Postdoctoral Research Associate - Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate in Educational Psychology
(Job ID #1016217)
Unit: Educational Psychology
Department: College of Education
Category: Postdoc Res Associate
Location: Chicago
Close Date: February 28, 2023
The Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY) in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) seeks to hire a Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in early childhood whose work is aligned with the mission and goals of the UIC College of Education and the Department of Educational Psychology. The vision of the Department of Educational Psychology is to develop a research signature that centers around the health, development and learning of urban children, families, and communities from racially and linguistically diverse groups.
The Department of Educational Psychology contributes to creating more just and equitable communities, schools, and families through innovative, award-winning research, undergraduate and graduate programs, and engaged partnerships and outreach. The department engages in teaching and research in two broad areas: (a) Human development and learning in context, with a specific focus on the roles of individuals, families and communities, and (b) The development and application of relevant measures, evaluations, statistical analyses, and assessments of human learning and development to improve educational institutions and research. Its programs prepare students for successful careers in Early Childhood Education, Human Development and Learning, Youth Development, and Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA).
Position Purpose:
The Bridge to Faculty Scholars Program is a university-level initiative to increase the pipeline toward faculty diversity at UIC. The program seeks to advance diversity on the permanent faculty level by encouraging the recruitment, retention, and promotion of outstanding scholars from different backgrounds, with an emphasis on attracting individuals from groups who have been historically underrepresented in their fields.
The position is a Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate within the Department of Educational Psychology. Subject to satisfactory performance, and University approval, the scholar may be re-appointed for one additional year. Successful postdocs in the Bridge to the Faculty program may have the opportunity to transition to tenure-track faculty at UIC starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. Selected scholars will participate in a mentoring experience in the department and programming through the Office of The Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement, where they will have the opportunity to meet other Bridge to Faculty Scholars.
The primary expectation for the postdoctoral scholar will be to begin a program of research.
With the advice of a faculty mentoring committee, the postdoc should spend some time becoming familiar with the research infrastructure of the College and the UIC campus and identifying stakeholders with whom they would partner to write a 3 to 5-year research plan.
Each year the postdoctoral scholar will be expected to: submit a relevant manuscript, with at least one coming from their dissertation, for publication; submit at least one proposal of the postdoc for presentation at relevant professional conferences; research and identify an extramural funding opportunity and develop a draft of the extramural funding application in consultation with, and with support from the Office of Research in the College of Education.
In addition, the postdoc will be expected to develop and teach one graduate course per year of their postdoctoral position: upper division seminar course in their area of expertise and one course for the department.
The post-doctoral scholar will have access to institutional and departmental initiatives specifically designed to support the development of a successful assistant professor. This unique post-doctoral position provides a structured opportunity to be mentored while building a successful teaching portfolio and a program of research with access to individualized supports for academic productivity. No departmental or College service will be required in the postdoc years.
Qualified candidates will have an earned Ph.D. in Early Childhood, Human Development, Developmental Psychology, or a related field by August 14, 2023. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise/background in early childhood. Highly qualified candidates will have a record of (or demonstrated potential for) academic publication, experience working on grant-funded projects and a commitment to obtaining external funding for research, and some experience (or demonstrated potential for) teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level. The candidate will have the desire and skills to engage with a diverse student body, excellent communication skills, effective collaborative skills and a commitment to promoting educational equity and social justice.
To Apply:
For full consideration, interested candidates should submit the following by February 28, 2023, 5pm Central time, to https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/2683?c=uic
A cover letter that includes a statement of how the applicant will further the university’s goal of building a culturally diverse educational environment; a full Curriculum Vitae that includes three references (names, titles, phone numbers and e-mail addresses); statements of teaching philosophy and scholarly agenda; and a writing sample.
