Director, Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning
Oregon State University seeks a full-time Director to grow its university-wide Center for Research on Lifelong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Learning.
This position provides a rare opportunity to broadly envision the future of STEM learning – learning that occurs across one’s lifespan, both in and out of school, supporting professional and personal interests and across all demographics. OSU seeks a skilled and visionary research leader who can, through this new Center, build a research foundation that brings OSU into a position of national prominence and influence. Building from OSU’s Research Agenda and Strategic Plan, the successful candidate will be charged with promoting innovation and improvement in STEM education through fundamental and applied research in lifelong STEM learning both within and beyond the OSU community. The Director will work with Center staff and OSU faculty to build infrastructure for attracting additional research funding and broadly sharing OSU research on the national and international stage.
The Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning was established in 2012 with a mission to conduct research and development that leads to enhanced understanding of the processes that underlie how individuals with diverse life circumstances and identities become lifelong STEM learners, STEM practitioners and STEM researchers as well as the structures and mechanisms that lead to achieving these outcomes. The OSU Center is unique among STEM center counterparts in its focus on research and commitment to understanding learning across all settings (in and out of school) and across one’s lifespan. The ultimate role of the Director is to catalyze discovery and application of knowledge about STEM learning.
OSU is a regional, national, and international leader in the arena of lifelong STEM learning research. Many OSU faculty members are engaged in investigations ranging from STEM-related undergraduate and pre-college education to community-based investigations of STEM learning and public decision-making. The Center Director will lead efforts to significantly advance these capacities at OSU by initiating new, foundational lines of research, coordinating existing activities across disciplines, curricular levels and research areas and by providing a forum for the cross-pollination of ideas with a wider-base of expertise to address cross-cutting STEM-learning-related challenges.
The successful candidate must possess proven fund-raising experience and skills, particularly in areas relevant to the Center mission. A PhD. and superior skills in writing, listening, speaking, networking, collaboration, and substantial knowledge of the STEM learning/education policy landscape and current research literature, both in and outside of school, are required.
Qualified candidates must have credentials consistent with the expectations of a tenured faculty position in a tier one research university. The successful candidate can, at his or her discretion, negotiate a faculty position with an appropriate college and department prior to accepting the position; such a candidate will be subject to a full, but expedited, OSU tenure review. Achievement of tenure is not a requirement for the position.
OSU is an equal opportunity employer. Programs exist to support dual career needs.
Position Duties
Administration and Management: 20%
Fund Raising and Grant Writing: 25%
Scholarly work and other academic duties 30%
Minimum Required Qualifications
- PhD in a field relevant to STEM learning with 5 or more years conducting STEM relevant learning research in an academic setting.
- Demonstrated success in facilitating transdisciplinary collaboration.
- Experience with administrative leadership including budget development and strategic planning.
- Demonstrated ability to raise funds from both public and private sources; particularly important will be evidence of ability to raise monies for efforts consistent with the goals of the Center.
- A demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
- National reputation as a STEM learning researcher.
- STEM education policy experience.
- Supervisory experience.
Applicants with questions about their suitability for this position are encouraged to contact Dr. John H. Falk or Julie Risien.
The primary location for this position is the OSU main campus in Corvallis, OR.
To apply go to: http://oregonstate.edu/jobs/ and search for position number 0011233. Applicants will submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a one page vision statement. A vision statement should clearly articulates a set of short and long-term goals for the Center; one that builds upon your own personal interests and expertise, the mission of the Center and the strengths and interests of the broader OSU community. The current short-term initiatives on the website provide just two examples of the kind of pursuits that the Center might want to embrace.
For information about the OSU benefits go to: http://oregonstate.edu/admin/hr/sites/default/files/benefits/potentialhireacademic.pdf
For full consideration, apply by October 21, 2013.
