Learning Engineering Intern – Efficacy Research

WHO WE ARE
Edmentum is a dynamic educator and student-focused company dedicated to technology enabled learning solutions. Our goal is to ensure that all students have access to flexible learning environments and educators have the tools they need to support their students. We are on a mission to create innovative, proven learning technology, partnering with educators to ignite student potential. We are a Remote First organization with a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction at the center of all that we do.

WHAT IS THE POSITION
At Edmentum, we are committed to building research-based curriculum and assessment solutions that empower educators and improve student outcomes across the globe. The Edmentum Research and Learning Engineering Summer Internship – Efficacy is a paid internship opportunity for curious and collaborative graduate students that are interested in pursuing a career in educational research and are deeply interested in exploring educational solutions that truly meet the needs of learners and educators.

Edmentum is offering a 10-week internship for the summer of 2025. The successful candidate will collaborate with Edmentum Research Scientists to conduct evidenced-based research studies. They will learn about the role of efficacy research in technology product organizations, facilitate data cleaning and merging of large data files, conduct analyses, and support documentation and presentations to our external Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The candidate must be able to interact and communicate clearly with clients and internal staff about technical and practical aspects of research methods for establishing efficacy of educational products and programs. The communication will be in both verbal and written form and contribute to progress in the field of education and research, as well as to deepen the understanding of the outcomes and impact of Edmentum’s educational products and programs to internal stakeholders and the larger education and research community. This work will include developing research briefs, technical documents, and research papers, and presentations. The intern will work with cross-functional teams including learning design, engineering, psychometrics, product management, professional services, and marketing at various phases of study development and dissemination.

The intern will gain experience in educational research design methodologies, processes and tools used in the statistics and educational technology industries and working with large data files (>10 million records). The intern will stay abreast of methodological and conceptual advances in educational research in addition to maintaining currency on efficacy research of technology products and programs like those offered by Edmentum. The preferred candidate will have familiarity with What Works Clearinghouse and ESSA evidence tiers and ratings.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
1. Conduct analyses for research efficacy studies, such as experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational studies that will ensure Edmentum provides industry-leading, research-based solutions to improve student outcomes.
2. Manage all aspects quantitative data collection for specific research studies, including cleaning and organizing data provided by district and school partners as well as retrieving and organizing student activity usage of Edmentum products and programs.
3. Develop and maintain relationships with study participants, including district personnel, through collaboration with product, services, and sales teams.
4. Participate in all aspects of efficacy work, including literature reviews and dissemination to internal and external audiences.

Edmentum is also interested in supporting the intern’s unique research interests for projects that can be completed with existing data and have promise to lead to conference presentations and/or publications while simultaneously improving Edmentum products. Although not required, interns with particular research questions of interest related to K-12 online blended and personalized learning are encouraged to propose research ideas in their cover letter.

WHAT EXPERIENCE IS PREFERRED
1. Two or more years of enrollment in a PhD program in educational research methodology, statistics, learning sciences, economics, or a related field.
2. Completed at least one year of advanced graduate-level statistics coursework, such as hierarchical linear modeling or similar statistical coursework related to the candidate’s area of study.
3. At least one year of increasing and independent experience in conducting applied research in educational settings. Familiarity with efficacy research for educational programs and/or products is preferred.
4. Experience with research and evaluation methodologies, including but not limited to randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs, correlational studies, or case studies.
5. Knowledge of What Works Clearinghouse and/or ESSA evidence requirements.
6. Ability to program common analyses with large data sets. R programming language required. Databricks experience (or willingness to learn) appreciated.
7. Excellent writing skills
8. Self-starter that can work independently (with appropriate support provided from Edmentum Research Scientists)
9. Strong analytical and communication skills.
10. Highly collaborative individual who can work well with others across projects and teams.
11. Knowledge of educational programs, curricula, instructional approaches, and/or testing industry.

This position is remote, will begin on or around May 1, 2025 and will last 10 weeks. Due to frequent collaboration with team members, working hours will follow typical central time business hours with some flexibility as needed.