Postdocs at MSU

Three Post-Doctoral Research Associates
STEM Education
Michigan State University
Posting # 8540

The Automated Analysis of Constructed Response (AACR) Research Group (www.msu.edu/~aacr ) at Michigan State University seeks three candidates to fill three one-year, 12 month (with possible additional years) Research Associate positions in college teaching and learning in the fields of science or engineering.  We are an interdisciplinary team of Discipline-Based Education Researchers (DBER) from Biology, Genetics, Chemistry, Engineering, Education, and Statistics who are investigating computerized analysis of students’ writing in large enrollment undergraduate Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses to model students’ thinking.

We have received a 5 year NSF grant to expand our collaborations on these projects with STEM education researchers across the country. The selected Research Associates will participate in NSF-funded research projects in collaboration with MSU faculty in the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Science, and the MSU Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL).  Our research group has a strong post-doc researcher mentoring program and an excellent placement record of our researchers.

Applicants should have completed a doctoral degree in a natural science, engineering, or STEM education. You should have a strong commitment to undergraduate STEM education and interest in working with a leading group of interdisciplinary STEM educators.  Successful candidates will have a mix of some set of the following skills, which will enable the Research Associates to make unique contributions to the project team:
•             disciplinary expertise in a STEM discipline
•             STEM education research
•             assessment of learning
•             faculty professional development for reformed teaching
•             computational linguistics / natural language processing
•             database management
•             web site development
•             multivariate statistics and computer modeling
•             experience with SPSS Modeler
•             qualitative research methods
•             experience publishing and presenting research findings
Excellent communication and organizational skills are required. You will be expected to participate in the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate research assistants. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.  The salary is commensurate with education and experience.

A complete application package consists of a cover letter, cv, copy of transcripts, two samples of scholarly writing and names and email addresses of three references. Review of application materials will begin November 8, 2013 and continue until the positions are filled.  Targeted position start date: January 6, 2014.

Apply online:
https://jobs.msu.edu     Search for position 8540

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.