The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources and Department of Biochemistry are looking for an exceptional Postdoctoral Scholar to help us transform life sciences and STEM education by integrating new technologies into the classroom. We are an interdisciplinary group of life sciences educators, researchers, and technology innovators who are incorporating hands-on, computational modeling-/simulation-based learning into biology courses.
The Learning Assessment Postdoctoral Scholar will develop assessment of students’ thinking about biological systems and investigate how students reason through existing models, how students create models, and how students use these models to generalize and make predictions about biological phenomena. Essential duties for the Learning Assessment Scholar include: • Using knowledge of conceptual, logical, or mathematical modeling techniques from one’s own research or teaching to develop and pursue unique research questions on student modeling practices and student learning; • Developing and refining system thinking assessment tools to be used in combination with simulation modules; • Statistically analyzing quantitative and qualitative data; • Working closely with the content, learning, and software experts to help in developing, implementing, and studying biological systems simulations; • Working closely with Graduate Teaching Assistants to maximize student learning using computational modeling. Minimum qualification: Ph.D. in a biology discipline, or M.S. in a biology discipline and Ph.D. in science education. Additional qualifications: Candidates should have teaching experience with knowledge of curriculum and assessment development, especially open-ended assessment. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to develop and pursue unique research questions and publish this work in discipline or science education journals. Candidates should also demonstrate their ability to work with a team, mentor graduate and undergraduate students in related education research, and participate in the growing science and math education research community at UNL. We seek candidates who can start as early as late summer or early fall of 2014. The start date is negotiable. The position is for one year with renewal for a second year dependent on performance review. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until filled. If interested, please send a cover letter, CV and contact information for three references to Dr. Joe Dauer: [email protected]. The University of Nebraska has an active National Science Foundation ADVANCE gender equity program, and is committed to a pluralistic campus community through affirmative action, equal opportunity, work-life balance, and dual careers. Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 265,000) is a great place to live, work, and play. It boasts a comfortable family-friendly atmosphere with a burgeoning social scene. In 2013, Lincoln topped Gallup’s annual wellbeing index, which ranks wellbeing in six categories: life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities. (http://go.unl.edu/53va)
