Postdoctoral Scholar in Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education

Shape the future of education through artificial intelligence at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Education. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an emerging scholar to advance research and innovation at the intersection of AI, teaching, learning, and workforce development within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

About the Role

The Postdoctoral Scholar will join a dynamic research environment focused on exploring how AI can transform education while ensuring responsible, ethical, and evidence-based implementation. Working closely with College faculty, university partners, educational organizations, and industry collaborators, the scholar will develop an independent research agenda while contributing to high-impact research, grant development, and strategic initiatives. This position supports the transition to an independent research career through structured mentorship in research, scholarly publishing, grant writing, leadership development, and professional engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop an independent and collaborative research agenda focused on artificial intelligence and the future of education.
• Design and conduct rigorous quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, computational, or design-based research.
• Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, technical reports, and related scholarly work.
• Collaborate with faculty across the College and University on interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Contribute to the preparation of externally funded grant proposals.
• Advance the College's national profile in AI, teaching, learning, and educational innovation.
• Translate research into practical applications that improve teaching and learning by developing faculty development programs, workshops, consultations, and educational resources.
• Support professional learning opportunities for educators and educational leaders.
• Collaborate with the College of Education’s Office of Undergraduate Studies, the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and the Office of Research.
• Support major College initiatives, such as Microsoft's AI partnership, teaching development programs, and the annual AI in Education Summit.
• Represent the College through scholarly engagement and professional partnerships.

Potential Research Areas

• AI-supported teaching and learning
• AI literacy and workforce readiness
• Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) applied in educational settings
• Educator productivity enhanced by AI
• Responsible and ethical AI
• Learning analytics and educational data science
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of AI-enabled educational innovations

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. (or equivalent) by the position start date in Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, Educational Psychology, Educational Leadership, Higher Education, Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience related to AI in education, educational technology, learning sciences, human-centered AI, or related areas.
• Experience designing and conducting rigorous research using quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, computational, or design-based methodologies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including evidence of scholarly dissemination.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary research environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research focused on generative AI, large language models, or AI-supported learning in educational contexts.
• Experience working with PK-12 schools, higher education institutions, or educator professional learning initiatives.
• Hands-on experience developing, implementing, or evaluating generative AI or LLM-based applications.
• An emerging record of peer-reviewed publications and national or international conference presentations.
• Experience contributing to externally funded research projects, grant proposals, or entrepreneurial endeavors.
• Strong knowledge of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and human-centered AI.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into practical educational applications.
• Excellent project management, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.
• A commitment to responsible, ethical, and evidence-based AI innovation.

About the USF College of Education

The USF College of Education prepares educators and educational leaders while conducting research that improves learning and educational outcomes across PK-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community settings. Recognized for innovation and collaboration, the College is strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships across the university in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computing, and emerging technologies. Faculty and researchers work together to advance educational excellence through research, educator preparation, professional learning, and technology-enabled innovation.

Appointment Details

This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and funding availability. The anticipated start date is September 14, 2026.

Pay

Salary range: $52,500 - $60,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Additional university employee benefits

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee, and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference.