Fixed-term Assistant Professor Positions (teaching+computational research), Michigan State

 

Fixed-term Assistant Professor Positions
MSU Dept. of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering

Position Summary: The Michigan State University Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE) invites applications for several Fixed-term Assistant Professor positions with a starting date of August 15, 2024. These positions provide a postdoctoral research experience in an interdisciplinary environment that focuses on the development of algorithms for computational modeling and data science and their application to a wide variety of scientific and engineering applications, as well as experience teaching in innovative ways in that environment and professional development related to faculty careers. Instructional courses taught in CMSE focus on computational modeling and/or data science. Successful candidates will receive training in research-based teaching pedagogy, will have the opportunity to perform research in collaboration with CMSE faculty members, contribute to the writing of grant proposals, and mentor students, as well as participate in related training opportunities. These positions are potentially renewable on an annual basis for three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Fixed-term Assistant Professor positions will teach two course sections per semester (four total per year) in CMSE’s multi-section service courses in computational modeling, data analysis, data science, and linear algebra. Successful candidates will be paired with one or more faculty mentors with whom they have compatible research interests and will engage in CMSE’s instructional training and mentoring program. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to potential faculty collaborators prior to the deadline to discuss research opportunities - a directory of CMSE faculty members can be found at this link. Candidates will be evaluated on their potential to excel in teaching and research and in their ability to contribute to a diverse departmental environment. In the event that a research collaboration is established with a faculty member, additional financial support may be negotiated, including course buyouts (to a minimum of 1 course/semester). The base salary for this position is $69,911, and the position also includes the full complement of benefits available to MSU academic staff, including a retirement plan (with MSU match) and a variety of health care options that are primarily paid for by MSU.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. in any STEM, curriculum development, or discipline-based education research-related field by August 15, 2024, as well as have substantial overlap in research interests with at least one member of the CMSE faculty (which may include computational science, data science, the development of numerical algorithms or their application to a particular field of study, or computing education research). Applicants are expected to have a demonstrated interest in teaching and/or a commitment to excellence in teaching, as well as commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in supporting populations that are historically under-represented in their disciplines. Applicants are also expected to be able to program using Python, R, or a sufficiently similar language.

Desired qualifications: Previous teaching experience (either as a TA or instructor) is desired, as is knowledge of or experience with research-based teaching methods.

How to apply: The position is listed as job #913334 at https://careers.msu.edu/ (direct link). Required materials include a cover letter of up to two pages in length summarizing qualifications, a CV, two separate vision statements for teaching and research (of roughly 2-3 pages in length), and contact information for three people who can provide letters of reference. The cover letter and research statement should address the candidate’s overlap of research interests with members of the department and identify faculty members with whom the applicant might collaborate. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to faculty prior to and during the application process to discuss possible areas of research collaboration. The cover letter and teaching statement should address the candidate’s teaching and/or mentoring experiences, teaching-related training (particularly as it applies to research-informed teaching methods), and interests relating to future teaching opportunities. In addition, in both the teaching and research statements the candidate should explain how their efforts in teaching and research have supported the success of students from backgrounds that are historically marginalized in their academic fields. Applicants who have not yet had the opportunity for such experience should explain how their future efforts could further MSU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Positions include standard MSU benefits, which includes medical insurance. A background check is required for employment.

Review of applications will begin on January 17, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis thereafter until the position is filled. Nominations or questions are welcome by contacting the search committee chair, Brian O’Shea, via email at oshea@msu.edu. The positions will start August 15, 2024.

 

Postdoc in Computational Science Education Research, Michigan State

Opening for Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computational Science Education Research

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral researcher in STEM education to join Michigan State’s Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (CMSE; http://cmse.msu.edu/) to study introductory computational science courses.  The courses focus on teaching computational modeling, data analysis, and programming. The researcher would work in CMSE on projects related to understanding student learning and engagement in these courses as well as be able to pursue their own research interests as they pertain to computational science education. The researcher will be supervised by Dr. Devin W. Silvia and will have the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Danny Caballero, Dr. Brian O’Shea, and others both inside and outside of CMSE. There may also be opportunities to mentor undergraduate students in projects related to this work.

Responsibilities include working in coordination with faculty to:

• Gather and analyze data in classrooms of students working on computational activities,
• Interview students and teachers about computational usage and experiences,
• Conduct research using qualitative methods to determine how students approach their work on computational activities,
• Mentor junior researchers (e.g. graduate students and undergraduates) in computational science education research,
• Author articles for education research journals, and
• Present research results at professional conferences.

The candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students in CMSE on projects that may extend beyond the direct responsibilities of this position.

The appointment is initially for one year, with the opportunity for a one-year extension based on performance. The salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Appointment is contingent upon successfully completing a full background check.

Candidates are expected to hold a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline. A successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Some form of computational experience in their academic experience, research, or both,
• A qualitative research background in some area (e.g., ethnography, case studies) using well-established qualitative methods (e.g., semi-structured interviews, video analysis), and
• Prior work collaborating with and organizing a team around some project (teaching, research, and/or service).

An exceptional candidate will demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience with computational science education research,
• Coordinating data collection across multiple sites including managing video data,
• Supervising junior collaborators on education research,
• Working on a multi/interdisciplinary team,
• A history of successful publications, and/or
• An interest in issues surrounding (in)equity in computational science education.

Applicants should submit a CV, a statement of research interests, and a statement of educational philosophy and experiences to careers.msu.edu (posting number #616041). In addition, applicants should provide the names of three (3) individuals from whom letters of recommendation can be requested.

Review of applications will begin on January 3, 2019, and will continue until the position has been filled. The starting date is negotiable with a preference toward candidates that are available in early 2020. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Devin Silvia (dsilvia@msu.edu), research advisor for this project.

We actively encourage applications from -- and welcome nominations of -- women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer and is committed to achieving excellence through diversity.

Computational Science Education Postdoc, University of Oslo, Norway

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Center for Computing in Science Education

A position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is available at The Center for Computing in Science Education, a Center for Excellence in Education the Department of Physics. The position will be for a period of 3 years. Starting date preferably no later than 01.01.2018.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

The main purpose of Postdoctoral Research Fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in top academic positions within their disciplines.

Job description/ Project description:

Center for Computing in Science Education (mn.uio.no/ccse) aims to renew science education by integrating the use of computing throughout the education. We will develop new learning material and approaches, build a culture for teaching and learning, involve students in development and research, and disseminate insights and methods. The ambition of the center is to become an international hub for the integration of computing in education.

To this center we seek a Postdoctoral fellow to perform research on establishing assessment tools for documenting how integration of computational methods in science impacts on students’ understanding, motivation and learning. Particular emphasis will be on assessment of computational understanding in physics, mathematics, and/or bioscience. The University of Oslo has internationally unique programs that integrate computational methods from the first semester across the science in mathematics, physics, and even bioscience, and therefore posts a unique environment for studying the effect of this integration. The candidate will work with a broad team of scientists and students with backgrounds in mathematics, the sciences and educational research.

Qualification requirements:

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

We seek candidates with a PhD in science education research who want to pursue a career in science education research with focus on computing in science education. The candidate must be motivated to work in a cross-disciplinary environment, and experience from teaching in higher education will be an advantage.

Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defence of the doctoral thesis being approved.

A good command of English is required (written and oral).

We offer:

• Salary NOK 490 900 – 569 000 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interests)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
• A brief research plan (max 2 pages) that demonstrates how your background can be applied to the activity at the Center of Computing in Science Education, how you can contribute to the aims of the center, and how the Center’s activities can contribute to your professional development.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow this link to “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations:

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact persons:

Professor Anders Malthe-Sørenssen (malthe@fys.uio.no).

Professor Danny Caballero (caballero@fys.uio.no).

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Officer Therese Ringvold, e-mail: therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no, phone: +47 22 85 16 06.