Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Physics Education Research
Dr. Sian Beilock in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago and Dr. Susan Fischer in the Department of Physics at DePaul University are seeking to make one full-time Post-Doctoral appointment. This research-oriented position will focus on applying cognitive science principles to physics learning and instruction, with special emphasis on understanding how sensorimotor experience can be used to enhance students’ learning of abstract concepts in physics. The current project is directed toward improving introductory physics students’ understanding of center of gravity. The research combines more traditional physics education research methods with fMRI and behavioral measures of learning from cognitive science (techniques taught as part of the position). Requirements include a Ph.D. in physics education, physics, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, or education. Responsibilities include experiment design, training and supervising of research assistants, data collection, data analysis, and grant and manuscript preparation. Salary is in accordance with NIH standards. The start date is flexible, but should be in the time window of March 2015 to August 2015.
Dr. Sian Beilock (University of Chicago) and Susan Fischer (DePaul University) are conducting NSF-funded interdisciplinary research that explores physics education in the context of cognitive science. In particular, we consider how embodied learning can impact student understanding of physics concepts such as angular momentum and center of gravity. We have found that a post-doc with a PER background provides an essential link between the physics and cognitive science backgrounds of the co-PIs, and we expect our post-doc to make valuable contributions to the direction and implementation of our research program. Interested candidates are encouraged to read the attached job description. A bit more information on our recent work may be found by visiting the PERC website at http://www.compadre.org/per/perc/ and downloading Susan Fischer’s contributed posters “Feeling a Vector: Using Embodied Learning to Explore Angular Momentum” (2014) and “An Embodied Physics Lab on Center of Gravity” (2013).
Please send a current CV to Sian Beilock: beilock@uchicago.edu and/or Susan Fischer: sfischer@depaul.edu. More information can be found at: http://hpl.uchicago.edu/. The University of Chicago is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
