Application Link: https://umaine.
University of Maine
Position Description
Title: Postdoctoral Research
Associate
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Report To: Professor of Physics and Astronomy
(Neil F. Comins)
Date: January 2021
Purpose: To
develop professionally as a future science education faculty member and/or
researcher. This position will advance an NSF-funded project to motivate
interest in STEM topics by allowing Minecraft users to ask “What if?” questions
about the Earth, such as “What if the Moon didn’t exist?” or “What if the Earth
was a moon,” and explore the consequences of these variation in the popular
video game Minecraft. The project also
seeks to provide educational opportunities related to the search for
exoplanets, addressing questions of detecting exoplanets and determining their habitability. The selected candidate will be charged with
creating models and supporting the implementation of Minecraft versions of
fictional and known planets.
Specifically, this postdoc position will be tasked with providing: calculations,
observed evidence (from other researchers), and possibly simulations, for the
targeted worlds to be built in Minecraft.
Essential Duties and
Responsibilities:
·
Take descriptive versions of alternative Earths
and quantify the changes compared to the default version of Earth. Furthermore, the equations/descriptions of
the changes need to be derived in a flexible format. For example, if the Earth was the moon of a
larger world, the equations describing this system must allow for the larger
world to have a range of masses and for the Earth to orbit at different
distances.
·
Provide suggestions as to how these alternative
worlds can be implemented in Minecraft. In
particular, propose how these alternative Minecraft versions of Earth would
differ from the default Earth presented in Minecraft.
·
The actual implementation of these new worlds
will primarily be done by collaborators, but the postdoc is expected to participate
in this part of the project, as required.
·
Maintain records of all calculations, as well as
descriptions of all relevant equations and variables.
·
Use Minecraft on the University of Maine and/or
on the UIUC computer to explore and verify the accuracy of these alternative
worlds.
·
Work with collaborators, including researchers
at the UIUC, CU-Boulder, and PBS Nova to provide subject-matter expertise with
regard to the models created and astrophysics generally.
·
Co-author papers and/or presentations on this
work.
·
Perform other reasonably related duties as
assigned.
·
Mentor graduate and/or undergraduate students as
appropriate.
Knowledge and Skills
Qualifications:
Required:
·
Ph.D. Astronomy
or in Science Education with experience in related fields.
·
Ability to communicate effectively both at the
scientific level and with colleagues in the field of education.
Preferred:
·
Experience with Minecraft.
·
Preference will be given to candidates with some
training in and/or experience with education outreach.
Supervisory
Responsibilities: Possible interaction with students interested in
voluntarily exploring these Minecraft worlds.
Work Environment: Work
will be performed in an office in Bennett Hall.
Work Year: Full
time.
Work Schedule: Normal
University of Maine business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30
PM. Occasional work outside normal
business hours may be necessary.
Position Type: Initial
appointment one year with renewal up to two additional years, contingent on funding
and performance.
Schedule for
Evaluation: In accordance with the UMPSA agreement.
Appropriate background checks will be required.
All UMS employees are required to comply with applicable
policies and procedures, as well as to complete applicable workspace related
screenings, and required employee trainings, such as Information Security,
Safety Training, Workplace Violence and Sexual Harassment training.
