Position Summary

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral researcher for a National Science Foundation-funded project, "MothEd - Authentic Science for Elementary and Middle School Students." This project is supported by a collaboration that joins Michigan State University's (MSU) Department of Entomology (Dr. Peter White), MSU's College of Education, The Concord Consortium (Dr. Frieda Reichsman), and the University of Utah (Dr. David Stroupe). The successful candidate for the current position will work collaboratively with team members to design multiple professional development workshops and an on-going support system for elementary and middle school science teachers across the United States who are interested in engaging in authentic science with students and that are supported by educational technologies. In addition, the candidate will conduct research focused on three areas: 1) teachers' instructional practices, and teacher learning as individuals and as a community of practitioners; and 2) students' engagement in authentic science; 3) how various educational technologies support teachers and students. 

Responsibilities include working in coordination with education and science faculty to:

· Design multiple professional development opportunities for supporting teachers to help students engage in authentic science,

· Work collaboratively and constructively with in-service elementary and middle school science teachers,

· Gather and analyze data (quantitative and/or qualitative) about teacher learning in both professional development and teaching environments,

· Interview students and teachers about patterns of participation, particularly focused on issues of authenticity in science,

· Mentor junior researchers including graduate students and undergraduates in research on teacher education, and

· Author articles for journals such as the Journal of Teacher Education, the Journal of the Learning Sciences, Cognition and Instruction, as well as discipline specific journals, such as the Journal of Research in Science Teaching

· Present research results at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conferences.

This position is funded for 1-year from the date of hire.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -biology, entomology, biology education 

Minimum Requirements

• Excellent writing skills and a record of producing peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience with inclusive and constructivist teaching pedagogies.
• A set of skills that would help in managing and coordinating a study at a national scale.
• An ability to work with and handle live and dead insects, particularly moths.
• Experience identifying insect specimens.
• Knowledge of html and use of web-based technologies.

Desired Qualifications

• A knowledge of the Next Generation Science Standards and K-12 biology curriculum, particularly relating to insect biology and/or ecological processes.
• Experience working with K-12 teachers.
• Experience developing training workshops.

• An understanding of agency-based education approaches.

   

Required Application Materials

Submit an application letter describing research interests and career goals, a curriculum vitae, a 1-page diversity and inclusivity statement, and complete contact information for three letters of recommendation. Candidates should also include two writing samples. Each of these writing samples should be approximatel