Kansas State
University is hiring a postdoctoral research associate for a new project to
study the use and impact of PhysPort.org by physics faculty, and to determine
ways to increase its effectiveness. PhysPort is an online professional
development resource that supports physics faculty in implementing
research-based teaching and assessment in their classrooms by providing expert
recommendations, based on Physics Education Research (PER). The goal of this
project will answer the following research questions:
1. How do physics
faculty use PhysPort?
2. What is the impact
of PhysPort on teaching practice for both faculty and departments?
As a postdoc, your work may include
observing and interviewing interviewing physics faculty, performing
phenomenographic and statistical analyses, preparing research results for
publication and presentation, assisting with supervising students and assisting
with designing changes to PhysPort based on research results. You will work
closely with Ellie Sayre (PhysPort Research Director, Kansas State University),
Sam McKagan (PhysPort Director, American Association of Physics Teachers),
Adrian Madsen (PhysPort Assistant Director, American Association of Physics
Teachers), and a team of researchers at Kansas State University and AAPT.
This position is based at Kansas State
University, but involves close collaboration with a geographically distributed
team and we will consider hiring someone who would work remotely.
We are passionate about the professional
development of our postdocs. You will receive training on research, writing
papers and grant proposals, user-centered design, and working with a team.
Preferred qualifications:
- PhD/EdD
in STEM field or physics/science education
- Enthusiastic
learner
- Passion
for improving the state of physics education at the university level
- Successful
research record and the ability to conduct independent research
- Ability
to listen and draw out people’s experiences and perspectives (e.g. in the
context of interviews)
- Ability
to communicate effectively with physics faculty
- Experience
with research into faculty/teacher change, instructional change,
institutional change, and/or faculty/teacher professional development
- Experience
with qualitative research including interviewing and video analysis
- Experience with statistics
- Strong
communication and writing skills and a willingness to improve them
- Strong
time management and organizational skills and a willingness to improve
them
- Ability
to work with a geographically distributed team
- We
realize that no one person has all of these preferred qualifications; a
successful candidate might have some of them. If you are interested in
this position, we encourage you to apply, or at least contact us with
questions.
If you have any questions about the
project or the position, please contact Ellie (esayre@ksu.edu) or Sam (smckagan@aapt.org).
Interested applicants should apply by
submitting a letter of interest and a curriculum vita as well as a list
including contact information for at least three references at this link: http://careers.k-state.edu/cw/en-us/job/502494/fellow-post-doc-physics
Kansas State
University is an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities
and protected veterans and actively seeks diversity among its employees. Equal
Employment Opportunity is the Law.
In connection with
your application for employment, Kansas State University may procure a
Background Screen on you as part of the process of considering your candidacy
as an employee.
