We are excited to share the below advertisements for two biology education research postdoc positions.  These postdocs will join our research team to explore how Open Educational Resources (OERs) have helped the biology community enact Vision and Change principles.  

One postdoc will work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and one postdoc will work at Cornell University.  Applicants wishing to be considered for both positions should apply to both.  Applicants wishing to be considered for only one location should apply just to that position.  

More information and directions for application submission can be found below.  Applicants may wish to read news stories about the project from Nebraska, Cornell, and UMaine.  We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and look forward to bringing new ideas, perspectives, and expertise to our team.

Sincerely,

Michelle Smith, Cornell University

Brian Couch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Erin Vinson, University of Maine

 

News articles about the project:

https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/nsf-funded-husker-led-project-to-evaluate-open-access-educational-resources/

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/08/2m-grant-fund-assessment-biology-education

https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2021/08/13/researchers-assess-whether-open-educational-resources-improved-biology-instruction/

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Cornell University

College of Arts and Sciences

 

Postdoctoral Associate: Evaluating how open educational resources facilitate implementation of Vision and Change principles across diverse institutions

Applications are invited for a full time postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at Cornell University. The successful candidate will advance undergraduate biology education by examining how Vision and Change (V&C) principles are being enacted in biology courses across a variety of undergraduate institutions. This project is part of a collaboration that includes Dr. Brian Couch (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Erin Vinson (University of Maine).

This project will focus on the use of open educational resources (OERs), which are educational materials that are available in the public domain. The research will involve conducting a scoping review of OER article content from a variety of journals (e.g., CourseSource), surveying authors and users to determine their engagement with OERs, developing student assessments, and observing instructors teaching with OERs in a variety of classrooms. The primary duties and responsibilities include leading the scoping review, developing and deploying surveys, designing protocols to observe instructors teaching with OERs, and analyzing student and instructor data. There will be opportunities to engage with instructors in professional development activities. The successful candidate will disseminate the results through publications and presentations at meetings.

Discipline-based education research is an important area of study at Cornell, with collaborators (faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students) in physics, biology, and other STEM fields. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to mentor and work with many individuals and participate in weekly education journal clubs and research meetings with the larger EEB and Cornell community.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biology, biology education research, or closely related field
• Experience with education research methods, including quantitative research methods and statistics (e.g., proficiency in multilevel statistical modeling using R) and/or experience with qualitative research approaches such as analyzing survey and interview data
• Knowledge of and interest in the potential OERs have to affect undergraduate education
• Ability and desire to work collaboratively, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and function independently
• Demonstrated project leadership, time management, communication, and writing skill

The Postdoctoral Associate will be appointed for a one-year period with the possibility of extension for additional years based on satisfactory performance.

To apply: Applicants should submit their cover letter, CV, a 1-2 page research statement including relevant background and experiences, and a diversity statement, as well as the names and email or phone contacts of three professional references to:  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19170.

Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2021.

Please contact Dr. Smith (mks274@cornell.edu) with any questions.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

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University of Nebraska-Lincoln

School of Biological Sciences

 

Postdoctoral Associate: Evaluating how open educational resources facilitate implementation of Vision and Change principles across diverse institutions

Applications are invited for a full time postdoctoral researcher in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The successful candidate will advance undergraduate biology education by examining how Vision and Change (V&C) principles are being enacted in biology courses across a variety of undergraduate institutions. This project is part of a collaboration that includes Dr. Michelle Smith (Cornell University) and Erin Vinson (University of Maine).

This project will focus on the use of open educational resources (OERs), which are educational materials that are available in the public domain. The research will involve conducting a scoping review of OER article content from a variety of journals (e.g., CourseSource), surveying authors and users to determine their engagement with OERs, developing student assessments, and observing instructors teaching with OERs in a variety of classrooms. The primary duties and responsibilities include developing and deploying surveys, optimizing assessment instruments, contributing to the scoping review, designing protocols to observe instructors teaching with OERs, and analyzing student and instructor data. There will be opportunities to engage with instructors in professional development activities. The successful candidate will disseminate the results through publications and presentations at meetings.

Discipline-based education research (DBER) is an important area of study at UNL, with collaborators (faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students) across STEM disciplines. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to mentor and work with many individuals and participate in weekly education journal clubs and research meetings with the larger DBER community.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biology, biology education research, or closely related field
• Experience with education research methods, including quantitative research methods and statistics (e.g., proficiency in multilevel statistical modeling using R) and/or experience with qualitative research approaches such as analyzing survey and interview data
• Knowledge of and interest in the potential OERs have to affect undergraduate education
• Ability and desire to work collaboratively, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and function independently
• Demonstrated project leadership, time management, communication, and writing skills

The Postdoctoral Associate will be appointed for a one-year period with the possibility of extension for additional years based on satisfactory performance.

To apply: Applicants should submit their cover letter, CV, a 1-2 page research statement including relevant background and experiences, and a diversity statement, as well as the names and email or phone contacts of three professional references to Dr. Brian Couch (bcouch2@unl.edu).

Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2021.

Please contact Dr. Couch with any questions.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) seeks to achieve a working and learning environment that is open to all people. Diversity is the hallmark of great institutions of learning and has long been one of the strengths of our society. Dignity and respect for all in the UNL community is the responsibility of each individual member of the community. The realization of that responsibility across the campus is critical to UNL's success. For UNL's non-discrimination information, see http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.