Impact Research Intern (Summer 2025)

As the Impact Research Intern at Newsela, your main responsibilities will include partnering with the Lead Research Analyst to assess and document the educational effectiveness of our platform. You'll conduct quantitative research on student outcomes, utilizing your statistical expertise in R. Your role will also involve crafting reports using your data visualization skills to clearly communicate how Newsela supports students' learning journeys. This experience is designed to enhance your research and communication skills within a real-world context.

To qualify for the Impact Research Intern position at Newsela, you should have graduate-level research experience in fields such as learning analytics, education, psychology, or cognitive science. Proficiency in R for statistical analysis and data visualization, particularly with the tidyverse package, is essential. Strong background knowledge in fundamental statistics, along with a passion for educational research, will also set you apart as a candidate. Familiarity with tools like SQL and experience preparing data visualizations for various audiences are considered bonus points.

The Impact Research Intern role at Newsela is designed as a part-time position where you'll work 20 hours per week for a total of 12 weeks. The internship will take place between May and September 2025, and the start and end dates are flexible to accommodate your schedule. This format allows you to balance your academic responsibilities while gaining valuable practical experience.

As an Impact Research Intern at Newsela, you'll develop a range of valuable skills that will enhance your career. You'll strengthen your statistical analysis and data visualization capabilities using R, and you'll learn how to communicate complex research findings effectively. Additionally, your experience in educational research will deepen as you explore how data can drive improvements in student outcomes, empowering you to make data-informed decisions in future roles.

The Impact Research Intern position is crucial for advancing educational research at Newsela. By conducting quantitative research and analyzing student outcomes, you will provide insights into the effectiveness of our platform in real classrooms. Your findings will not only highlight the positive impact of Newsela on students but also pave the way for enhancing our offerings, ensuring that we continue to support diverse learning needs effectively.

In your response, you should emphasize your passion for educational research and your desire to make a difference in student learning. Share how Newsela's mission aligns with your values and your academic background, and mention any specific experiences that drew you to this opportunity, such as relevant projects or coursework.

Talk about specific projects where you have applied R for statistical analysis and visualization. Highlight your proficiency with packages such as tidyverse and ggplot2, and consider discussing any challenges you faced and how you successfully addressed them. This showcases your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.

Explain educational data mining as the process of analyzing data from educational settings to improve learning outcomes. Emphasize its significance in understanding student behavior, needs, and successes, which are critical for informing instructional strategies and enhancing educational products like those at Newsela.

Discuss the importance of clear and relatable communication when presenting complex data. You might suggest using visual aids to help illustrate key points, simplifying language, and focusing on actionable insights that resonate with stakeholders. This demonstrates your ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.

Identify specific statistical methods such as regression analysis, t-tests, or ANOVA that you have used in research. Provide examples of how these methods helped you draw conclusions from data and how they'll be applicable in evaluating educational outcomes at Newsela.

Provide a brief overview of a relevant research project, detailing your responsibilities and the methods you used. Highlight any significant findings or contributions you made, and reflect on what you learned from the experience that could apply to your role at Newsela.

Share strategies you use for time management, such as setting clear deadlines, using project management tools, and regularly reassessing priorities. This demonstrates your organizational skills, which are vital for managing the workload in a part-time internship.

Discuss your admiration for Newsela's commitment to improving educational access and outcomes. You may want to mention specific products or initiatives by Newsela that resonate with you, showcasing your knowledge about the company and your enthusiasm for being part of its mission.

Mention resources such as academic journals, conferences, and blogs that you follow to stay informed about trends and advancements in educational research and technology. This reflects your dedication to continuously learning and improving your skills as a researcher.

Share your aspirations within the field of educational research or data analysis, and connect how this internship at Newsela aligns with your career path. Highlight the skills and experiences you hope to gain and how they will contribute to your future educational and professional endeavors.