Overview. Applications are invited for a Research Associate (Postdoctoral Researcher) in Chemistry Education in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Depending on the applications received, up to two Research Associates will be hired.
Salary. The initial full-time appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and the availability of funding. The salary will be based on and updated to reflect the current NIH postdoctoral stipend recommendations. For context, as of May 13, 2022, the starting salary recommended by the NIH is $54,850 (the salary increases based on years of postdoctoral experience).
Research Program. In the Rodriguez Research Group, we focus on chemistry as a community of practice, which involves multiple intersecting communities of bench-top chemists, chemistry education researchers, and instructors. Our goal is to help advance and support the chemistry community, especially individuals at the periphery such as emerging researchers, instructors, and undergraduates interested in participating in science and discipline-based education research. This involves investigating how we can support undergraduate engagement in research. We are also particularly interested in theory-based qualitative research methods and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Duties and Responsibilities. Research Associates will work on discipline-based education research projects related to the described research program. Successful candidates will demonstrate experience with the duties and responsibilities related to this position:
• Project design (aligning research questions with theory, methods, and interview prompts)
• Data collection (conducting interviews, doing classroom observations, administering surveys)
• Qualitative data analysis (using software such as NVivo, MAXQDA, etc.)
• Dissemination (writing publications and presenting at conferences/workshops)
• Mentoring (supporting graduate and undergraduate students with the research process)
Education Requirement. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in chemical education, discipline-based education, or a closely related field.
Submission Materials. Review of applications will begin on October 1st, 2022 and will continue until the position or positions are filled. Preferred start date is June 1st, with flexibility to consider other options. If you are interested, feel free to reach out with any questions. Questions and the following application materials can be submitted directly to Johnny Rodriguez at rodrigjg@uwm.edu:
• Curriculum Vita
• Name and contact information for three references
• Cover letter