Educational Research Director Resume Example

Director of Learning Research · InnovateEDU Labs

San Francisco, CA · 2018 - Present

• Led a team of 12 researchers and data scientists, increasing research output by 40% and directly informing 7 key product feature launches.
• Designed and implemented A/B tests and quasi-experimental studies, demonstrating a 15% improvement in K-12 math proficiency for users of a new adaptive learning module.
• Developed a proprietary learning analytics framework that processed over 500 million data points daily, providing real-time insights for product optimization.
• Managed an annual research budget of $3.5M, securing 2 external grants totaling $750K for innovative personalized learning studies.

Head of Research & Evaluation · Adaptive Learning Foundation

Palo Alto, CA · 2012 - 2018

• Established the organization's inaugural research department, growing it from 1 to 8 full-time staff within five years.
• Oversaw large-scale program evaluations across 200+ schools, validating a 20% increase in student engagement using our blended learning model.
• Secured over $2M in competitive grant funding from foundations for research into equitable access to personalized learning technologies.
• Published 10 peer-reviewed articles and 3 white papers on adaptive learning efficacy, influencing sector best practices and policy discussions.

Senior Research Scientist · Pacific Learning Sciences Institute

Berkeley, CA · 2009 - 2012

• Conducted mixed-methods research on technology-enhanced learning, contributing to 5 major projects with an average budget of $500K each.
• Published 4 articles in top-tier educational journals and presented findings at 8 international conferences.
• Mentored 3 junior researchers, guiding them through research design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
• Collaborated with university faculty to secure a $1.2M NSF grant for a longitudinal study on digital literacy development.

Ph.D. in Educational Technology · Stanford University

Palo Alto, CA · 2005 - 2009

• Dissertation: "The Impact of Adaptive AI on Student Engagement and Mastery in Online Learning Environments"
• Awarded University Fellowship for outstanding academic achievement and research potential
• Graduated with a GPA of 3.95/4.00

M.S. in Educational Psychology · University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · 2003 - 2005

• Specialized in Cognitive Development and Learning Sciences
• Master's Thesis: "Measuring Affective States in Digital Learning Interactions"
• Achieved a GPA of 3.88/4.00

Educational Research Director · Learning Innovations Institute

Chicago, IL · 2018 - Present

• Led a team of 10 research scientists and data analysts, overseeing a portfolio of 15+ concurrent educational evaluation projects.
• Designed and implemented longitudinal studies that informed policy changes, leading to a documented 20% improvement in student literacy rates across partner districts.
• Secured over $5 million in grant funding by developing compelling research proposals and demonstrating clear potential for impact.
• Developed a standardized reporting framework, reducing data interpretation time for stakeholders by 25% and increasing actionable insights.

Senior Research Scientist · Illinois State Board of Education

Springfield, IL · 2012 - 2018

• Spearheaded the design and execution of large-scale K-12 educational program evaluations impacting 1.5 million students statewide.
• Implemented advanced statistical models (e.g., HLM, SEM) to assess program efficacy, yielding an average of 15% more precise outcome predictions.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate research findings into curriculum development and teacher training initiatives, reaching 50,000+ educators.
• Published 8 peer-reviewed articles and 15 technical reports on educational assessment and intervention effectiveness.

Lead Data Analyst and Research Manager · Global Insights Group

Chicago, IL · 2006 - 2012

• Managed consumer behavior research projects for 5 Fortune 500 clients, delivering data-driven strategic recommendations that increased client satisfaction by 25%.
• Developed and validated predictive analytical models with 90%+ accuracy, informing product launch strategies and marketing campaigns for key clients.
• Oversaw all stages of the research lifecycle from proposal development to final presentation, completing over 100 projects within budget and on schedule.
• Mentored a team of 4 junior data analysts, improving their statistical proficiency and project management skills by an average of 30%.

Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology · Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · 2001 - 2006

• Dissertation: "Advanced Latent Variable Modeling in Educational Assessments"
• GPA: 3.9/4.0

B.S. in Psychology (Minor in Statistics) · University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, IL · 1997 - 2001

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Dean's List all semesters