Educational research consultant - adaptive Edtech platform

Educational Research Consultant — Adaptive EdTech Platform (Federal SBIR Contract)

We are developing an AI-adaptive financial literacy platform for high school students under a U.S. Department of Education SBIR grant. We are seeking an experienced education researcher to design and oversee the Phase IA usability and feasibility study, and to contribute to the research methodology sections of the proposal.

Role Overview

This is a part-time research consulting engagement supporting a 9-month federal R&D project. The consultant will serve as the named researcher on the project team and will own the study design, instrumentation, data collection oversight, and analysis for a pilot study with approximately 25 high school students.

Phase IA Scope (This Contract)

Proposal support (immediate): Review and strengthen the research methodology section of the SBIR proposal, including study design, instruments, and data analysis plan

Study design: Design the usability and feasibility study protocol for the pilot, including participant selection criteria, data collection procedures, and IRB considerations

Instrument development: Develop or adapt instruments to measure usability, student engagement, and initial feasibility of the adaptive platform

Pilot oversight: Support data collection during the ~25-student pilot study

Data analysis: Analyze quantitative and qualitative study data and contribute to the final research report

Reporting: Co-author the Phase IA research findings section

Timeline: ~9 months, estimated start October 2026 Estimated commitment by phase:

Months 1–2 (Study Design): ~8–10 hrs/week

Months 3–6 (Development Phase): ~2–4 hrs/week (light advisory)

Months 7–8 (Pilot Study): ~10–15 hrs/week

Month 9 (Analysis & Reporting): ~10–12 hrs/week

Total estimated engagement: 200–300 hours over the project period.

Required Qualifications

PhD in education, educational psychology, learning sciences, instructional design, or a closely related field (required)

Experience designing and conducting usability or feasibility studies with student populations

Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods

Experience developing research instruments (surveys, assessments, observation protocols)

Familiarity with IRB processes and human subjects research requirements in school settings

Strong writing skills — ability to contribute to federal research reports

Preferred

Experience in edtech research or evaluation of digital learning tools

Familiarity with adaptive learning, personalized learning, or mastery-based instruction research

Knowledge of financial literacy education or STEM/STEAM curriculum research

Prior experience on federally funded research projects (NSF, IES, DOE, or similar)

To Apply

Submit current resume/CV

Confirm you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder (hard requirement — federal contract)

Briefly describe a relevant usability, feasibility, or pilot study you have designed or led

Your hourly rate and availability starting October 2026

Applications without citizenship confirmation will not be reviewed.