Dr Rachael Morris

Project management of a portfolio of rigorous quantitative impact evaluations, including randomised controlled trials, difference in differences and regression discontinuity designs to inform what works for education outcomes. Commissioning of research teams and working closely from conception to completion, including evaluation design, management of timelines and budgets, quality assurance of outputs and liaising with externally commissioned research teams, funders, policy makers, and other relevant stakeholders. Line management of three Evaluation Managers, responsible for onboarding, guidance and acting as a point of escalation, and professional development through weekly one to one sessions and bi-annual performance reviews.

Senior Evaluation Manager - Education Endowment Foundation

(2022-11)

Project management of a portfolio of rigorous quantitative impact evaluations, including randomised controlled trials, difference in differences and regression discontinuity designs to inform what works for education outcomes. Commissioning of research teams and working closely from conception to completion, including evaluation design, management of timelines and budgets, quality assurance of outputs and liaising with externally commissioned research teams, funders, policy makers, and other relevant stakeholders. Line management of three Evaluation Managers, responsible for onboarding, guidance and acting as a point of escalation, and professional development through weekly one to one sessions and bi-annual performance reviews.

• Undertaking quality assurances reviews of evaluation proposals, protocols, statistical analysis plans and reports
• Leadership of elements of the evaluation team strategy, including work planning of team priorities and development of a process to open researcher access to the EEF data archive, working through complex data management and safety agreements with stakeholders at the Department for Education, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and archive managers at the Fischer Family Trust (FFT)
• Leadership of developing of guidance for designing and conducting impact evaluations and implementation and process evaluations, development of a process to strengthen commissioning of programmes with strong theories of change, and leading EEF approach to a growing body of policy evaluations

Evaluation Manager - Education Endowment Foundation

(2021-11 - 2022-11)

Management of a portfolio of evaluations, liaising with external and internal teams and stakeholders.

• Undertaking critical reviews of evaluation proposals, protocols, statistical analysis plans and reports, to ensure high quality
• Contributing to strategic thinking and initiatives including: a working group for development of a new theory of change process and workshops, a working group for cognitive science evaluation topics, coordinating the research agenda commissioning round and development of commissioning document templates, development of new research design set-up workshop guidance and contributing to updated Implementation and Process Evaluation (IPE) guidance
• Contributed to stakeholder discussions and bid writing to successfully secure funding from the Evaluation Accelerator Fund (EAF) to hire a data archive manager to oversee the process of setting up access to the EEF data archive

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University

(2019-04 - 2021-11)

Evaluation of health-related interventions. Responsible for leading the analysis and reporting of quantitative outcome measures, as well as supervision of a research assistant.

• Contribution to the development and evaluation of e-learning resources for healthcare professionals
• Supervision of a research intern on a collaborative research project with Medway NHS Foundation Trust, evaluating the effectiveness of a new pilot service in diabetes care. Role was in the set-up of the research and supervision of the research intern in data collection, analysis, and reporting of quantitative and qualitative outcome measures

Associate Lecturer - School of Psychology, University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University

(2013-09 - 2019-04)

• Lecturing, seminar teaching and assignment marking in Research Methods and Statistics, Biological and Cognitive Psychology and Social and Developmental Psychology
• Delivered best practice in EEG research workshops for visiting researchers and academics
• Delivered laboratory demonstrations of brain imaging techniques (EEG) for school students as part of an educational outreach program

Postgraduate Research and Ethics Strategy Assistant - School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University

(2018-01 - 2018-06)

6-month contract role to support the introduction of two new masters programs in the school and the consequent increase in ongoing research projects.

• Compilation and management of a database of ongoing postgraduate research projects
• Drafting and dissemination of up-to-date ethical research protocols and legal guidances
• Production of a research and ethical guidance handbook for postgraduate students, along with online resources

Assistant Psychologist - Neuro Partners Ltd

(2010-09 - 2011-08)

• Line management of a team of support workers, including work delegation, training, and supervision to deliver therapy plans
• Designed and delivered therapeutic interventions for service users living with brain injury and neurological conditions under the supervision of a clinical psychologist

Support Worker

(2012-09 - 2019-10)

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant - NHS

(2011-08 - 2012-08)

Rehabilitation Support Worker

(2010-06 - 2010-09)

PhD - Cognitive Psychology - University of Kent (2013-01 - 2019-05)

MSc - Cognitive Neuropsychology - University of Kent (2011-01 - 2013-01)

BSc (hons) - Psychology - Durham University (2007-01 - 2010-01)