Postdoctoral Scholar, Energy & Equity Research Team, UW Bothell
Position Overview
Organization: Physical Sciences
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar, Energy & Equity Research Team, UW Bothell
Position Details
Position Description
The Energy and Equity Project, based in the Division of Physical Sciences, in the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, at the University of Washington Bothell, invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar who is enthusiastic and self-motivated with demonstrated capability and interest in conducting research on and with high school teachers integrating equity education into their physics instruction.
The successful candidate will be one who is ready to conduct research on existing data collected by the Energy and Equity Project, including hundreds of hours of video recordings of multiple years of high school teacher professional development. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be responsible for data analysis and writing research papers for peer-reviewed research and practitioner journals.
The Postdoctoral Scholar will be under the direct supervision of Dr. Rachel Scherr, and will also be part of a larger team including Dr. Kara Gray and Dr. Lane Seeley (Physics, Seattle Pacific University); consultants Dr. Tali Hairston (Equitable Development LLC), Dr. Sam McKagan, and Dr. Adrian Madsen (Alder Seattle Education Association); and Postdoctoral Scholar Dr. Jessica Hernandez (University of Washington Bothell). The successful candidate may either live and work in the Seattle area during their appointment or work remotely.
This position is a full time 12 month (one-year) renewable appointment up to two years, contingent upon performance and available funding. The start date will depend on the successful candidate's availability. The starting salary is anticipated to be $66,631.
Postdoctoral scholars at the University of Washington are engaged in full-time, mentored, advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence, and perform primarily research and scholarship under the direction and supervision of University faculty mentors. Postdoctoral scholar positions are non-tenure eligible. Postdoctoral scholars in the Physical Sciences Division have an annual service period of twelve months. Postdoctoral Scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website (https://hr.uw.edu/labor/2019/06/03/agreement-reached-with-uaw-postdoctoral-scholars-on-2019-2021-contract).
Job duties
- Construct evidence-supported arguments about integrating equity into energy instruction, based on an existing video data library of hundreds of hours of online high school physics teacher professional development (as well as teacher lesson plans and surveys). Arguments may address teacher learning, impact of professional development on teaching, teacher dispositions, attitudes, and behaviors, or related topics.
- Collaborate with university and high school teacher colleagues to construct, develop, and refine research findings.
- Apply excellent presentation skills to develop conference proposals and present findings at academic conferences.
- Apply excellent writing skills to lead and contribute to publications in peer-reviewed journals.
UW Bothell Invitation to Employment
The School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics is the largest school at UW Bothell, and we remain committed to attracting diverse faculty and staff who create an exceptional student experience in support of our core values of COLLABORATION, OPPORTUNITY, RESPONSIBILITY, and ENGAGEMENT. Our faculty are dynamic educators who engage in innovative, evidence-based pedagogies. Seventy-five percent of UW Bothell faculty engage students as research collaborators, and we continue to develop community and industry partnerships to expand internship, capstone, and collaborative research opportunities for students and faculty. We offer twenty-three undergraduate and graduate degrees and eight minors across four Divisions (Biological Sciences, Computing and Software Systems, Engineering and Mathematics, Physical Sciences). The School is housed in several buildings on a vibrant campus collocated on a restored 100-acre wetland with an active salmon stream, including the 74,000 square-foot Discovery Hall teaching and laboratory facility, with a new 77,000 square-foot STEM building in collaboration with Cascadia College opening in Fall 2023.
Located in the heart of the Puget Sound region, the University of Washington Bothell is one of the most dynamic public universities in the state of Washington. The campus is committed to increasing access to an excellent UW education and preparing students to be leaders throughout Washington and beyond.
UW Bothell provides students a participatory, cross-disciplinary experience grounded in hands-on learning, community-based research, close relationships with faculty as teachers and mentors, and the personalized support of staff who are dedicated to student success.
The campus offers more than 55 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Current enrollment is approximately 6,000 students. More than 90% of undergraduates are from Washington State, approximately 40% are first-generation college attendees, and more than half are students of color. The University values hiring faculty and staff who have demonstrated experience and ability to work successfully with diverse student populations and who can contribute to a campus culture that promotes equity among colleagues.
Diversity and inclusion are core values at UW Bothell. Our work begins with the acceptance and celebration of the differences that are represented through the many diverse and minoritized communities on our campus and in the surrounding community. We recognize that we are bound together in a collective experience and that our actions impact all in our community. When we focus on the lives of the most marginalized groups among us, we also create conditions of equity, justice and academic excellence for everyone. To learn more about our commitment to diversity, visit https://www.uwb.edu/diversity.
The three priorities of the University’s current Strategic Plan, “Increasing Access, Achieving Excellence,” are to strengthen diversity and equity, enhance community and campus engagement, and advance cross-disciplinary teaching and scholarship.
In addition to having award winning faculty and staff, UW Bothell has been recognized for innovations in academic programming and support services designed to help students graduate on time and debt-free. It has also earned both recognition and awards for its work in the area of environmental sustainability.
UW Bothell is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) that participates in the AANAPISI program. This program provides grants and related assistance to enable MSI to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.
Qualifications
Minimum requirements for the position:
- A PhD in physics or physical science, science education, learning sciences, or related field, or foreign equivalent, by time of appointment
- An undergraduate degree in physics or related field, or demonstrated facility with content of typical introductory university physics course
Desired qualifications for the position:
- Experience in qualitative (especially video) data analysis for science education research
- Experience applying an asset-based, resources-oriented learning theoretical framework
- Excellent writing and presentation skills
- Experience with and capacity for furthering UW Bothell’s commitment to equity and inclusion: https://www.uwb.edu/diversity
Instructions
To be considered for this opportunity, applicants should upload the following application materials to Interfolio.
- Complete CV
- Cover letter including a statement describing research interests and goals
- Names and contacts of three (3) references who could write a letter of reference upon request
- Diversity Statement (1 page) describing your experience with and capacity for furthering UW Bothell’s commitment to equity and inclusion: https://www.uwb.edu/diversity
Applicants will also be required to complete the following forms in Interfolio:
- Covid Vaccine Attestation
- Sexual Misconduct Declaration: State law requires that the University of Washington obtain the Disclosure of Sexual Misconduct declaration signed by the candidate. The declaration will require you to disclose any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct, to authorize current and past employers to disclose to the UW any sexual misconduct currently being investigated and/or committed by you, and to release current and past employers from any liability.
Review of applications will begin upon receipt and the position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by October 28, 2022 will receive priority consideration.
Questions about this search may be directed to Prof. Rachel Scherr (rescherr@uw.edu).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
Privacy Notice
Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.
Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information
Under University of Washington (UW) Policy, University-compensated personnel must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.