Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
The Polytechnic School
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Location: Arizona State University –Polytechnic Campus
The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU) and The Polytechnic School seek applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar position in STEM Education or Engineering Education. The role will be funded by a National Science Foundation grant: BCSER: Empowering Children of Migratory/Seasonal Farmworkers with Gamification and Culturally-Responsive Engineering Design Instruction (NSF# 2225306). The successful candidate will work directly with the principal investigator, Dr. Dina Verdín.
Dr. Verdín is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scholar to join her team and help with efforts toward infusing culturally responsive instruction and gamification in an engineering design activity for high school students. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead a transformative project to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes through culturally responsive instruction and gamified approaches. The successful candidate will help build foundational knowledge on how high-quality STEM-enrichment culturally responsive gamified activities support migratory students’ exposure to engineering, foster STEM identity development, cultivate a critical STEM agentic perspective, and promote STEM career pathways.
Requires Qualifications
- D. in Engineering Education, Science Education, STEM Education, Educational Psychology, Sociology, Learning Sciences, or related fields.
- Must have demonstrable skills in reviewing and synthesizing literature related to K-12 (preferred) or Higher Education.
- Experience using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Experience disseminating research findings via publications and presenting scholarly work at conferences.
- Ability to work on campus (with some flexibility)
Appointment will be at the Postdoctoral Research Scholar rank beginning May 01, 2024; start date is negotiable.
Salary Range
$62,500
Responsibilities and Activities:
This project is entering its second year; the PI has already developed and deployed multiple culturally responsive gamified activities. The PI seeks a candidate to take the developed activities to a new level, improving modifying, and/or creating extensions to the existing activities. Additional responsibilities and program activities include:
- Supervising project logistics, facilitating internal and external communications, and managing documentation, timelines, and reports.
- Collaborate with the project team to design, iterate, and implement a culturally responsive gamified activity for high school students aimed at teaching the engineering design process.
- Articulate 360 Storyline will be used to create modifications, extensions, etc. to the culturally responsive gamified engineering design activity. The candidate will be required to work with Arduino sets and/or TinkerCAD as part of the activity. All equipment will be provided by the PI.
- Conduct thorough literature reviews and research to inform the design process, ensuring alignment with best practices and emerging educational trends, cultural responsiveness, and gamification.
- Assist in data collection (i.e., interviews and surveys), analyze data, and disseminate research findings.
- Present ongoing research findings at national conferences and engage with policymakers in the field of STEM education.
- Commitment to inclusive research and teaching practices.
- Mentoring graduate and/or undergraduate students
Mentoring Opportunity for Candidate
- Part of the postdoctoral mentorship will include hands-on experience in grantsmanship; some of the following activities include proposal preparation, identification of crucial research inquiries, delineation of objectives, rationale of research plan, and developing a comprehensive work plan, timeline, and budget. This involvement will offer ample opportunities for learning best practices in proposal construction.
- While publications and presentations are expected as part of the postdoctoral activities. The Postdoctoral Researcher will receive guidance and training in preparing manuscripts for refereed journals and conference presentations.
- Career guidance will be provided to postdoctoral researcher, building skillsets, knowledge, and practical experience needed to thrive in their near-future career.
Application Instructions
Application reviews begin on February 15, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. To apply, visit https://hiring.engineering.asu.edu/ and select “apply now” next to the corresponding position. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement describing research experience and alignment with current project (two pages maximum)
- Contact information for three references
For additional information regarding position specifics, please contact the PI, Dr. Dina Verdín via email at dina.verdin@asu.edu.
About Arizona State University
The Fulton Schools of Engineering are dedicated to cultivating excellence, delivering innovation that matters, encouraging bold thinking, fostering a community of learning and collaboration and building a foundation for all to be successful. The Polytechnic School, one of the eight Fulton Schools, houses a vibrant engineering research community (Learn more at https://research.engineering.asu.edu/).
The ASU Charter states, “ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.”
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
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