Position Summary:
The Research Associate (UX Designer), working within the Department of
Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at the Peabody College of Education and
Human Development, Vanderbilt University, is an individual contributor
responsible for supporting the design and evaluation of teacher-centered
adaptive goal-setting tools for educational technology. This position conducts
UX research activities including co-design sessions, teacher interviews, and
prototype evaluation, and contributes to the creation of design specifications
and research protocols. Reporting directly to Professor Conrad Borchers, the
Research Associate (UX Designer) collaborates with the Vanderbilt LAPS Lab
research team and external partners (including but not limited to partner
schools).
The Research Associate (UX Designer) will create research protocols, consent
forms, and interview guides for teacher co-design sessions, and other
project-relevant deliverables as needed. They will design preliminary design
probes and low-fidelity prototypes for structured teacher feedback, among
others. They will support IRB documentation and study materials preparation.
They will contribute to data analysis and the development of design
recommendations and implementation roadmaps as well as dissemination of research
findings.
This position is Remote and the individual should expect to be in the office 0
days a week.
This position will require Domestic travel around 10% over the course of the
temporary assignment.
This is a term position expected to last 6 months and start on September 28,
2026, with a weekly commitment of 20 hours.
About the Work Unit:
The Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations increases understanding
and guides improvements in human learning and outcomes, in the political,
economic, organizational, social, legal and regulatory contexts in which human
development occurs. Trained in the fields of sociology, economics, education,
history, political science, public policy, psychology, organizational behavior,
and more, faculty apply multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches to
research, teaching and public service. We purposefully cultivate an inclusive
environment for faculty, lecturers, students and staff to excel intellectually
and engage socially in the department. This is reflected in our exceptionally
strong portfolio of research projects, external funding and highly active
research centers, as well as in our top-notch interactive teaching.
With a genealogy dating to a one‐room Nashville schoolhouse in 1785, Peabody
College today is a world‐ class college of education and human development. Our
mission is to enhance the human condition, with a particular focus on children’s
learning and development. We do this as we always have, through the preparation
of teachers and leaders; through cycles of research, implementation, and
refinement; through service to families, schools, and communities; and through
external engagement with professionals, leaders, and policymakers. Peabody’s
focus on learning differences has helped to define the college, as has a
reputation for empirical rigor in educational neuroscience; child, family, and
community development; special education; the learning sciences; and educational
leadership and policy. Peabody is devoted to creating opportunity in an
increasingly diverse society and to solving large societal problems.
Duties and Responsibilities
Create and manage IRB documentation including subfolder organization,
protocol drafts, and consent form templates based on Vanderbilt's
institutional requirements
Develop semi-structured interview protocols for 30–60-minute teacher sessions
exploring current goal-setting practices, use of learning analytics, and
desired teacher controls
Design preliminary, representative design probes including low-fidelity and
clickable prototypes for adaptive goal policies, teacher workflows,
student-facing progress visualizations, and reward mechanisms
Support data analysis from teacher interviews and co-design sessions to
inform design recommendations and support dissemination
Support research implementation through domestic travel to partner schools
and related organizations, including research data collection on-site
Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports
administratively and functionally to Professor Conrad Borchers.
Qualifications
Necessary: Bachelor's degree and experience in UX design, UX research, or HCI
Preferred: Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction. Experience with
educational technology, co-design methods, and prototype development using tools
such as Figma
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for
fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all
students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.
We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality
thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace
and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds
and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an
invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and
strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national
origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other
characteristic protected by law.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to
pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to,
based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education
verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and
professional license verification.
At Vanderbilt University [http://www.vanderbilt.edu] , our work - regardless of
title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every
member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on
a daily basis. Located in Nashville [https://www.nashville.gov/], Tennessee, on
a 330+ acre campus and arboretum [https://www.vanderbilt.edu/trees/] dating back
to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large
Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan
area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in
learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create,
foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career.
We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage
you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Vanderbilt University 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,
or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.