Auburn University

The Ballen lab of biology education research seeks one postdoctoral scholar for a 2-year appointment with the possibility of extension. This position is full-time with a flexible start date as early as summer 2019. The scholar would spend half of their time conducting research on undergraduate biology education, and the other half leading a large-scale, externally funded project on Equity and Diversity in Undergraduate STEM (EDU-STEM), with an emphasis on undergraduate biology. Postdocs would be co-advised by Jordan Harshman in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The postdoc will also work closely with the other leaders of the EDU-STEM network (Sehoya Cotner, University of Minnesota; Sheritta Fagbodun, Tuskegee University; Carrie Hall, University of New Hampshire).

What is EDU-STEM? Equity and Diversity in Undergraduate STEM (EDU-STEM) is a network that integrates research and teaching in evidence-based classroom experiences across Biology curricula.

The four objectives are:

(1) reveal differences, if they exist, in the cultural climate for women and minorities in STEM disciplines (initially focusing on biology) as a function of geography, institution type, and cultural profile of the participating departments;

(2) increase the number of faculty in the United States that are familiar with barriers to inclusion in STEM, and can apply evidence-based techniques for countering known barriers;

(3) develop a community of faculty that can serve as leaders--at their home institutions and nationally--in inclusive teaching and assessment; and

(4) identify cultural factors associated with a shift towards evidence-based teaching, especially pertaining to inclusive teaching.

These activities will be integrated throughout thousands of students’ first and second years of higher education, and all of them involve evidence- based techniques and experiences. Postdoc responsibilities.

This individual will complete the following related to EDU-STEM:

(1) conduct research that aligns with the applicant’s interests on data collected from participating EDU-STEM institutions,

(2) spearhead assessment efforts of EDU-STEM,

(3) help organize and facilitate EDU-STEM meetings,

(4) take a primary role in data analysis, and collaborate with network members,

(5) disseminate results in the form of peer-reviewed publications.

Candidates must have:

(a) a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline, STEM education, data science, or a closely related field;

(b) a strong record of publication;

(c) demonstrated interest in discipline-based education research;

(d) demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, preferably managing and organizing large projects;

(e) a strong quantitative background, and preferably a proficiency in R. Preferred qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants with a background in the life sciences, and strong written and oral communication skills. To apply: please send me (mjb0100(at)auburn.edu) a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of three references. We will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

Ballen Lab Website: https://balle027.wixsite.com/cjballen

Start Date: September 2019 (flexible)