Postdoctoral Fellowship – University of South Florida

General Description: The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Research with the Institute for School Reform at the University of South Florida aims to provide supervised postdoctoral experiences in research and program evaluation. The Institute includes several projects ultimately designed to build the capacity of Florida schools and districts to use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to improve the outcomes of students. The projects in the Institute that will serve as the primary focus of this fellowship include the Florida Problem Solving/Response to Intervention (PS/RTI), Florida PS/RTI Technology, and the Student Support Services (SSS) Projects. The Florida PS/RTI and PS/RTI Technology Projects provide training, technical assistance, and support designed to improve access to and the quality of instruction and intervention within an MTSS. Examples of topics focused on include data-based problem-solving, evidence-based and specially designed instruction, Early Warning Systems, Universal Design for Learning and technology to support implementation, program evaluation support, and professional development and coaching. The SSS Project houses state consultants for school psychology, guidance counseling, school social work, and school nursing. The SSS Project provides training, technical assistance and support, and other services designed to facilitate evidence-based student services within an MTSS approach.

Fellowship responsibilities will involve participating in research and evaluation activities designed to support school, district, state, and Institute initiatives to facilitate MTSS implementation. Evaluation activities will involve facilitating program evaluation of the Florida PS/RTI Project professional development and support activities including:

• Conceptualizing and carrying out the Project’s evaluation model
• Managing data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts
• Collaborating with Project staff to use formative evaluation to improve service delivery
• Supervising Project graduate assistants

The Fellowship also will provide the opportunity to participate in a number of other research and evaluation projects related to MTSS implementation. Example projects currently underway include instrument development and revision (e.g., implementation fidelity tools, surveys designed to examine educators’ beliefs and skills, systems coaching survey), analysis of secondary data on MTSS implementation related topics (e.g., relationship between professional development and MTSS implementation), and identification of exemplary practices within an MTSS. The Fellow will have the opportunity to further develop research skills including:

• Co-leading or leading research groups
• Conceptualizing and carrying out studies
• Conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses
• Disseminating findings through presentations, written publications, and other outlets

For more information about the Institute for School Reform, please visit our website at http://isr.usf.edu/.

Dates of Service: August 2017 – July 2018 (exact start date in August negotiable). The Fellowship is dependent on funding for the 2017-18 year.

Qualifications:

• Earned Doctoral Degree in School Psychology, Education, or Related Area
• Strong desire to gain advanced experience in program evaluation and research focused on MTSS
• Interest in participating in research projects
• Training/expertise in MTSS and problem-solving, in implementation, and in program evaluation

Compensation:

• Salary: $50 – 60K annually, commensurate with qualifications
• Health Benefits, Paid Leave, Sick Days, Basic Life Insurance

See: http://usfweb2.usf.edu/human-resources/pdfs/benefits/postdoc-guide.pdf for details regarding Postdoctoral Fellowship benefits.

About the University of South Florida: The University of South Florida System has three separately accredited institutions: USF, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The USF System serves more than 49,500 students (42,800 at USF Tampa). The USF System has an annual budget of $1.7 billion. The USF System’s innovation and economic development efforts generate more than $400 million in statewide economic impact each year. The USF System was awarded $458.5 million in contracts and grants in fiscal year 2016. The University of South Florida (Tampa) is a high-impact, research intensive, global university dedicated to student success and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. USF Tampa is one of 40 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity and designated as community engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF Tampa is listed as a top 50 public university in the most recently published Top American Research Universities report.

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)/Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is ranked 78 in “Best Education Schools” and 36 in “Best Online Programs” in US News and World Report. The College has 2,444 enrolled students in bachelor’s, master’s, Ed.S., Ph.D., and Ed.D. degree programs. With more than 13,500 education degrees awarded, the College of Education has graduated the second largest number of educators in Florida over the last 10 years. Current active external grants and contracts in the College total over $24 million. For more information, please visit the College website at http://www.usf.edu/education/.

The Department of Educational and Psychological Studies is housed in the College of Education. The Department has 6 programs: School Psychology, Educational Psychology, Educational Measurement and Research, Instructional Technology, Exercise Science, and Social Foundations. The Department has 32 full-time faculty members and offers degree programs at the M.A., Ed.S., and Ph.D. levels.

Directions to apply for this position:

• Go to Careers@USF at http://www.usf.edu/work-at-usf/careers/index.aspx
• Scroll down and click on Access Careers@USF.
• On the Welcome to Careers@USF page, click Search Jobs Now.
• Click Advanced Search.
• At Job Opening ID, enter 12776, and click Search.
• Select Postdoctoral Scholar Research for a detailed job description.
• Click the Apply button to begin your application.
• Include the following required items with your application:
  • Letter stating interest in the position and the reason for the application
  • The applicant’s professional goals for the Postdoctoral Fellowship period
  • Contact information for three (3) professional references