FY26 Research Fellowship Opportunity

Hosted by Leading Educators

Leading Educators invites applications for a part-time, remote Research Fellowship focused on advancing knowledge in teacher development programs. This fellowship offers an exciting opportunity for a skilled researcher with a strong background in quantitative methods to partner closely with our internal research team in producing high-quality, practice-relevant education research.

This opportunity is designed for emerging or mid-career professionals passionate about equity-driven education reform, with the flexibility to contribute between 9 AM–6 PM ET, Monday through Friday.

Fellowship Highlights

• Join a mission-driven organization that supports teacher development and educational equity
• Engage with cutting-edge, applied education research in collaboration with a team of experienced researchers
• Gain experience contributing to quasi-experimental studies and advanced data analysis using real-world datasets
• Receive mentorship in grant writing and exposure to funding strategy
• Flexible, part-time commitment with remote work arrangements

Key Areas of Focus

• Quantitative Research and Analysis

• Assist with the design and execution of quasi-experimental and mixed-methods studies
• Apply advanced statistical methods, including Propensity Score Weighting and Difference-in-Differences analysis
• Conduct data cleaning and preparation of large administrative datasets using R

• Literature Reviews and Knowledge Synthesis

• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on teacher development and K–12 education topics
• Prepare written summaries that inform program design, implementation, and policy recommendations

• Research Reporting and Communication

• Contribute to the drafting of research reports, presentations, and publications
• Translate complex findings into accessible, practitioner-focused materials

• Grant Writing and Development Support

• Support the drafting of grant proposals and help identify funding opportunities
• Collaborate with the team to align research outputs with funder priorities

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are seeking a fellow who brings both technical acumen and a deep commitment to improving education outcomes. The strongest candidates will demonstrate:

• Academic background in Economics, Education, Sociology, Applied Statistics, or a related field
  
  
• Training in causal inference and quasi-experimental research methods
  Proficiency in R (required); familiarity with GitHub is a plus
  Experience preparing and analyzing large datasets
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively with attention to detail
• Interest in applied education research, particularly in teacher development

Preference will be given to PhD candidates or professionals with a Master’s degree and substantial experience in research.

Fellowship Support and Compensation

• This is a paid, part-time remote fellowship opportunity
• Duration: May - December
• Compensation: $45.00 - $70.00 a Hour
• Fellows will participate in regular team meetings (2–3 times per week via Zoom) for ongoing collaboration

Timeline & Key Dates

• Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis
• Fellowship start date is flexible based on candidate availability
• Fellowship term and deliverables will be determined in consultation with the selected fellow

How to Apply

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit the following:

• A statement of interest describing your relevant experience
• Examples of past work (publications, analyses, code samples, or writing)

Please send your proposal to [email protected]. Proposals will be evaluated based on experience, technical qualifications, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with our research goals.

About Leading Educators

At Leading Educators (LE), we know that excellent teaching is the most important driver of student success. The moment a student steps foot in the classroom, their opportunity to learn depends on how prepared their teacher is to translate complex content knowledge, standards, and their knowledge of that student into lessons that help them learn deeply and apply their thinking to the real world.

That’s a big lift, and it often happens alone. As a national nonprofit, we partner with school systems to overcome persistent instructional challenges, foster intentional collaboration and adult learning by design, and ignite new possibilities through systemic solutions at the intersection of teaching, talent, and technology.

We work shoulder-to-shoulder with educators at every level of the education system to strengthen their instructional and leadership practices, bring a vision for excellent instruction to life with consistency, and ensure every student reaches their full potential.

Through direct support, strategic advising, innovation pilots, and best-in-class research, we help educators work toward a future where every student is ready to thrive. Learn more about our work at leadingeducators.org.