New York University

Description

The Department of Teaching and Learning at New York University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position focused on identities in informal middle school science learning. This position is funded through the National Science Foundation as part of "A Participatory Design Investigation of the Relationship between Program Setting and Science Identity Development," a project led by Dr. Jasmine Y. Ma at New York University and Dr. Latasha Wright at BioBus. The NYU research team will work with BioBus to iteratively design and study three of their program formats for middle schoolers: one located in a lab space on the campus of a nearby university, one located in the public middle school building of participating students, and one aboard a mobile science lab, a bus that has been transformed into a research science lab. The goal of this project is to investigate interrelationships between where informal science programming takes place and how and which positive science identities can be supported, particularly for Black and Latinx students, whom BioBus explicitly serves. The position deliberately integrates research activity with scholarly and career mentoring tailored to the Postdoctoral Associate’s needs, simultaneously prioritizing wellness, learning, and scholarship.

Responsibilities:

We expect the Postdoctoral Associate to be able to take a leadership role in research activities including ethnographic and video-based data collection and analysis, as well as writing. This role includes traveling across New York City to visit and collect data in diverse program sites in communities such as Harlem, South Bronx, and Lower East Side, as well as working collaboratively with BioBus Community Scientists, Black and Latinx middle school students, and the NYU team in research and learning activities. The Postdoctoral Associate will support the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate researchers on the project team. They will also have opportunities to pursue their own line of interest within the study. 

This position is a full-time, in-person, 1-year (12-month), renewable position. Ideal start date is August 1, 2025, with some flexibility. 

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $62,500 - $77,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Application review will start April 21, 2025. 

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Earned Doctorate (PhD or equivalent) in science education, learning sciences, or related field before start date. 

Required Experience:

• Use of critical, justice-oriented theories and methodologies
• Experience working with historically marginalized youth in STEM (e.g., in formal or informal learning spaces, community groups, etc.)
• Knowledge of ethnographic observation and interview methods
• Ability to write in independently and collaboratively in the social sciences

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in design and/or research in informal learning environments
• Conversant in sociocultural, spatial, and/or identity theory in education
• Teaching experience in science
• Experience working with middle school learners
• Bilingual in Spanish
• Expertise in interpretive research methodology, including micro-analysis
• Experience working on a funded education research project