Associate Project Scientist (Community Schools)

Associate Project Scientist (Community Schools) University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) United States, California, Los Angeles May 14, 2026 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:

May 13, 2026 Next review date: Friday, Jun 12, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date:

Friday, Jun 12, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date. Position description

SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION/UNIT

The UCLA Center for Community Schooling advances democracy, justice, and public education by helping schools become vibrant, community-centered places where young people learn and thrive. Bringing research, policy, and practice into close conversation, the Center partners with students, families, educators, and public agencies to support meaningful and lasting school transformation. This work is grounded in long-term research-practice partnerships with the two UCLA Community Schools in LAUSD, where democratic values and community voice shape everyday learning. At the state level, the Center co-leads California's $4 billion Community School Partnership Program, supporting more than 2,000 public schools and reaching over one million students and families. Through applied research and implementation support, the Center demonstrates how universities can be powerful partners in advancing equitable, community-driven change. UCLA has established and maintained an active program of engaged scholarship and research at the UCLA Community School since 2009, when the school opened. Given the success of the UCLA Community School and the establishment of the Mann UCLA Community School in 2016, the UCLA Center for Community Schooling was established to study and share research and practice at both sites-supported by a Regional Training Center grant from the University of Pennsylvania to expand university-assisted community schools on the West Coast. Since that time, the UCLA Center for Community Schooling has become a nationally recognized leader in community school transformation. Its work synthesizes emerging research, rigorous documentation of practice, and strategies for continuous improvement to generate insights and tools that support educators and communities.

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The Research and Evaluation Specialist, 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. The Research and Evaluation Specialist will contribute high-level expertise to the Center's research portfolio, supporting the design, implementation, and advancement of complex research and evaluation projects focused on community schooling and education systems change. In particular, the Specialist will play a key role in moving our statewide research agenda forward by making significant and creative contributions to the research alongside the co-directors, PIs, and project staff. The Specialist will play a central role in shaping research design, leading analytic efforts, and contributing to the production of research that informs policy and practice, including write up and dissemination of findings.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute substantively to the design and execution of qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods research focused on California's Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP)
• Lead or co-lead analytic components of the CCSPP large-scale evaluation, including interpretation and synthesis of findings
• Collaborate with faculty and internal and external research teams to refine research questions, methodologies, and conceptual frameworks
• Oversee internal and external reviews of findings
• Contribute and oversee the development of research products, including technical reports, policy briefs, and scholarly publications
• Translate research findings into accessible and actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and community interest-holders
• Participate in and lead research-practice partnerships and engage with educators, advocates, and government partners in spaces developed and led by the State Transformational Assistance Center
• Assist Regional Technical Assistance Centers, Local Educational Agencies and schools in accessing data and findings, and using data
• Support dissemination of research, including presentations, convenings, and policy briefings
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior researchers and project staff, as appropriate

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

(must address the degree level):

• Doctorate (Ph.

D., Ed.

D., or equivalent) in education, public policy, sociology, economics, or a related field

• Demonstrated expertise in research design and methodology, including quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches
• Experience contributing to collaborative research projects, particularly those connected to education policy or practice
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience contributing to research reports, publications, or policy-relevant writing

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of K-12 education systems, particularly in areas related to equity, school reform, or community schooling
• Experience working with large-scale administrative or longitudinal datasets and/or community-engaged research approaches
• Knowledge of hierarchical modeling, causal inference, or other data reduction techniques, and other complex statistical methods
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently use various software to manipulate data and conduct quantitative analyses (preferably R or Python)
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged environments
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex research findings for non-technical audiences
• Experience contributing to grant writing or development of funded research projects
• Experience mentoring or supporting the development of junior researchers or staff Qualifications Basic qualifications Basic Qualifications (at time of application):
• Doctorate (Ph.

D., Ed.

D., or equivalent) in education, public policy, sociology, economics, or a related field

• Demonstrated expertise in research design and methodology, including quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches
• Experience contributing to collaborative research projects, particularly those connected to education policy or practice
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience contributing to research reports, publications, or policy-relevant writing Additional qualifications Additional Qualifications (at time of application): Preferred qualifications
• Knowledge of K-12 education systems, particularly in areas related to equity, school reform, or community schooling
• Experience working with large-scale administrative or longitudinal datasets and/or community-engaged research approaches
• Knowledge of hierarchical modeling, causal inference, or other data reduction techniques, and other complex statistical methods
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently use various software to manipulate data and conduct quantitative analyses (preferably R or Python)
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged environments
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex research findings for non-technical audiences
• Experience contributing to grant writing or development of funded research projects
• Experience mentoring or supporting the development of junior researchers or staff Application Requirements Document requirements Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.

V. Self-Statement/Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience 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: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF11022 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