ASSISTANT SCIENTIST, TESTING & EVALUATION SERVICES AND CENTER FOR PLACEMENT TESTING
The University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing, a unit within the UW-Madison Office of Testing and Evaluation Services, has an opening for an Assistant Scientist position to help oversee the development and validation of the college placement tests that are used throughout UW-System for placement into the introductory levels of English, French, German, mathematics, and Spanish.
This position is a hybrid between working in academia and working at a testing company, in that the person will be intimately involved in operational test development work (e.g., test construction, equating, standard setting), but will also be expected to maintain an active program of original research, and will have periodic opportunities to teach, either in the form of graduate courses or as professional development workshops to faculty and instructional staff.
The start date for this position is negotiable, between 1/1/2009 and 9/1/2009.
The principal duties of the scientist position include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Provide measurement and statistical support for all test development activities and conduct research in support of the Center's placement testing program
2. Oversee the development of the placement tests, including training item development teams on test development essentials, assembling new test forms, as needed, and working with the Test Editor to ensure that the production schedule is maintained.
3. In consultation with the faculty at each UW System institution, oversee the continuing development of validity studies for each institution; interpret results from these studies and work with faculty at each institution to implement the results of those studies in their placement testing program. As appropriate, present and/or publish summaries of placement testing trends in a variety of statewide outlets (e.g., conferences, journals, periodicals, etc.).
4. In consultation with the faculty at each UW System institution, oversee the monitoring of the placement testing results and develop appropriate sub-scores on each test to help institutions make the most appropriate use of these results.
5. Maintain a strong research program, and publish research findings in scholarly journals.
6. Supervise Center's graduate student research assistants.
7. Disseminate information on best practices in educational measurement, testing, and assessment to faculty, instructional staff, and students throughout UW System. Such activities may include offering workshops, periodically teaching graduate courses, writing instructional/training modules for faculty or students.
8. Respond to special requests and assignments by the Director.
Send a letter of application, resume, and three letters of recommendation (sent directly) to James Wollack, Ph.D., Director, Testing & Evaluation Services, 1025 W. Johnson, #373, Madison WI 53706.
Application materials may be sent by email to jwollack@wisc.edu. To ensure consideration, applications must be received by October 10th, 2008. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding applicants must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality. Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to hiring.
