The School Psychology Program at the University of Minnesota is pleased to announce a post-doc position to start August 28, 2017. This position entails contributing to IES funded research projects and teaching in the school psychology program. Please see the information below. Recent PhD graduates whose interests align with one of more of the specified foci are encouraged to apply.
The University of Minnesota (UMN) School Psychology Program, in partnership with the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health (ITR), has an opening for a one-year post-doctoral associate in school psychology (job code 9546), with possible renewal for a second year. Foci of the position include school-based mental health, implementation science, and educational equity, as well as teaching courses within the School Psychology Program. The scholar will contribute to ongoing research (e.g., study implementation and data collection, data analysis, data management, oversight of undergraduate and graduate research assistants), grant writing, and manuscript preparation related to: (1) effective strategies for implementing evidence-based practices in public schools; (2) assessment of academic, social, emotional, and behavioral problems; (3) integration of school mental health services at multiple levels/tiers of service delivery (MTSS; i.e., universal, selected, and indicated); and (4) enhancing school mental health data collection and use capacities (e.g., via screening, progress monitoring, and the application of data-driven decision making models). The successful candidate will be expected to be actively pursuing an academic career that emphasizes one or more of these areas. This position is ideal for candidates interested in pursuing a career in academia and increasing their research productivity, as well as gaining vital experience teaching courses and assisting with co-advising graduate students. The successful candidate will have an appointment in the Department of Educational Psychology, which is one of the top ranked departments of its kind in the world. The position will be co-located within the Department of Educational Psychology and ITR. This will allow the candidate to work closely with faculty in the School Psychology Program (Drs. Amanda Sullivan, Clayton Cook, Robin Codding, Faith Miller, and Theodore Christ), as well as faculty affiliated with ITR (Abigail Gewirtz, Dante Cichetti, Gerry August, Tim Piehler, Rich Lee).
Job duties/responsibilities:
- Research (60%):
- Assist in design and final planning of project research activities, including instrument design and selection, logistical planning, and site/participant recruitment
- Develop and maintain detailed research plans for each distinct data collection effort
- Investigate research questions and complete inquiries regarding each project’s objectives and milestones.
- Conduct literature reviews of planned domains of assessment, and maintain up-to-date reports of related research.
- Under PI direction, manage development of new intervention items and efficient plans for testing, reviewing, and refining these items. Write technical reports and contribute to peer reviewed journal articles
- Apply to and present research findings at national conferences and other peer reviewed venues.
- Identify opportunities for related research, both within and beyond current projects’ scope of planned work
- Teaching (40%): The scholar will be affiliated with the School Psychology Program and teach up to two graduate-level courses per semester, including social-emotional intervention, psychopathology, and introductory assessment.
Required Qualifications:
The successful applicant must have:
- Ph.D. in school psychology from an APA-accredited program.
- Previous experience working on federally-funded research grants
- Experience in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with both university and non-university partners (e.g., schools and teachers).
- Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Proficiency with managing complex data sets and quality control procedures.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Strong professional writing skills, including research reports, peer-reviewed research articles, or other print and electronic publications.
- Experience in coordinating student research assistants and other research staff to participate effectively in research projects and to implement projects ensuring data management and appropriate analyses.
- Experience conducting research in schools to promote students’ social, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing
Desired Qualifications:
Of particular interest, but not required are:
- APA-accredited predoctoral internship
- Experience in implementing complex data management procedures, including MS Excel functions.
- Experience in collaborating as a member of a larger research team.
- Experience in supervising, managing, guiding, and directing the work student of research assistants.
- Ability to work well with diverse populations.
- Graduate-level teaching experience
The UMN is a leading research university and provides an exciting scholarly environment and opportunities for interactions with faculty across disciplines with a strong emphasis on multiculturalism. Minneapolis and St. Paul are vibrant and ethnically diverse communities. This is appointments will be made for one year, with a second year re-appointment expected based on a review of progress. Start date is August 28, 2017. The current salary for first year candidates is commensurate with the standard National Institutes of Health rate and is eligible for benefits. The job posting can be accessed at https://www.myu.umn.edu/psp/
The search committee will begin reviewing complete applications on June 26, 2017. To be considered for this position, please include (1) a detailed cover letter of interest describing qualifications, experience, and interests related to the qualifications and responsibilities; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) two examples of scholarly writing; and (4) names/contact information for at least two references to Christal Vang, cnvang@umn.edu. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Clayton Cook (crcook@umn.edu). For full consideration, all applications must be received no later than July 14, 2017.