Teaching Postdoctoral Associate – Organismal Biodiversity (University Title – Instructor)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

The Laboratories of Chelsea Specht, Patrick O’Grady, and Kelly Zamudio, in collaboration with Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Active Learning Initiative, invite applicants for a full-time Teaching Postdoctoral Associate (University Title – Instructor) with interest in developing skills and experience in Biology Education Research and Evidence-Based Pedagogy in preparation for an academic career. Specifically, the postdoc will play a key role in supporting the transition of our courses in Herpetology, Entomology, and Plant Morphology from a traditional lecture course format to active learning format, focusing on student participation and group problem solving.

The Teaching Postdoctoral Associate will be appointed for a one-year period renewable for second year contingent upon performance. The successful candidate will collaborate with the three faculty towards the following goals: formulate learning goals, develop active learning-based modules that align with the learning goals and are transferable among the three courses, provide feedback on course teaching practices, evaluate and assess learning gains, and publish the results. We expect that successful candidates will devote 30% of their effort to organizing the active learning transition process, 50% effort to developing active learning material and activities pertaining to the goals and content of the courses, and 20% effort to assessment of the implementation of active learning.

* Qualifications *

Candidates should hold a doctoral degree in Organismal Biology, Biology Education, or a related field and have excellent organizational, interpersonal communication, team building and collaboration skills. Experience in developing active learning curricula and coaching educators is highly desirable.

* Terms of Appointment *

The annual salary for this 1-year appointment with the possibility of extension will be $48,000. The anticipated start date for the appointment is January 1, 2019.

* Applications *

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by September 1, 2018.
To apply: applicants should submit (as a single pdf file) their CV, a statement of teaching philosophy/experience, a statement of research experience, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can serve as references to Professor Kelly Zamudio at kelly.zamudio@cornell.edu