POSTGRADUATE ASSOCIATE – Preschool RULER IES Project, Early Childhood Team

Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (https://www.ycei.org), part of the Child Study Center at the Yale University  School of Medicine, conducts research and teaches people of all ages how to develop their emotional intelligence. Our work  focuses on (1) the development and impact of social and emotional skills among diverse populations, including education  settings and organizations, and (2) the mechanisms by which social and emotional skills and training impact significant life  outcomes. 

We are looking for a Postgraduate Associate (PGA) to join the Early Childhood Team to work on a multi-year project,  RULER for Preschool, funded by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES; PI Dr. Craig Bailey). This six-year project (2018- 2024) is designed to test whether RULER for Preschool, a whole-school approach aiming to promote emotional intelligence for  preschool-aged children and early childhood educators, has an impact on children’s school readiness and school and classroom  climate in preschools across Connecticut. Preschool RULER was developed and adapted from RULER for Elementary and  Middle School, and aims to provide concrete tools and strategies that support educators in integrating social and emotional skills  into every aspect of the school day. 

Mentorship 

Under the primary mentorship of Dr. Craig Bailey, the PGA will play an integral role in all facets of the project, including but not  limited to: participant recruitment and data collection (including in-person interactions with and assessments of preschool  children as well as their parents and teachers, observations in early childhood settings, and online surveys); data maintenance and  management; data coding and analysis; management of day-to-day operations of the project; training and supervising  undergraduate and consultant research assistants; conference submissions and presentations; manuscript preparation; and  additional project-related tasks as needed. The PGA will also be required to attend meetings at the Yale Center for Emotional  Intelligence. 

Training 

The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence offers a weekly PGA seminar series, led by the Director of Research with guest  lecturers ranging from Postdoctoral Associates to Research Scientists. This seminar series covers professional development  topics, including graduate school preparation and networking/professional image; methods meetings, including study design,  methods, and statistical analysis training; and facilitated reading discussions. 

Education 

The ideal candidate will have or demonstrate the following: 

  • At least a bachelor’s degree in a related field (including, but not limited to, Psychology, Education, and Human  Development) 

  • Research experience in developmental psychology, education, and/or human development 

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis software (e.g. SPSS,  STATA, SAS, or R). 

  • Strong project management, organizational skills, and time management skills 

  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills 

  • A personal vehicle for off-site data collection activities 

Preferred qualifications include: 

  • Experience working with children and/or families and teachers 

  • Content knowledge in emotional intelligence, school readiness, and early childhood 

  • Proficiency in speaking Spanish 

  • An interest in applying for an advanced degree in the future 

  • Proficiency in data analysis (e.g., SPSS, STATA, or R) and master’s degree would be considered a plus.  

Additionally, please note that as part of data collection entering preschools participating in this project may require proof of  COVID-19 vaccination.  

The Postgraduate Associate position is a full-time, 12-month appointment, with a salary of $36,960.00. Postgraduate positions  are open to those who have recently received a bachelor and/or master’s degree, but not doctoral degrees. Anticipated start  date is July 2021 and may start remotely in accordance with Yale University guidance around COVID-19. 

Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and  faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented  minorities. 

Application Process 

Please send a cover letter, resume or CV, and names and contact information for three references to olivia.martinez@yale.edu.  Priority will be given to candidates who apply by Friday, May 14, 2021, at 11:59PM EST. Applications will continue to be  accepted until Friday, June 18, 2021, at 11:59PM EST, but those received after May 14 will only be considered if the  position has not yet been filled.  

ABOUT THE YALE CENTER FOR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 

Emotions drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, and health. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence uses the power of emotions to create a more effective and compassionate society. Helping children and adults develop emotional  intelligence is central to the mission of the Center. To date, schools have been at the center of these efforts. RULER, the Center’s signature program, draws on leading pedagogical practices as well as advances in psychology and neuroscience, and it has been honed through years of classroom observation, interviews, and the most demanding evaluations. Creating awareness—both of self and others—about emotions and developing the skills of emotional intelligence can improve children’s prospects in life and contribute, in turn, to healthier, more compassionate families, workplaces, and communities. RULER does this by teaching adults and children the skills of emotional intelligence.


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