[Rumor] Postdoc, Quantum Information Science and Technology education project, Cal State San Marcos

 Quantum Information Science and Technology postdoc wanted!

Thanks to some good news I received this week I am anticipating hiring a postdoctoral researcher in the near future to work on a Quantum Information Science and Technology education project. While we await the final grant paperwork I’d like to get started on identifying candidates. This is for a multi-year project developing hands-on QIST laboratory curriculum. This project aims to expand undergraduate access to meaningful QIST experimental experiences while minimizing institutional hardware burdens. The postdoc will play a central role in designing competencies, developing instructional modules, preparing experimental hardware, assessing pilot implementations, coordinating with partner institutions, and supporting dissemination.

We’re looking for candidates with a PhD in physics or related field with an ability to work effectively with collaborators. Ideal candidates will have experience with experimental quantum physics and/or physics education research. Funding for conference travel and opportunities to gain teaching experience in a diverse teaching environment are also available. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Justin Perron jperron@csusm.edu with a C.V. (include a list of references) and a cover letter.

Some additional information on our campus and community:

California State University San Marcos is a beautiful campus in North County San Diego (~20-30 minutes from the beach) with a welcoming and supportive community. We are a predominantly undergraduate institution, a Hispanic serving institution (HSI), and this year we were ranked #1 in the nation for social mobility! The department of physics is small (<10 tenure track faculty, and ~10 graduates/year) with several active and well-funded research programs. My lab has active collaborations with multiple research groups in both experimental quantum information science and QIS education and workforce development. Finally, CSUSM also has a very active discipline-based education research community and is home to the Center for Research and Engagement in Science Education (CRESE).

There is an excellent benefits package at our institution (Outstanding low to no cost comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, life, and disability insurance plans, generous employer contributed 403(b) Retirement Plan with an 8% Employer Contribution – 100% immediate vesting) that you can learn more about here.

FT Teaching Associate/Full Professor, Lehigh University PA

 Educational Innovation Associate or Full Teaching Professor -- Lehigh University

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY invites applications from exceptionally innovative and experienced educators for a Teaching Associate Professor or Teaching Full Professor position (non-tenure track) who will play a leading role in advancing educational innovation and supporting excellence in disciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching. A start date of July 1, 2026 is anticipated. This position is a renewable, fixed-term, non-tenure-track, full-time position. The initial term of appointment will be from three to five years.

This position is being created as part of Lehigh’s strategic investment in innovative, student-centered and evidence-informed approaches to teaching across disciplines. Lehigh is an R1 research university that strongly values excellence in teaching. Lehigh has prioritized becoming a national leader in student outcomes through the development and implementation of innovative pedagogical approaches, course and curricular design, and adoption of learning technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, that ensure our educational practices continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of learners. Lehigh also seeks to develop and apply novel approaches for robust and efficient assessment of the effectiveness of innovative educational practices and programs. Faculty-led research on topics like teaching effectiveness and assessment techniques are also part of our strategic initiative on educational innovation.

Qualifications

Candidates must have an earned Ph.D. or field-equivalent terminal degree by date of employment and have a strong demonstrated record of success in creating and implementing innovative approaches to teaching, innovative educational programs, and/or novel approaches to assessing student performance. Candidates must have five or more years of experience in teaching as instructors of record at the university level.

The individual hired will have a teaching-track faculty appointment in one or more of Lehigh’s academic departments. They will be expected to teach a number of courses commensurate with the typical teaching assignment for senior teaching faculty in their college/department, playing a role in undergraduate teaching, and possibly teaching at the graduate level. While some teaching may be in online courses, presence on campus is required. The person hired into this position will also be expected to work with the Provost’s Office and the Office of Educational Innovation and Assessment on projects related to faculty professional development and educational innovation.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on 3/23/26 and will continue until the position is filled. More information and application instructions can be found here: https://apply.interfolio.com/181560

Instructional Aid Specialist, The Ohio State University

Description

The Instructional Aid Specialist promotes and strengthens the academic environment by supporting the design, implementation, and assessment of effective learning tools associated with laboratories, lecture demonstrations, and instructional technology for courses in the Department of Physics. This role supports the department’s introductory courses, which serve approximately 7,000 students per year and over 50 faculty members.

In collaboration with the Instructional Aid Manager, the Instructional Aid Specialist assists with developing, updating, maintaining, and setting up instructional technology for physics courses, using project management strategies to coordinate timelines and resources. The Instructional Aid Specialist also contributes to the design and construction of instructional technology and equipment for use in labs and lecture demonstrations, including 3D printing, basic software development, and introductory-level circuit design, and consults with machinists in the production of custom-designed equipment.

The Instructional Aid Specialist demonstrates instrumentation and instructional hardware for teaching faculty and provides training on proper equipment use. The role partners with lab trainers and coordinators to support equipment use and the development of evidence-based instructional approaches. In addition, the position provides technical support and guidance to faculty, lecturers, and graduate teaching associates related to instructional laboratories and introductory courses.

This position supports troubleshooting and repair of lab equipment, including diagnostics and maintenance of tools, apparatus, data acquisition hardware, and electrical instruments used in introductory physics laboratories and lecture demonstrations. The role also assists with decision-making related to lab equipment purchases, including computer hardware and software and audio-visual equipment, and supports procurement activities for the instructional lab team.

In collaboration with the Instructional Aid Manager, the Instructional Aid Specialist supports planning and facilitation of lab demonstrations for outreach and educational events, including events at the Ohio State Fair. The position maintains documentation related to standard operating procedures and safety requirements for lecture demonstrations and laboratory equipment and consults with department safety personnel as needed.

The Instructional Aid Specialist coordinates with IT on technical matters involving instructional labs and may perform video recording, editing, and production as needed. This position requires flexibility to work variable hours, including evenings and weekends, based on course schedules and outreach events.

Qualifications

Required: Bachelor’s degree in physics or related area, or equivalent experience. 2 years of experience in design, construction, and maintenance of laboratory equipment with at least 1-2 years in an instructional setting.

Desired: experience with design and construction of analog and digital circuits/devices

To Apply

https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Instructional-Aid-Specialist_R145418-1

Questions can be directed to Andrew Heckler (heckler.6@osu.edu) and Christine Jackson (jackson.2030@osu.edu).

FT Physics Lecturer, Columbia University

 https://apply.interfolio.com/180104

Description

The Columbia University Department of Physics invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Lecturer in Discipline, to begin July 1, 2026. This is a full-time, non-tenure track, renewable position, with multi-year reappointments contingent upon successful performance reviews.

The appointment requires teaching physics at the introductory and advanced undergraduate levels, in either lecture or laboratory courses. The appointment includes oversight of the development and modernization of instructional demonstration materials in support of the department’s curriculum.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to the culture and evolution of the undergraduate program in physics.

Application materials received by February 24, 2026 will receive full consideration. Application screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

   

Qualifications

Candidates should have a Physics PhD at the time of the appointment, strong background in both teaching and technical / laboratory work, with experience leading both lecture and laboratory courses. This is a full-time, non-tenure track, renewable position, with multi-year reappointments contingent upon successful performance reviews.

 

Application Instructions

All applications must be made through Columbia University’s Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR) system. Please upload the following required materials: cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, statement of teaching philosophy to include a statement of goals for an undergraduate program in physics, and three letters of recommendation.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

PER Postdoc, MIT

 

Research Associate MIT: Physics Education Research 

RELATE.MIT.edu group, Prof. Dave Pritchard

The REsearch on Learning Assessing and Tutoring Effectively group is studying and improving assessment and learning in novel and impactful ways. Using psychometrics and machine learning we’ve analyzed 180k administrations of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) to discover student misconceptions and then find the degree to which each student or class harbors each misconception.  Our misconceptions are weighted clusters of wrong answers exhibiting an identifiable misconception that are preferentially selected by the subset students who hold this misconception. 

The postdoc will help set the research agenda for our powerful new analysis tools, carry out the research with the group, and write papers.   Research directions include characterizing the nature of misconceptions, studying the effects of various pedagogies on their remediation, and placing them in a cognitive context. An important short-time goal is a web site to analyze administrations of the FCI to inform students and teachers on how deeply they hold each of the ~ 25 misconceptions that we have discovered and (given pre- and post-tests) as well as the extent to which their instruction has reduced these levels.  We also plan to probe the universality of  misconceptions on the FCI by similarly analyzing the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation.  

RELATE has expertise in educational data mining, psychometrics including multi-dimensional item response theory, and experience in designing online experiments and learning environments (including MasteringPhysics.com).  

Our postdocs have collaborated in the physics department teaching and online education development group.  All former RELATE alumni have obtained jobs in academia (~ 7 at MIT) or education companies.

Additionally, the PI is restarting an informal month-long “Puzzles and Paradoxes of Physics” and the postdoc may serve as a co-teacher and co-keeper of the associated puzzles and paradoxes plus discussions.

 

Requisite Knowledge and Skills:

 

Thoughtful analysis skills for understanding data

Understand statistical packages and programming (Python helpful)

Writing impactful and clear research articles

Knowledge of education research literature and teaching experience

A Ph.D or Ed.D in physics involving data analysis, PER, AI, machine learning, statistics and data mining, or cognitive science is necessary.  Applicants must be comfortable working both alone and with others.  

 

Inquiries and applications (cover letter, CV, first author paper, and list of at least three references) should be sent to relateMIT@gmail.com (please include “postdoc application” in subject line). Salary $73k.  Review of applications will begin immediately; starting date Summer 2026. 

 

MIT is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and this job has the standard MIT benefits.

 

Prof. David E. Pritchard  dpritch@mit.edu

Room 26-241 Dept. of Physics, MIT

77 Massachusetts Ave. , Cambridge, MA 02139.

PER Postdoc, University of Innsbruck, Austria

 PhD Position in Physics Education Research (Climate Education Focus)

University of Innsbruck, Austria

 

The Physics Education Research Group at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position in Physics Education Research.

Our group works on central questions in physics education, with a particular focus on climate education. Current research topics include:

 

• Teaching and learning of core physical concepts underlying the climate system
• Designing instruction that fosters informed action perspectives in the context of climate change
• Teacher professional development
• The potential of Bayesian statistics in science education research

 

The position is embedded in ongoing research projects and offers:

• Structured and reliable supervision
• Active support for publishing in international journals
• Support for participation in international conferences
• Integration into a collaborative, internationally well-connected research team

Depending on interest and fit, the position can be extended with additional project hours up to full-time (40 hours/week).

We welcome applicants with a strong background in physics, science education, or a related field, and an interest in rigorous empirical research.

 

Full details and the official job announcement can be found here:
https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/karriereportal.details?asg_id_in=15621

Postdoc, NSF-Funded, Cal State Fullerton

 https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/csufasc/jobs/5210838/postdoctoral-researcher-in-quantum-mechanics

We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative postdoctoral research associate to join our team on an NSF-funded project titled “Scaling Engagement and Learning in Quantum Science Through PhET Interactive Simulations.” This project is a collaborative effort between California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU Boulder). The overarching goals of the project are to design new interactive simulations, redesign existing quantum mechanics simulations, and support faculty and students in their effective use. The postdoctoral researcher will be based at California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, CA) and will lead research on student learning with the simulations, co-lead the development of educational materials to accompany the simulations, and collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Gina Passante (CSUF), Dr. Steven Pollock (CU Boulder), Dr. Noah Finklestein (CU Boulder), and the PhET team led by Dr. Kathy Perkins.

This position is anticipated to start as early as Summer 2026. 

*Please be aware that funding for this position is awarded through a Grant/Contract over a specified period. Employment for this position beyond current Grant/Contract funding is contingent upon continued funding or new Grant/Contract.

Essential Duties

• Participate in the design (and re-design) process for quantum simulations with the PhET design team and in the design of accompanying instructional materials.
• To establish and carry out research studying the effectiveness of PhET quantum simulations and associated materials.
• Communicate with project team members and with faculty piloting the PhET simulations and activities.
• Participate in project-wide meetings and workshops and present research results at conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated familiarity with physics education research methodologies and undergraduate quantum mechanics curriculum
• Experience publishing papers in physics education research journals
• Experience investigating student learning of physics topics

EDUCATION:

• Minimum Ph.D. in physics or a closely related field. The degree must be awarded by August 2026.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk while working on a computer. Ability to travel occasionally for conferences, workshops, or collaborative meetings. Regular verbal communication to present research findings and collaborate with team members. Light physical activity, such as carrying books, laptops, or small equipment (up to 30 pounds).

BENEFITS: 

Health, dental, vision, life, health care flex plan, LTD, vacation, sick leave, holiday, credit union, tuition reimbursement and retirement plan with company match.  All benefits will be administered according to policies and/or procedures.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

CSU Fullerton, Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at (657) 278-4117.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the ASC. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current ASC employees who apply for the position.  

PER/DBER in Quantum Computing Postdoc, Texas Tech

 The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas Tech University (TTU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team. This position will involve split time between the development of interdisciplinary Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) curricula and Physics Education Research (PER) or other Discipline-based Education Research (DBER) related to Quantum Computing (QC) and/or Quantum Information Science (QIS). This is part of a TTU Quantum Computing Strategic Research Initiative which includes research and workforce development across disciplines.

The successful candidate will work closely with faculty and collaborators in Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (CS) across the institution to design, implement, and evaluate innovative curricula, pedagogical approaches and course materials in undergraduate and graduate QISE courses. The candidate will also carry out PER or other DBER on QISE courses and curricula. This could be building on or related to our present and ongoing research on the effectiveness of evidence-based QC learning materials or workforce development or other QC/QISE related topics. The successful candidate will be able to work well with multiple faculty across different disciplines, be able to develop QISE course and curricular materials, working with faculty and graduate students in different fields, and be able to carry out PER or DBER projects in the context of QISE. 

 

The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, ECE or CS with a focus on educational research. They should also have content knowledge in Quantum Computing and/or Quantum Information Science and pedagogical knowledge that can be applied to course and curriculum creation and development. Ideally, the candidate will have a PER or other DBER Ph.D. 

 

Each applicant should submit a CV, list of publications, statement of research interests and plans,

teaching philosophy and contact information for at least three references. 

Applications should be submitted online at http://jobs.texastech.edu, using requisition #43463BR. Inquiries should be sent to Professor Beth Thacker (beth.thacker@ttu.edu). Review of applications will begin on immediately. The position start date is March 1, 2026.

 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Four-Year Fellowships for Female Postdocs, University of Vienna, Austria (EU)

 The University of Vienna is launching multiple Fellowships for female Postdocs to strengthen women’s participation in disciplines where they remain underrepresented, specifically within the fields of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy (including Physics Education Research). The Fellowship programme offers up to 20 full-time 4-year positions with structured career development.

You will: 

- Conduct highly original and internationally competitive research in one of the designated fields. 

- Develop and execute an ambitious Research Plan (as submitted with the application). 

- Publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences. 

- Build and maintain international research collaborations.

 

Find more details at:

https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Natural-Sciences-%28Physical-Sciences%29-Postdoc-Fellows-E-STEEM-Call-2026/1280187601/

 

Any questions to: Martin Hopf, martin.hopf@univie.ac.at

Two-Year Postdoc in PER, Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physics Education

Topic: AI in the Stellenbosch University Science Faculty

The Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship linked to a research project investigating the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and learning in the sciences, particularly in physics.

 

Research Focus

The project explores how AI is reshaping teaching and learning in the Stellenbosch University Science Faculty, with three core aims:
• to analyse academics’ attitudes, practices, and reservations regarding AI use in teaching;
• to investigate how students currently use AI tools—formally and informally—and how this shapes their conceptual understanding and learning behaviours;
• to evaluate the pedagogical impact of structured AI integration through a controlled teaching intervention in physics education, comparing traditional instruction with guided AI-supported learning activities.

The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including faculty-wide surveys, interviews with academics and students, longitudinal tracking of student AI use, and a controlled first year physics teaching experiment assessing conceptual and problem-solving outcomes.

The research team includes three members of the Physics Department’s teaching staff, with whom the postdoctoral fellow will work closely.

 

Eligibility

• Applicants must have obtained their PhD no more than four (4) years prior to their application.
• Preference will be given to candidates who:

• demonstrate a strong publication record during their PhD and/or previous postdoctoral work.
• have studied physics at a Bachelor’s level as well as postgraduate studies in education.
• have had no association with Stellenbosch University for at least three (3) years prior to application

 

Funding

• Stipend: R300 000 per year (paid directly to the Fellow). Fellowships are awarded tax free, and do not include benefits
• Running Costs: R100 000 once-off, or R50 000 per year over two years.
• Duration: Two years (2026–2027).
• Continuation to Year 2 is contingent on the acceptance of at least one peer-reviewed DHET-accredited publication in 2026.

 

Application Deadline: 26 January 2025. (Decision will be made by the end of January. The fellowship must commence by 1 March 2026.)

 

Application procedure: Applicants may apply by email to Dr Philip Southey (southey@sun.ac.za) before the deadline. Submit a cover letter summarising your background and interests and how your skills match those required for the project. Include a detailed CV and academic and publication record, and the names of two contactable references.