The Departments of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology and Special Education in the College of Education at the University of Missouri invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship position in the Prosocial Education Lab. This Postdoctoral Fellow will work with Drs. Christi Bergin, Chad Rose, Chris Slaten, Ze Wang, and Jennifer Weyman on the project titled ECHO: Prosocial and Positive School Climate funded by the United States Department of Education. The project aims to build educators’ use of evidence-based strategies to promote prosocial behavior among all students and promote a positive school climate.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate with the team in quantitative data production and analysis and publication of findings among other research duties as they arise. The Postdoctoral Fellow will gain experience working on a federally-funded, state-wide research project with a group of scholars focused on promoting positive school climate. The post-doc will also have the opportunity to develop an independent line of research related to the study’s activities. The postdoctoral researcher should be committed to seeking and securing external funding, producing original research, publishing their work in highly ranked conference proceedings and journals (as appropriate), and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research.

The University of Missouri is committed to postdoctoral education. Postdoctoral fellows across all disciplines are supported with campus professional development opportunities, research and teaching awards, and small grants programs. Postdoctoral scholars can also further their academic career preparation through the University of Missouri’s Preparing Future Faculty seminar program.

Appointment: Non-tenure track postdoctoral fellow, 24-month appointment, with possibility of renewing.

Responsibilities include:

  • Attend weekly research team meetings
  • Collect, organize, and analyze data
  • Mentor graduate research assistants
  • Co-author research publications and annual reports
  • Develop future grant proposals

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • An earned doctorate
  • Experience in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing quantitative data.
  • Experience in prek-12 students’ social and emotional development, and professional development of teachers and school-based service providers.
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
  • Ability to seek and secure federal funding.

Candidates will be evaluated on: 

  • K-12 teaching, counseling, or administration experience
  • Experience conducting classroom observations
  • Proficiency in English
  • Valid U.S. driver’s license
  • Prior federal grant experience
  • Experience mentoring undergraduate students to conduct educational research
  • Experience in collaborating as a member of a larger research team
  • Proficiency with managing complex data sets and applying cutting edge data analysis techniques.

Communication and Other skills:

  • Strong professional writing skills, including research reports, peer-reviewed research articles, or other print and electronic publications.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills.
  • Ability to communicate research results through talks at scientific conferences as well as to lay audiences.
  • Facility with technology and online platforms for organizing teams and work spaces.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills.

Application Materials

  • A letter of application that addresses the candidate’s interest, overall qualifications for the fellowship, and an explanation of how this fellowship will help prepare the candidate’s future career interests and professional goals.
  • A CV
  • A writing sample
  • List of three references

The CV must be uploaded in the Resume/CV and Cover Letter section.

Candidates will be evaluated on the following factors:

  • Qualifications listed above
  • Ability to develop and sustain an independent program of scholarly research
  • Openness to learning
  • Skills in participating in research projects and generating research ideas
  • Research interests that align well with faculty mentors

Beginning Review Date: Formal review of applications will begin May 15, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

Questions should be directed to:

Dr. Christi Bergin
University of Missouri
109C Hill Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-2400
Email: berginc@missouri.edu

Learn more (and apply) at the full position announcement.