Data Scientist (Research & Evaluation)

Role Overview

LaunchEd is an innovation platform that helps education companies prove the real-world impact of their products through independent research and evidence-based validation. We partner with promising edtech companies, evaluate their effectiveness, and use those insights to support investment, growth, and go-to-market decisions.

As the Data Scientist (Research & Evaluation), you'll build and deliver the research behind those decisions. You'll design studies, analyze quantitative data, measure product efficacy and return on investment (ROI), and produce clear, defensible findings that help determine whether products are creating meaningful outcomes for schools, educators, and students.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys statistical analysis, research design, and using data to answer important business and educational questions.

Key Responsibilities

• Efficacy & ROI Evaluation
• Baseline statistical benchmarks at intake and track them throughout program participation, from intake to graduation.
• Design and run studies measuring product impact on student and operational outcomes.
• Quantify return on investment for companies and products across the LaunchEd portfolio.
• Produce independent, evidence-based evaluations that hold up to outside scrutiny.
• Produce efficacy and ROI reports on LaunchEd clients that are benchmarked against comparable external data.
• Collaborate with higher-education and university partners to pursue university-sanctioned research.
• The LaunchEd Validation Score
• Develop and maintain the LaunchEd Validation Score as a core piece of platform IP.
• Establish a consistent, defensible methodology that can serve as a credible market standard for edtech validation.
• Translate study findings into the standardized LaunchEd Validation Report.
• In-House Study Capacity
• Deliver multiple efficacy and ROI studies per year as a repeatable in-house capability.
• Reduce reliance on external efficacy and validation vendors.
• Cross-Department Support
• Provide research and analysis support across LaunchEd teams, including network grading and accreditation.
• Partner with the deal team to feed validated outcomes into Gate 2 reviews and Investment
• Committee decisions.

Requirements

• Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills, with the ability to design and run studies independently.
• Experience measuring efficacy, outcomes, or return on investment, ideally in education or a related field.
• Ability to build clear, defensible methodologies and translate data into decision-ready findings.
• Familiarity with education data, student outcomes, and relevant compliance considerations such as FERPA and COPPA is a plus.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Excel, SQL, and Python or R, and clear data visualization.
• Detail orientation, independence, and discretion handling confidential company and student data.
• Alignment with LaunchEd’s mission and the Strong Minds, Good Hearts ethos.