The University of Arizona’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and Practice in the College of Education is seeking four Postdoctoral Research Associates for the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Research on Educational Equity and Diversity in STEM (REEDS) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. We seek four accomplished Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) education researchers to join a collaborative team working across multiple projects. The award includes the following:  

• Research and professional development stipend up to $10,000 
• Moving stipends may be available depending upon location  

These positions would begin as of August, 2023. These are year-to-year appointments, contingent upon funding and performance. REEDS Fellows provides funding for up to 2 years. Following the first year, renewal of the fellowship will be granted upon demonstration of academic productivity and participation in program events. 
The REEDS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona will provide opportunities for early career scholars to critically engage with STEM educational practices within the context of an institution recognized for its award-winning Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives. The goals of the project are to:

• Create research opportunities for a diverse cohort of four postdoctoral fellows.
• Foster applied research on diversity and equity in undergraduate STEM education (specifically on increasing equity by using inclusive and culturally responsive practices in STEM).
• Support inclusive and equitable research environments for the postdoctoral fellows.
• Develop each postdoctoral researcher’s capacity to utilize and advance equitable practices as early career STEM educators.

The research itself is grounded in educational equity with the goal of informing educational practices to broaden participation in STEM. The research is done through a focus on culturally responsive practices and implemented to support student success at a large, Hispanic Serving Institution located near the U.S./Mexico border.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please visit talent.arizona.edu.

The REEDS Postdoctoral Fellowship program will provide robust experiences through STEM education research, the REEDS Fellows’ professional development, and development of a community of scholars and practitioners committed to improving educational practices in STEM. The REEDS Fellows program will be situated in the STEM Learning Center and Dr. Haeger, the center’s Research Director, will coordinate the research and professional activities as well as facilitate research collaborations and community building.

Research.  Four research projects, each led by a faculty mentor will serve as the pillars of the postdoctoral research experience:

• Culturally Responsive STEM Transfer (Quantitative), led by Dr. Heather Haeger
• Culturally Responsive STEM Transfer (Qualitative), led by Dr. Regina Deil-Amen
• Culturally Responsive Curriculum Development, led by Dr. Judy Marquez Kiyama
• Servingness through Culturally Affirming Mathematics Curricula, led by Dr. Guadalupe Lozano

REEDS Fellows will have access to data gathered through these projects and be able to build a research agenda and produce publications, presentations and future careers that will broadly impact the field of STEM education research.

Each REEDS Fellow will be paired with one of the faculty mentors and take a leadership role in their research project.
REEDS Fellows will also work collaboratively with each other on the research projects.
Specific responsibilities include:

• Data collection, management, and analysis,
• IRB proposal writing and adhering to approved protocols,
• Participating in research team meetings,
• Academic writing, publishing, and presenting, and
• Preparing reports on research findings to present to institution and community stakeholders.

REEDS Fellows will have the opportunity to teach one course a semester if they choose to, but teaching responsibilities are not required.

We will seek Postdoctoral Fellows who have demonstrated commitment to research on the broadening of participation in STEM or on systemic barriers to full participation in STEM. We will purposefully create of cohort of REEDS Fellows who have diverse academic experiences (degrees in different STEM fields or in education), diverse backgrounds and life experiences, who are interested in the science of teaching and learning in STEM, and who have a commitment to educational equity. We have four potential research mentors for the REEDS Fellows and will select Fellows based on the alignment of their career and research interests with the team of mentors.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

• Experience with qualitative or quantitative research.
• Experience in writing independently and collaboratively on deadline, and documented evidence of scholarly writing.

To be eligible to receive this funding from the NSF, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States as July, 2023,
• Hold a doctoral degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), STEM Education, Education, or a related discipline earned before August, 2023,
• NSF requirement for recent postdocs (received a Ph.D. or terminal degree no more than 24 months from time of appointment), and
• Must not hold a tenure-track position.

• Experience in culturally responsive theories and issues in education (formal or informal settings).
• Demonstrated experience in leading a research team in highly collaborative research.
• Experience with data management for large projects.
• Demonstrated experience in mediating and facilitating a process involving multiple stakeholders with diverse interests.
• Project management experience.
• Experience in academic publishing in STEM education.
• Demonstrated experience in research on the broadening of participation in STEM or on systemic barriers to full participation in STEM.

• Culturally Responsive STEM Transfer (Quantitative), led by Dr. Heather Haeger
• Culturally Responsive STEM Transfer (Qualitative), led by Dr. Regina Deil-Amen
• Culturally Responsive Curriculum Development, led by Dr. Judy Marquez Kiyama
• Servingness through Culturally Affirming Mathematics Curricula, led by Dr. Guadalupe Lozano

• Attendance at a minority serving institution, such as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) or Tribal College.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate the barriers facing women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other members of groups historically excluded from STEM careers.
• Participation in higher education pathway programs such as Puente, MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), Summer Research Opportunity Programs, NSF- Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), or McNair Scholars.
• Record of academic research or service to advance equitable access to higher education or broaden access to STEM.
• Demonstrated significant academic achievement by overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.