Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – STEM Education and Computational Thinking Project
For STEM Education and Computational Thinking Project at Northwestern
Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy seeks applicants for a postdoctoral fellow in the learning sciences. The candidate will be part of a team of researchers, faculty, and curriculum developers involved in a newly funded initiative by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project's goals are 1) to improve understanding of the concept of dynamic equilibrium across multiple sciences and develop a unified framework for defining it. 2) to develop, implement, and evaluate science units that foreground dynamic equilibrium and include computational activities for middle school and high school. The project also aims to produce new modeling software to enable students to see and explore dynamic equilibrium in action.
This position provides opportunities for in-depth qualitative, quantitative, and computational research. Successful candidates will be comfortable conducting research both in lab and in classroom environments. The candidate will be part of an international collaborative research team involving faculty from learning sciences, science education, and computer science. This is a dynamic and vibrant collaborative environment comprised of faculty, postdocs, students, computer programmers, modelers, and curriculum developers.
The candidate will co-supervise the work of graduate students and staff, publish research papers, contribute to grant writing and materials development, participate in the design of computational tools, work closely with implementing schools, and help shape the overall scope and direction of the research. There will be close mentorship from the PI as well as opportunities to learn from other truly outstanding senior scholars and practitioners. Fellows will fully participate in the research laboratory: the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling (CCL).
Successful candidates will have a doctorate in learning sciences or a related field (e.g., science education, educational technologies), strengths in research methods, a science background, good communication skills, experience with lab and classroom-based research, and strong writing skills.
The start date is as soon as possible and the expected duration of the postdoctoral fellowship is two years with the possibility of renewal for a third. To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, sample publications, and names and contact info for three references to DE-postdoc@ccl.northwestern.edu. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Northwestern is located in an attractive lakefront community adjacent to Chicago. For more information about the School of Education and Social Policy, please visit sesp.northwestern.edu.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.