Open Positions
Post-Doctoral Fellow for Black Education and STEM equity in Evanston, Illinois
We are seeking two full-time post-doctoral fellows for a grant-funded project titled, “Co- designing STEM Ecologies with Black Communities: Centering History, Heterogeneity, Power, and Place.” Fellows will be part of a research team led by Drs. Sepehr Vakil, kihana miraya ross, and Nichole Pinkard, who are conducting a historical and ethnographic investigation of Black families’ experiences, values, and aspirations for equitable STEM education in Evanston, Illinois. Members of this research team are also working with the local school district, city entities, as well as Black families and community partners, to support efforts to design STEM opportunities for Black students in the city, including within a new K-5 school and adjoined community center. This research-community-practice partnership (RCPP) will create tools, processes, and/or programs centering Black community goals and values within in-school and out-of- school STEM ecologies in Evanston.
The fellows will be based in Evanston, Illinois. They will be fully involved in all aspects of the research including project management, data collection and analysis, and conference and manuscript preparation. The fellows will supervise the work of graduate and undergraduate students and staff, work closely with research partners, and help shape the direction of the research.
Ideal candidates will have a subset of these qualifications:
- PhD in Education, Black Studies, Anthropology, Sociology or related field. Applicants with expertise in Black Education, STEM education, and/or Learning Sciences are especially encouraged to apply.
- Methodological expertise in some of the following areas: ethnographic and qualitative methods; quantitative, statistics, and data science methods, randomized trials and meta-analysis, social network analysis; participatory design and community-engaged methods.
- Conceptual and content expertise in some of the following areas: Black education, Critical and sociocultural perspectives in education; elementary and out of school STEM learning; culturally relevant STEM pedagogy
- Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
This position is a full-time 12-month position with the option to renew. Initial position term will begin August 15, 2024 and end August 14, 2025.
Applications should include:
- Cover letter/research statement, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position, as well as your research achievements and agenda
- Curriculum vitae (including publications list)
- 1 published paper, or writing samples that demonstrate your expertise and fit
- The names and contact information of three professional references
- A link to a professional webpage and/or Google Scholar page (if applicable)
Email applications to Dr. Shannon Paige Clark at shannon.clark@northwestern.edu with subject header: " NSF POSTDOCTORAL APPLICATION." Review of applications will begin on March 30, 2024, and continue until the position is filled.
For more information about the project, please click here
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.