Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Position Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow position aims to support innovative projects in early STEM learning and teaching. It serves as an entry point for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in early STEM education, requiring candidates to possess strong academic skills along with emerging leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will collaborate with the Kennedy endowed chairs, directors, and research staff of the Marsico Institute, participating in various project phases such as study design, data collection, intervention implementation, data analysis, and presentations and publications. There will also be opportunities to conduct professional development for school staff and other stakeholders, receive training in assessments and observations, contribute to the design of online and app-based tools for teachers and research teams, and collaborate with other researchers and fellows.

Additionally, the Fellow will have chances to attend national meetings and workshops designed to deepen their understanding of research related to the Institute’s projects.

Conduct Research Activities

• Assist in comprehensive reviews of literature and practices in early childhood STEM learning.
• Support the design and execution of research methodologies aligned with study objectives.
• Help in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
• Co-author scientific papers and assist in the preparation of grant proposals.
• Participate in conferences and help develop outreach materials like newsletters and infographics.
• Technical Assistance and Resource Development
• Support the development and refinement of microlearning resources and instructional guides for children, parents, and teachers
• Contribute to managing and creating web content and digital tools for educational programs in ongoing early STEM projects.
• Assist in organizing STEM-focused events and support technical training initiatives.

Support for Project Management

• Take a leadership role in a large, funded project.
• Aid in monitoring project timelines and milestones.
• Assist with the coordination among team members to foster collaboration.
• Participate in regular project meetings.

Collaboration, Teamwork, and Stakeholder Engagement

• Contribute to internal team efforts to align research activities.
• Support collaborations with external partners such as academic institutions and other collaborators.
• Join interdisciplinary discussions to contribute fresh perspectives.
• Attend meetings and workshops with community partners.
• Support liaisons with stakeholders to align educational efforts with community needs.
• Read, write, and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos.
• Write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before both internal and external groups.
• Read, analyze and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Prepare and/or present written communications that pertain to controversial and complex topics.
• Can redirect communication or correspondence to appropriate team or unit.
• Little or no responsibility in the area of budgets or departmental resources.
• Work requires the ability to plan and perform work in light of new or constantly changing problems, work from broad instruction, deal with complex factors not easily evaluated. Decisions require considerable judgment, initiative, and ingenuity in areas where there is little precedent.
• Work requires the ability to act independently and the formulation and administration of policies and programs for major division or functions.
• Identifying resolve/redirect complex problems or issues that require detailed investigation, analysis and interpretation.
• Speak articulately and thoughtfully on an impromptu basis.
• Identify and resolve/redirect complex problems or issues that require detailed investigation, analysis and interpretation.
• Handle situations that require unusual sensitivity, diplomacy and composure. May include handling confidential information.
• Results are defined and incumbent uses existing practices as guidelines to determine specific work methods and carries out work activities independently; supervisor is available to resolve problems.
• Involves general instructing, scheduling, and reviewing the work of others performing the same or directly related work. Acts as the lead worker. This level involves functional supervision only.

• Research
  
  Skills:
  
  Advanced proficiency in designing and supporting research studies in early STEM education, with experience in leading and engaging in classroom and child data collection efforts.
• Project Management:
  Demonstrated project management skills and adherence to deadlines, particularly in environments with complex task arrangements.
• Scientific Writing:
  Developing skills in co-writing academic papers and supporting grant proposal development.
• Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Effective communication abilities for academic and professional contexts.
• Stakeholder…