Role Snapshot
The Senior Research Scientist will co-lead the AFIRM-AI project, leading the AI-assisted systematic review and meta-analysis of autism intervention research and co-leading efforts to build and disseminate an AI system that helps educators select and use evidence-based practices for autistic students.
Key Responsibilities: The role coordinates work across UNC and three subcontracted university labs, supervises project objectives, manages arm funding with the PI, leads grant proposals for continued funding, and co-leads system development, evaluation, dissemination, and preservice and in-service educator training.
Skills & Tools: Requires advanced research expertise in systematic reviews, meta-analysis, quality appraisal, and data analysis, plus strong project management, multi-site collaboration, grant writing, and skills in preservice special education training.
Qualifications: Requires an advanced degree in a relevant field such as special education, education research, or psychology, along with substantial experience in research synthesis, autism intervention research, and special educator preparation.
Location: Hybrid
Compensation: $160K–$240K/yr (estimated)
Job Description
The Senior Research Scientist (SRS) will co-lead the AFIRM-AI project, a research project focused on research synthesis, evidence translation, and dissemination that supports educators in selecting and using evidence-based practices for autistic children and youth. AFIRM-AI is a multi-armed research project that includes (ARM A) development and utilization of an AI-assisted systematic review and meta-analysis of the autism intervention literature and (ARM B) development and utilization of an AI-assisted system that practitioners will use to design and implement evidence based practices that link to autistic students' learning objective, (ARM C) dissemination of the AI-assisted system to educators. The SRS will lead the ARM A of AFIRM AI and co-lead ARMS B and C.
Leadership of the systematic review and meta-analysis arm of AFIRM-AI entails multiple responsibilities. The research is taking place at UNC and also computer labs (under subcontract) at Universities of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, University of Iowa, and University of Texas at San Antonio. Each lab is directed by senior-level faculty directors at the respective institutions. In ARM A, the SRS will establish a work plan with these directors and UNC staff, coordinate that collaborative work across respective labs and UNC staff, and supervise the accomplishments of identified project objectives. This supervision and coordination will be continuous across all years of the research project. To accomplish this leadership and supervision, the SRS will manage, with the PI, funds allocated to this arm of the research project, apply advanced research expertise to study screening, conduct quality appraisal, data extraction, analysis, and interpretation of findings. For this arm of the project, the SRS will lead the submission of and/or collaborate with team members to submit research proposals to sustain project activities beyond the currently funded years.
The SRS will co-lead ARM B of this project, with the PI as the primary lead. This leadership will consist of linking the systematic review and meta-analysis findings with the AI-assisted system for teachers, evaluating system use, and designing dissemination tools and products for educators, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
In ARM C of the project, the SRS, as coPI, and the PI will both lead the training of preservice special educators in training to work with autistic students, state-level agency personnel providing professional development to current special education teachers, and current educators of students with autism. The co-leadership will require skills and experience in preservice education of special educators and personnel in the field.
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.
Leadership of the systematic review and meta-analysis arm of AFIRM-AI entails multiple responsibilities. The research is taking place at UNC and also computer labs (under subcontract) at Universities of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, University of Iowa, and University of Texas at San Antonio. Each lab is directed by senior-level faculty directors at the respective institutions. In ARM A, the SRS will establish a work plan with these directors and UNC staff, coordinate that collaborative work across respective labs and UNC staff, and supervise the accomplishments of identified project objectives. This supervision and coordination will be continuous across all years of the research project. To accomplish this leadership and supervision, the SRS will manage, with the PI, funds allocated to this arm of the research project, apply advanced research expertise to study screening, conduct quality appraisal, data extraction, analysis, and interpretation of findings. For this arm of the project, the SRS will lead the submission of and/or collaborate with team members to submit research proposals to sustain project activities beyond the currently funded years.
The SRS will co-lead ARM B of this project, with the PI as the primary lead. This leadership will consist of linking the systematic review and meta-analysis findings with the AI-assisted system for teachers, evaluating system use, and designing dissemination tools and products for educators, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
In ARM C of the project, the SRS, as coPI, and the PI will both lead the training of preservice special educators in training to work with autistic students, state-level agency personnel providing professional development to current special education teachers, and current educators of students with autism. The co-leadership will require skills and experience in preservice education of special educators and personnel in the field.
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.