Stanford University School of Education seeks a post-doctoral fellow to work with Dr. Jonathan Osborne and Dr. Hilda Borko on a new NSF funded project entitled 'The Efficacy of a Science & Literacy Academy Model of Professional Development.' Together with Stanford University, the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley will begin a 4-year program to study the efficacy of an innovative model for science professional development (PD) for upper elementary (grades 3-5) classroom teachers. The study will begin in the fall of 2012.
Over the past nine years, Lawrence Hall of Science (the Hall) has developed a practicum-based PD model that operates in conjunction with local school districts’ summer school programs. The primary focus of this professional development is to develop the use of discourse which supports argumentation from evidence, based on reading science texts and conducting inquiry-based science investigations. To test the efficacy of the Academy model, facilitators from the Hall will deliver two versions of the PD–the Academy and the Academy minus the Practicum. A third matched cohort, who do not participate in either model of the PD, will serve as a comparison. Over a 4-year period, Stanford researchers will compare the practices of teachers in all three groups and the science achievement of their students. The PD and research study will be conducted within Oakland Unified School District, a large urban district in northern California.
Candidates for this post must have an earned doctoral degree in science education or another appropriate discipline prior to starting the appointment. The successful applicant will have a demonstrated ability to engage in creative scholarship/research in science education and/or teacher professional development. The responsibilities of the position include working as part of a collaborative team with faculty and graduate students at the Stanford School of Education
This position is open to all qualified U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens without regard to race, age, gender, religion, color, national origin, or physical disability. The appointment will begin in September 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter and would run for a maximum of four years.
Desirable attributes for this position include: strong formal background in research on science education or teacher professional development, experience in school settings, a good content knowledge in K-12 science, and expertise in quantitative research methods
Application review will begin on Oct 1, 2012 and will continue until the position is filled. Prospective applicants for the position should email a letter of interest describing their qualifications and a curriculum vita to:
Dr. Jonathan Osborne, School of Education Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 650 725 1247 (voice) osbornej@stanford.edu
For information about the Stanford School of Education, please visit our web site: www.stanford.edu.
