Senior Research Scientist

WHO WE ARE

Edmentum is a dynamic educator and student-focused company dedicated to tech-enabled learning solutions. Our goal is to ensure that all students have access to flexible learning environments and educators have the tools they need to support their students. We are on a mission to create innovative, proven learning technology, partnering with educators to ignite student potential. We are a Remote First organization with a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

WHAT IS THE POSITION

The Research Scientist must be curious, collaborative, and have a passion to develop and conduct best-in-class research to provide evidence of valid, useful educational solutions that truly meet the needs of learners and educators.

The Senior Research Scientist will design, manage, and document evidence-based research studies; collaborate with external researchers; and support documentation and presentations to our external Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The candidate must be able to translate complex psychometric topics into clear information that can be understood by clients and internal staff. Communication of technical and practical research information will be provided in both verbal and written forms, including through research briefs, technical documents, research papers, and presentations. Through these and other modes of research dissemination, the Senior Research Scientist will contribute to progress in the field of educational research, deepening understanding of impacts and outcomes to internal staff, clients, and the larger education and research community. The Senior Research Scientist will contribute to the selection and management of the third-party vendors and university researchers that support Edmentum’s research agenda. At various phases of study development and dissemination, the Senior Research Scientist will collaborate with cross functional teams including learning design, learning engineering, efficacy, product management, professional services, and marketing.

The Senior Research Scientist will have advanced knowledge of valid educational assessment design and psychometric methodologies, including item development and review practices, scaling, equating, and norming. The preferred candidate will have deep knowledge of a range measurement topics, approaches, and models, including principled assessment design, Item Response Theory (IRT), Cognitive Diagnostic Modeling (CDM), adaptive testing (e.g., multistage, CAT), and automated test assembly/LOFT. The Senior Research Scientist will stay abreast of methodological advances in educational and psychometric research, looking for creative new ways to solve important measurement problems at Edmentum.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Identify, design, conduct, and manage psychometric studies that will ensure Edmentum provides industry-leading, research-based solutions to improve student outcomes.
• Develop research specifications, conduct and manage all aspects of, and document and communicate findings from research studies, maintaining organizational timelines and client-facing activities.
• Identify and develop external research partners (e.g., schools, districts, consortiums) through collaboration with product services and sales teams.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to conduct independent studies with 3rd party vendors and university partnerships.
• Be able to clearly articulate methods and research results to TAC members, internal sales and services consultants, and customers; and in support of proposal responses and external presentations.
• Participate in thought leadership and research dissemination activities like conference presentations, journal publications, and white papers.
• Leverage statistical software like R, Python, SAS, or Stata to conduct analyses, run simulations, and automate research tasks.
• Engage in self-development and training, ensuring up-to-date knowledge of Edmentum products and services.

WHAT IS REQUIRED

• PhD in Psychometrics, Research and Measurement, Quantitative Psychology, or similar field
• 5+ years of increasing and independent experience in conducting psychometric research for educational products
• 3+ years of experience overseeing the work of third-party vendors and/or universities
• Considerable experience designing and managing large-scale psychometric research and validity studies (e.g., parameter estimation, vertical and horizontal scaling, equating, norming, test construction, growth models, technical reporting)