Michigan Technological University, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Position ID: 546-PS [#19858]
Position Title: Postdoctoral Scholar, Mathematics Education
Position Type: Postdoctoral
Position Location: Houghton, Michigan 49931, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Area: Mathematical Sciences
Application Deadline: finished (2022/04/08, finished 2022/08/10)
Position Description:    

*** this position has been closed. ***

* this map is a best-effort approximation. Open in Google Maps directly.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

Job Description:

Candidates are invited to apply to a full-time, 2-year postdoctoral researcher position in mathematics education in the Mathematical Sciences Department at Michigan Technological University (MTU) beginning September 1, 2022. The successful candidate will work with Dr. John Gruver on an NSF-funded project entitled, “Developing and Investigating Unscripted Dialogic Mathematics Videos (DRL 1907782).” There will also be opportunities to collaborate with Dr. Lobato and graduate students at San Diego State University, who are also working on this project. The project focuses on both developing dialogic instructional videos to explore an alternative to traditional models of instructional videos and researching students’ learning from those videos. Our instructional videos are dialogic in that they feature the authentic dialogue of two students as they grapple with complex mathematical problems (for examples, see mathtalk.org).

The postdoctoral researcher will investigate students’ learning from these videos by helping to carry out three studies. The first study will explore how vicarious learners (VLs), those watching the videos, orient towards the students featured in the videos. The second study will focus on how a pair of VLs learn from several video lessons over time. The third study will investigate how these videos might be used as the basis of instruction in a high school classroom. Additionally, in the third study we will investigate what students in the class learned from the video-based instruction and how they oriented towards the students in the videos. All three of these studies will make use of a video unit we are currently producing that focuses on developing quantitative meanings for fractional exponents over the course of 7 lessons.

The postdoctoral researcher will also have the opportunity to help develop a new video unit focused on trigonometric functions. Developing the unit will include conducting a conceptual analysis for the topic, creating a hypothetical learning trajectory, writing individual lessons, filming students engaging with those lessons, and making editorial decisions about what to include in the produced videos. The postdoctoral researcher will also have the opportunity to serve as the teacher in these videos, if desired.

Michigan Tech attracts world-class faculty who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a sense of belonging and contributing to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment for all are strongly encouraged to apply (https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-inclusion/).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned):

Conduct semi-structured interviews. Develop interview tasks. Collect video-taped classroom data. Analyze qualitative video-taped data using a mixture of inductive and extant codes. Develop assessment items. Present at academic conferences. Write peer-reviewed journal publications. Create a conceptual analysis. Develop lessons. Create instructional videos. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements):

By the time of appointment, the candidate should have a Ph.D. in mathematics education or a closely related field (that includes a background in both mathematics and educational research).

Required Experience (minimum requirements):

Experience conducting math education research and writing for an academic audience.

Desirable Education and/or Experience:

Teaching at the secondary level. An interest in or experience with instructional videos and/or technology.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements):

Ability to analyze qualitative data. Ability to write for an academic audience. Ability to work collaboratively and independently.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities:

Ability to analyze quantitative data. Assessment item design.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands:

The work environment is that of a typical office and/or classroom setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment:

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

Employee Safety Overview

Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

Annual Data Security Training

Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable):

Please feel free to reach out to Dr. John Gruver, jgruver@mtu.edu, with any questions about the position.

Required Documents to Apply: a cover letter describing your interest in the project and relevant skills and background, a curriculum vitae, and a list of 3 professional references and their contact information. Letters will be requested for finalists.

Additional Information:

Located in Houghton, in the heart of Upper Michigan’s scenic Keweenaw Peninsula, the university is just a few miles from Lake Superior. The surrounding area is perfect for enjoying outdoor activities throughout the year.

Michigan Tech is proud to be an ADVANCE Institution that has thrice received National Science Foundation support to increase diversity, inclusion, and the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented individuals in STEM. (see https://www.mtu.edu/advance/).

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Click here to apply: https://www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job/492870


We are not accepting applications for this job through MathJobs.Org right now. Please apply at https://www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job/492870 external link.
Contact: John Gruver, 906-487-2068, 906-487-3133 (fax)
Email: email address
Postal Mail:
1400 Townsend Drive
Fisher Hall 320C
Houghton, MI 49931
Web Page: http://www.mtu.edu/math/