Current Opportunities at Vanderbilt

The Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO) at Vanderbilt University invites applicants to apply for a postdoctoral position to help implement a new education program in partnership with the STEM magnet high school on the US Virgin Island of St. Croix. This applicant will help develop and deliver innovative curriculum to engage high school students and teachers in physics, engineering, mathematics, and/or computational- and data-rich subject matter and projects with a goal of increasing student exposure and experience in these areas and to provide them with the requisite backgrounds to pursue these majors in college. Applicants should have interests in learning how to utilize and communicate their expertise towards creating and disseminating curriculum, designing student research projects, building teacher partnerships, mentoring students, and general education program development. 

Postdoctoral fellows will work both on-site in St. Croix and at Vanderbilt. Expenses for onsite extended-stay accommodations, travel, and meal allowances while in St. Croix will be provided. Successful candidates must be willing to spend considerable time on-site in St. Croix. While at Vanderbilt, the postdoctoral fellow will also work in collaboration with existing CSEO programs currently implemented in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and collaborate with the Programs for Talented Youth, another St. Croix project partner. CSEO programs include the Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) program, the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV), and the Day of Discovery (DoD) program. All CSEO programs offer K-12 students the opportunity to experience youth-centered, inquiry-based, and project-based learning designed to nurture their learning, interests, and identities in fields inclusive of the sciences, technology, engineering, and math. This new project will have a specific focus on fields with a computational and mathematically heavy emphasis including but not limited to physics and engineering.

Qualifications
• Ph.D. in physics, mathematics, engineering, or related scientific fields with a computational or mathematical focus 
• Experience in research and experimental design 

Preferred
• Experience teaching and developing programs and curriculum in formal or informal K-12 STEM education at the middle school or high school level 
• Experience with teacher professional development and other learning opportunities with teachers, such as professional learning communities, coaching or mentoring teachers
• Project leadership and management experience 
• Evidence of presentations at conferences and research published in professional, peer-reviewed academic journals

Responsibilities
Duties for this CSEO postdoctoral fellow include:

• Design and implement innovative, inquiry-based curriculum related to computational data, mathematics, physics, and engineering topics
• Guide student research projects
• Collaborate with teachers to develop and support inquiry-based, content-intensive instruction to further student learning and growth
• Engage in after-school/enrichment and club activities related to this project
• Encourage and model college-going attitudes and experiences 
• Develop and follow through on an individual specialized growth plan aligned with professional goals
• Build and maintain relationships within Vanderbilt University and among project sponsors and stakeholders in the community towards partnering in ways that benefit all parties

Other responsibilities will be tailored toward the postdoctoral fellow’s expertise and goals. Examples of such duties include designing and conducting an evaluation plan for CSEO’s programs, crafting a personal research program with mentorship from VU faculty, working on funded grant projects with VU faculty, and presenting and publishing research for academic and practitioner audiences.

This position includes salary plus health insurance coverage and will be initially for 12 months with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and available funding. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until available positions are filled. 

The CSEO aims to provide a supportive and inclusive multidisciplinary environment that promotes collaboration, encourages creativity, and values assembling a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds.

Please submit application materials electronically to Dr. Eeds at angela.eeds@vanderbilt.edu with “CSEO STX Postdoctoral Fellow Search” included in the subject line of the email. The materials should include a letter of interest, one publication (or manuscript in progress), and a current CV. In addition, please include the names and contact information in the letter for three potential references. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the CSEO website at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cseo/ and the Vanderbilt Peabody College website at http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/.