Assistant Director of the Learning Assistant (LA) Program
Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Florida International University is a Carnegie R1 public research university with 54,000 students who mostly come from traditionally underrepresented groups. Located in Miami, Florida, FIU leverages the multinational and multilingual strength of our students to create an inclusive and equitable future. The STEM Transformation Institute mission is to promote active learning and supports more than 7,500 undergraduate STEM majors through a multidisciplinary collaboration across the university. Together we develop research-based education practices which effectively produce substantial increases in the number of well-prepared STEM professionals, including teachers, entering the workforce. The Learning Assistant Program is housed in the STEM Transformation institute and provides an institutional change mechanism that focuses on the implementation of evidence-based STEM instruction. The LA Program serves more than 10,000 students a semester and supports faculty across disciplines in STEM and beyond.
The LA Program has the following open positions (available to be filled immediately):
Assistant Director of the Learning Assistant Program will be involved in all aspects of the LA Program, working closely with undergraduate students, faculty and university administrators. Primary responsibilities include facilitating adoption of the LA model with new faculty and emergent disciplines, including working with faculty and departments to redesign courses to enable best practices in LA-supported courses. Other responsibilities may include program management, faculty development. teaching and/or assessment and research. This is a full time 12-month position, starting as a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship with a path to a permanent position with the LA program. Required background includes:
- A doctorate in science, mathematics, engineering or science/mathematics/
engineering education; - Minimum 3-years academic experience in teaching and/or managing programs directly related to course transformation and/or implementation of evidence-based STEM Instruction.
- Very strong oral and written communication skills.
Additionally, preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate:
- Experience in faculty development and/or supporting implementation of active learning/student-centered pedagogies.
- Knowledge of recent advances in science, mathematics and/or engineering teaching and learning and/or discipline-based education research (DBER);
- Experience working in highly collaborative environments.
Postdoctoral scholars who are interested in STEM education research, institutional change and Learning Assistants (LAs). Based upon their interest, fellows will be involved in program management, faculty development and/or assessment and research. This fellowship provides an excellent exposure to Higher Ed practices and management as well as to faculty development. When applying, please mention one or more of the categories of interest: (1) Faculty development; (2) Higher Education Management; (3) Research and Assessment of active learning classrooms.
How to Apply: Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 517353 at facultycareers.fiu.edu, and attach a cover letter and curriculum vitae as a single pdf file. Candidates will be requested to provide names and contact information for at least three references. Candidates may explore stem.fiu.edu for more information and may contact Program Director, Dr. Hagit Kornreich-Leshem, directly at hkornrei@fiu.edu or email stemti@fiu.edu with any inquiries. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.
FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
