Postdoctoral Research Associate

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join 3AforCT: AI-Guided, Authentic, Ag-STEM Inquiry for Cultivating Computational Thinking in Rural Middle Schools, an NSF CAREER project conducted in partnership with rural educators. The project co-designs locally meaningful investigations where students use environmental sensors, real-world data, and AI supports to explore agricultural and environmental questions, developing evidence-based solutions. Through iterative design-based research, the project examines student learning, teacher practice, classroom implementation, and the effectiveness of AI-based supports.

About the Role

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will contribute to an interdisciplinary, multi-site research-practice partnership across school-based research, teacher co-design, classroom implementation, mixed-methods and multimodal analysis, project coordination, and mentoring of junior researchers. The position offers opportunities to co-author publications, present findings to scholarly and practitioner audiences, contribute to open educational resources, and build expertise at the intersection of computing-integrated STEM education, AI-supported learning, and design-based research.

The role requires reliable participation in school-based fieldwork, responsive communication, compliance with research and data requirements, and regular travel to partner schools. The position is grant-funded, with future employment contingent upon continued funding.

Responsibilities

• Research and Design:
  • Lead assigned components of iterative design-based research cycles, using evidence to redesign and test curriculum materials, research instruments, and AI-supported tools.
  • Lead classroom data-collection activities, including consent procedures, surveys, audio/video recordings, observations, student artifacts, teacher interviews, and student focus groups.
  • Prepare and manage technical equipment (cameras, microphones, Arduino sensors) for fieldwork, including transportation, setup, testing, and troubleshooting.
  • Maintain accurate research records, deidentify and quality-check data, and archive data in approved University systems.
  • Conduct qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods analyses of multimodal data; prepare drafts of manuscripts, conference proposals, and other scholarly products.
  • Ensure compliance with human-subject protocols and data-security requirements.
• Project Coordination, Co-Design, and Implementation:
  • Maintain project workplans, schedules, and deliverable trackers; communicate progress and barriers to the team.
  • Coordinate logistics with partner teachers, districts, and the research team for implementation and data collection.
  • Plan and facilitate teacher co-design workshops; synthesize feedback into revision briefs for project materials.
  • Maintain version-controlled documentation and shared repositories for curriculum, research instruments, and troubleshooting guides.
  • Coordinate project team and advisory board meetings; maintain professional communication with collaborators.
• Mentoring:
  • Train and coordinate graduate/undergraduate research assistants in data collection, transcription, coding, and data management.
  • Review assigned work for accuracy and provide constructive feedback.
• Presentations and Reporting:
  • Prepare and present research findings to scholarly, practitioner, and sponsor audiences.
  • Contribute to sponsor progress reports, annual briefs, IRB revisions, and other required documentation.

Requirements

• PhD in learning sciences, educational technology, computing/computer science education, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, STEM education, or a closely related field by the appointment date.

Qualifications

• Preferred:
  • Research experience in K-12 STEM/computing education, computational thinking, or AI-supported learning.
  • Experience with design-based or classroom implementation research, including teacher co-design and development of K-12 curriculum/assessments.
  • Experience conducting human subjects research in K-12 classrooms (e.g., audio/video recordings, surveys, interviews).
  • Proficiency in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods analysis (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, NVivo, MAXQDA).
  • Experience with generative AI-supported educational tools, Arduino microcontrollers, or environmental sensors.
  • Experience coordinating multi-site research and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams/school partnerships.
  • Record of scholarly writing and dissemination (e.g., peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations).

Skills

• Ability to develop scholarly manuscripts and communicate research to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of education research design and rigorous analytical methods.
• Ability to synthesize findings and feedback to guide revisions to curriculum/technologies.
• Project management skills, including prioritization, meeting deadlines, and adapting to field conditions.
• Professional collaboration with educators, researchers, and technical teams.
• Data management, quality control, and compliance with human-subjects protections.
• Troubleshooting project-specific technologies (digital, audiovisual, sensors, AI tools).
• Ability to work in classroom, office, and outdoor school settings; occasional variable weather conditions.

Equipment Provided

• Shared project audiovisual, sensor, and field-research equipment (cameras, audio recorders, Arduino microcontrollers, environmental sensors).
• Access to University-approved secure data-storage, computing, and research systems (survey tools, analysis software, transcription, collaboration platforms, AI tools).

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance (with University contributions).
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays; 8+ hours of paid sick leave and vacation per month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Health and wellness programs (e.g., free exercise programs, release time).
• Professional development (LinkedIn Learning, webinars, conference support).
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for degree completion.
• Access to University amenities (sporting/cultural events, recreation facilities, Bush Library/Museum).

Schedule

The work schedule may occasionally include early-morning, evening, or weekend hours to support school-based implementation, data collection, and teacher co-design activities.

Travel

Regular travel and on-site presence at partner schools are required for implementation, data collection, and teacher co-design activities.