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Postdoctoral Training Opportunity – SESP/CNAIR Position with Dr. Megan Bang

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) and the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) at Northwestern University have a two-year position (beginning Fall 2023) available for a postdoctoral scholar to contribute to Dr. Megan Bang’s educational research projects, ISTEAM and Learning in Places. The postdoc will primarily focus on the research projects under Dr. Megan Bang but will also be affiliated with CNAIR as the center continues to work towards its goals and builds research capacity which includes developing and promoting reciprocal and sovereignty-affirming relationships and partnerships with Native American and Indigenous communities. A key part of this role will be to help build out a new professional learning program for educators serving Indigenous communities. This is a full-time, 12-month academic position. The anticipated start date is September 1st, 2023. ABD candidates with an anticipated degree conferral date prior to the position start date are welcome to apply. 

Megan Bang’s SESP projects include Learning in Places and the Indigenous STEAM Collaborative. Both are land and water based programs which work to cultivate equitable, culturally thriving, socio-ecological systems learning and ethical decision-making using field-based science education in outdoor places for children and their families, with ISTEAM foregrounding Indigenous knowledge in the co-design of materials and programs with families, communities, and educators.    

As part of CNAIR, the Postdoc will be connected to CNAIR affiliates and students to build a stronger community of scholars. The postdoc will provide co-mentorship to graduate students and undergraduate students.  The postdoc will also take on academic mentorship responsibilities by helping facilitate the NAIS graduate cluster at Northwestern and be invited to participate in NAIS career resources including workshops and groups at CNAIR and in the larger Chicagoland community.  For example, the Chicagoland NAIS Working Group is a space where young NAIS scholars can share drafts of book chapters and journal articles. In addition, CNAIR will support the postdoc in their career pathway by supporting mentorship structures and research (i.e., relationship building with Indigenous scholars, navigating NU research resources, supporting workshops in grant writing, paper development, and conference dissemination). 

Responsibilities 

The successful candidate will take an active role in all research activities and play a significant role in co-design with educators and communities. The postdoc will work with an extended team of graduate and undergraduate students as well as community members. The postdoc will help provide guidance and mentorship. It is critical that the successful candidate demonstrates strong academic writing skills and the ability to effectively advance projects across the “finish line” to manuscript submission in top journals.  

  • The postdoctoral scholar will collaborate with doctoral and undergraduate students, Indigenous community members, and educators, and will have opportunities to publish in peer-reviewed publications.  
  • The postdoctoral scholar will join a supportive community of scholars and will have the opportunity to take advantage of the multitude of internal and external mentoring initiatives and center affiliations that Northwestern affords to early career researchers.  
  • As a CNAIR affiliate, postdocs will be invited to present their work at CNAIR sponsored events. They will also be invited to participate in or facilitate CNAIR sponsored workshops.  

Qualifications  

  • PhD in Education, Learning Sciences, or a related social scientific discipline such as Psychology 
  • Experience working with Tribal Nations, Native and Indigenous communities, and K-12 educators in formal or informal contexts 
  • Record of communicating research results via peer-reviewed publications and presentations 
  • Willingness to mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students 
  • Experience in collecting and analyzing empirical data 
  • Experience with community co-design and qualitative research including video analysis preferred 

Applications  

To apply, please send items listed below to Tom Dixon (thomas.dixon@northwestern.edu) with the header “CNAIR and SESP Postdoc Position.” Applications are rolling but applications received by February 15th , 2023 will be given first priority. Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. 

  • cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position 
  • curriculum vitae (including publications list) 
  • 1 published paper, or equivalent writing samples that you are most proud of and which best demonstrate your expertise and fit for the position 
  • 1-2 page statement about goals for postdoc work 
  • the names and contact information of three references 

For more information about Megan Bang’s research please see Learning in Places and Indigenous STEAM. To learn more about CNAIR, see the CNAIR webpage. 

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website. 

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today. 

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.