Job Opportunities

Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy seeks applicants for a postdoctoral fellow in the learning sciences. The candidate will be part of a team of researchers, faculty, and teachers involved in a newly funded initiative by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to improve understanding of the concept of dynamic equilibrium across multiple sciences and develop a unified framework for defining it. Toward these aims, we will develop, implement, and evaluate science units that include computational activities for middle school and high school. The project also aims to produce new modeling software that will enable students to see and explore dynamic equilibrium in action. Fellows will fully participate in the research laboratory: the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling (CCL).

This position provides opportunities for in-depth qualitative and quantitative research. Successful candidates will be comfortable conducting research both in lab and in classroom environments. The candidate will be part of an international collaborative research team involving faculty from learning sciences, science education and computer science. This is a dynamic and vibrant collaborative environment comprised of faculty, post-docs, students, computer programmers, modelers, and curriculum developers.

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) and the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) at Northwestern University have a two-year position (beginning Fall 2023) available for a postdoctoral scholar to contribute to Dr. Megan Bang’s educational research projects, ISTEAM and Learning in Places. The postdoc will primarily focus on the research projects under Dr. Megan Bang but will also be affiliated with CNAIR as the center continues to work towards its goals and builds research capacity which includes developing and promoting reciprocal and sovereignty-affirming relationships and partnerships with Native American and Indigenous communities. A key part of this role will be to help build out a new professional learning program for educators serving Indigenous communities. This is a full-time, 12-month academic position. The anticipated start date is September 1st, 2023. ABD candidates with an anticipated degree conferral date prior to the position start date are welcome to apply.

Megan Bang’s SESP projects include Learning in Places and the Indigenous STEAM Collaborative. Both are land and water based programs which work to cultivate equitable, culturally thriving, socio-ecological systems learning and ethical decision-making using field-based science education in outdoor places for children and their families, with ISTEAM foregrounding Indigenous knowledge in the co-design of materials and programs with families, communities, and educators.

As part of CNAIR, the Postdoc will be connected to CNAIR affiliates and students to build a stronger community of scholars. The postdoc will provide co-mentorship to graduate students and undergraduate students.  The postdoc will also take on academic mentorship responsibilities by helping facilitate the NAIS graduate cluster at Northwestern and be invited to participate in NAIS career resources including workshops and groups at CNAIR and in the larger Chicagoland community.  For example, the Chicagoland NAIS Working Group is a space where young NAIS scholars can share drafts of book chapters and journal articles. In addition, CNAIR will support the postdoc in their career pathway by supporting mentorship structures and research (i.e., relationship building with Indigenous scholars, navigating NU research resources, supporting workshops in grant writing, paper development, and conference dissemination).

The successful candidate will take an active role in all research activities and play a significant role in co-design with educators and communities. The postdoc will work with an extended team of graduate and undergraduate students as well as community members. The postdoc will help provide guidance and mentorship. It is critical that the successful candidate demonstrates strong academic writing skills and the ability to effectively advance projects across the “finish line” to manuscript submission in top journals.  

• The postdoctoral scholar will collaborate with doctoral and undergraduate students, Indigenous community members, and educators, and will have opportunities to publish in peer-reviewed publications.  

• The postdoctoral scholar will join a supportive community of scholars and will have the opportunity to take advantage of the multitude of internal and external mentoring initiatives and center affiliations that Northwestern affords to early career researchers.  
• As a CNAIR affiliate, postdocs will be invited to present their work at CNAIR sponsored events. They will also be invited to participate in or facilitate CNAIR sponsored workshops.  

• Ph.D. in Education, Learning Sciences, or a related social scientific discipline such as Psychology 
• Experience working with Tribal Nations, Native and Indigenous communities, and K-12 educators in formal or informal contexts
• Record of communicating research results via peer-reviewed publications and presentations
• Willingness to mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students
• Experience in collecting and analyzing empirical data
• Experience with community co-design and qualitative research including video analysis preferred 

To apply, please send items listed below to Tom Dixon (thomas.dixon@northwestern.edu) with the header “CNAIR and SESP Postdoc Position”. Applications are rolling but applications received by February 15th , 2023 will be given first priority. Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. 

• cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position 
• curriculum vitae (including publications list) 
• 1 published paper, or equivalent writing samples that you are most proud of and which best demonstrate your expertise and fit for the position 
• 1-2 page statement about goals for postdoc work 
• the names and contact information of three references 

For more information about Megan Bang’s research please see Learning in Places and Indigenous STEAM. To learn more about CNAIR, see the CNAIR webpage. 

The Graduate Assistant works with the staff of the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) Leadership Institute at Northwestern University and reports to the Administrative Team. The SESP Leadership Institute (SLI) is an academic program and community. Participants in the program are selected based on their experiences as the first in their families to attend college and as students from lower-income backgrounds. Student participants are in the first or second years at Northwesterntern and engage in social activities and enroll in two credited courses: LOC/LS 214: Culture & Cognition and SESP 218: Leaders Lab. The Graduate Assistant is responsible for managing the day-to-day- program operations and supporting the student community of the Institute in conjunction with the SLI Leadership Team.

The primary responsibilities of the Graduate Assistant are program management (50%) student support (50%). 

Program management

• Coordinates team meetings inclusive of scheduling, facilitating, and recording meeting minutes.

• Recruits student participants.

• Recruits peer leaders/student mentors.

• Develops marketing and data-driven presentation materials for senior administrators, donors,

  students and their families.

• Develops and maintains relationships with campus partners and local businesses

• Plans, designs, and supports the execution of student trainings and programming.

• Maintains and builds out program artifacts and administrative needs.

• Collaborate with student mentors at different stages of social programming (designing,

  developing, and leading) that aligns with the program budget

• Partners with student mentors in navigating concerns and their own well-being.

• Schedules debriefs with SAO focused on student wellness and community building.

  Other duties as assigned by faculty and program staff.

• Working towards a master’s degree in Higher Education, Social Work, or related field

• Strong time management, communication skills and attention to detail required

• Strong ability to build trust and consistency within student relationships

• Demonstrated interest in social justice and undergraduate student mentorship required

• Experience working with FGLI, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students required

• Experience leading workshops, planning events, and assessing programs preferred

As a result of this internship, the Graduate Assistant will acquire transferable professional skills in program management, co-curricular programming, student development and a deeper understanding of learning sciences. The Graduate Assistant is mentored by SLI Senior Program Coordinator, participates in networking events, and receives professional development training as a part of the work experience.

The duration of the internship is from June 2023-June 2024 with opportunity for renewal. The start date is flexible.

The Graduate Assistant is paid $22.50 per hour and works 15 - 20 hours per week, with occasional evenings and weekends for social programming.

Interested candidates should indicate so to Vanessa Champagne, SLI Senior Program Coordinator, at vanessa.champagne@northwestern.edu. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume.

The Master of Science in Social and Economic Policy program is seeking a passionate, detail-oriented Research Assistant to aid a grant from the US Department of Education to assess a Virginia intervention designed to end the practice of paying less than the minimum wage to people with disabilities.

The Real Pay for Real Jobs, an EPIC (Education, Partnerships, provisions of Individualized Services, and Capacity Building) Model Project, is an effort by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services to eliminate the longstanding but legal practice of paying a subminimum wage and support employment and economic independence for Virginians with disabilities.

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Interview program participants and collect survey data
• Assist in writing research reports
• Collaborate with students, faculty members, research team, and department

• Current PhD or MA/MS degree in a social science related field such as economics, psychology, sociology, statistics, public policy or others
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills; Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Prior research experience is preferred
• Working knowledge of Stata or R

The pay rate is $20/hour (10-15 hours per week).

Submit a cover letter and CV to MSSEP Program Coordinator Ashley Reyes at ashley.reyes@northwestern.edu.Please include "Research Assistant Application" in the subject line.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.