What are the responsibilities and job description for the MERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)?
MERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Mission:
At VCU, we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of
the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best
employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is
supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for
advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
Summary:
VCU’s School of Education (SOE) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who embraces diversity, equity
and inclusion and will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and
backgrounds. At VCU, we believe different perspectives and expertise enhance possibilities and
solutions. This philosophy drives our recruitment process, so we welcome applicants with diverse
experiences and backgrounds who will contribute to an already diverse community of faculty, staff, and
students.
This Postdoctoral Research Fellow will provide oversight of a pilot project in two secondary schools in
metropolitan Richmond, Virginia, focused on leveraging Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to
support student mental health. The position is funded through the R.E.B. Foundation from July 1, 2025,
through June 30, 2027. While much of the work for this position can be completed remotely, there will be
a need to routinely engage with pilot schools in person. Because of this, there is a strong preference for a
candidate who either lives in or near the metropolitan Richmond area or is willing to move to the area for
the role. Responsibilities and duties for this position include:
- Providing project management for a multi-year, mixed-methods pilot study, including scheduling
and facilitating team meetings, school outreach, and research activities. - Preparing and scheduling data collection in participating schools, including secondary data
exchange, survey administration, and focus group administration. - Routinely meeting with personnel and leadership in participating pilot schools to consult on
mental health support efforts and fidelity of MTSS implementation and review data
- Contributing to training efforts in pilot schools focused on providing mental health support at the
tier 1 level. - Engaging in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, literature review, and policy/document
analysis. - Leading efforts to submit components of the project for IRB approval as needed.
- Contributing to routine presentations of findings with local school and division leadership as well
as the R.E.B. Board. - Leading reporting efforts for the pilot in the spring of 2026 and spring of 2027.
- Maintaining ongoing communication with faculty principal investigators and co-principal
investigators on the project.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in education or a related field (or anticipated graduation date prior to July 1, 2025)
- Experience contributing to mixed-methods research and evaluation projects
- Training in qualitative and quantitative methodologies
- Excellent project management skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Research interest related to supporting mental health in PK-12 school environments
- Experience utilizing Google Drive and its related suite of programs
- Living in or near Richmond, Virginia
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading mixed-methods research and evaluation projects
- Research interest related to multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
- Experience with fidelity assessment, particularly within MTSS
- Prior experience working with or in PK-12 school environments
- Proficiency with advanced statistical analysis softwares (e.g. SPSS, R, or STATA)
- Proficiency with qualitative analysis softwares (e.g. ATLAS.ti)
Required
- Cover Letter
- CV/Resume
- Diversity Statement
Requested Salary Range: $65,000
This position is grant-funded.
Salary Range: $65,000
Position Details:
Department: SOE Foundations MERC
Employment Type: PD - Post Doc
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100.00
Exemption Status: Exempt
Contact Information:
Contact Name: David Naff
Contact Email: naffdb@vcu.edu
Contact Phone:
Salary : $65,000
