Postdoctoral Scholar, Climate Justice Education
Position Overview
Organization: College of Education
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar, Climate Justice Education
Position Details
Position Description
Postdoctoral Scholar in Climate Justice Education
Institute for Science and Math Education at the University of Washington in the College of Education
Education has a vital role to play in responding to the acute climate and environmental crises that are unfolding. The Institute for Science and Mathematics Education is committed to that work, and we seek a post-doctoral scholar who can join us to accomplish our portfolio of research and development projects promoting climate justice education across educational networks.
Researchers at the Institute for Science + Math Education at the University of Washington engage in partnerships that fight for a livable and just world for all living beings through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. For more information on the Institute, please see the web site (http://sciencemathpartnerships.org/).
We are seeking a post-doctoral scholar with experience in climate justice education in PK-12 teaching, curriculum design, and partnerships with educational leaders, professional learning specialists, and teachers. The person who fills the position will work with Professor Philip Bell, researchers and staff from the Institute, and collaborating partners. They will participate in design research initiatives focused on climate justice education across networks in Washington State, including the ClimeTime Initiative focused on inservice professional learning and The Climate Teacher Ed Collaborative focused on integrating a focus of climate justice into teacher education.
ClimeTime is facilitated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) —in collaboration with the UW Institute for Science + Math Education—through a Washington State legislative proviso. OSPI manages the network and the grant funding flows through all nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington and six community-based organizations (CBOs). The ESDs and CBOs have launched programs for science teacher training, linking the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and climate science. In addition to teacher professional development, the project supports the 15 grantees to develop instructional materials, design related assessment tasks and evaluation strategies and facilitate student events.
The Climate Teacher Ed Collaborative is a teacher education network dedicated to helping future teachers learn to engage youth in community-driven climate justice projects and in civic participation in response to the climate crisis. It is funded through a Washington State legislative proviso and engages in shared learning experiences, collaborative design of professional learning resources, and the redesign of teacher education. The Collaborative is the teacher education sister-project to ClimeTime.
Essential Responsibilities: This post-doctoral scholar will design, implement, conduct, and publish studies related to equity-focused network improvement on climate and environmental learning and scaled improvement in STEM education. They will help develop and maintain equitable partnerships within the network improvement communities engaged in this work. They will help design, deliver, and study professional learning focused on climate justice education and equitable STEM education. As a key member of the Institute team, they will collaborate with others on the research team around various lines of research underway. They will help develop and become involved with other research efforts over time related to the research mission of the organization and their personal goals. They will collaborate with other Institute staff and partners on the development of new research grants help accomplish reporting requirements and sponsor requests as necessary.
Postdoctoral scholars at the University of Washington 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. A postdoctoral scholar appointment is for a temporary, defined period not to exceed five years/60 months, including postdoctoral experiences at other institutions.
The position is full time with an initial appointment of one year and the possibility of extension dependent on performance, available funding, and if reappointment would not exceed the time in title constraints noted in the union contract.
Qualifications
A Ph.D. in learning sciences, environmental education, science education or closely related field is required. The ideal candidate will be well-grounded in justice-centered climate, environmental, and STEM education; be flexible, dependable and meticulous; have excellent oral and written communication skills; and have a deep capacity for productive teacher-researcher partnerships. Strong organizational skills are essential. Must be able to work as a collaborative, cooperative, and congenial member of a close knit scholarly and administrative team. The candidate should show evidence of innovation in curriculum development and team leadership, as well as possess abilities to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in how people learn, in design research, and scaled improvement approaches focused on supporting climate justice education across levels and contexts of education.
Desirable Qualifications: It is desirable that the successful candidate has experience as a PK-12 teacher, environmental educator, or community activist and organizer. It is desirable that the candidate has a deep understanding of current thinking and trends in learning sciences, climate / environmental science, and improvement sciences.
Instructions
Please submit: (a) a brief letter of interest with an explicit statement relating scholarly background to equity, (b) a CV, (c) a single writing sample most appropriate to the described position, (d) one example of curricular or professional learning work, and (e) names and contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
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).
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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/.