Associate Director For Educational Research - Tenured Faculty

Job Description

The College of Science at Virginia Tech (https://www.science.vt.edu) invites applications from visionary leaders for the position of Associate Director for Educational Research. The main purpose of this position, which is at the rank of tenured Associate Professor or tenured Professor, is to lead the College of Science's efforts to advance discipline-based education research and scholarship across the College. The position will involve mentoring and supporting College of Science faculty in conducting research and scholarship in undergraduate science and mathematics education.
The Associate Director for Educational Research is a new position and is part of a broader College of Science initiative for advancing undergraduate science education. Central to this initiative is the belief that education is a scientific endeavor that can be studied and improved through research. For Educational Research to be impactful in shaping undergraduate science and mathematics instruction, it must be informed by the disciplinary practices of the fields and be sensitive to contextual factors surrounding classroom instruction. Thus, the Associate Director for Educational Research position will be instrumental in fulfilling and advancing the College's educational mission through its central role in supporting discipline-based education research and scholarship across the College of Science. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Estrella Johnson, Director of this initiative, as a leader in developing and accomplishing the initiative's goals.
The Associate Director for Educational Research will establish and run Educational Research professional development opportunities for College of Science faculty, provide one-on-one mentoring and support for faculty research projects, maintain their own research program commensurate with tenure and rank, and teach (commensurate with administrative duties) in their discipline. The position is a joint partnership between the College of Science and the successful candidate's disciplinary department or school, which will be their tenure home. The position is an academic year appointment with expectations for some summer work; it is based in Blacksburg, VA but will involve occasional travel.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Virginia Tech and the College of Science. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. The College of Science seeks candidates whose research, teaching, or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education. The educational initiatives, advances, and research supported by this position will need to attend to the needs, identities, and lived experiences of our students. Thus, the successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to broadening participation and advancing equity and inclusion.
Questions regarding the position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, at mwawro@vt.edu.
Candidates should apply at http://jobs.vt.edu/ (Job #527612). The application package must include (i) a current curriculum vitae with publication list, (ii) a five-page narrative that addresses how the applicant meets the qualifications, including their research program, experience mentoring, teaching statement, and commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts; and (iii) contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted until after the initial review and only with the permission of the applicant. Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2024 (updated), and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, complete application packages should be received by the review date. As part of the hiring process, the successful applicant will be required to have a criminal conviction check. The expected position starting date is August 10th, 2024.

Required Qualifications

A PhD in a science discipline, science or math education, or a closely related field with at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching discipline
Demonstrated commitment to, and experience with, mentoring others in carrying out discipline-based education research
A record in discipline-based education research commensurate with tenure

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in multi- or interdisciplinary research
A wide range of teaching or research experience
Experience with or commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts, both in their professional roles and in their research

Appointment Type

Regular

Review Date

Friday, January 5th, 2024

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech College of Science is home to the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Statistics; the Academies of Integrated Science and Data Science; and the School of Neuroscience. The 8 departments, two academies, and one school are collectively home to 260 tenured/tenure-track faculty and an additional 135 non-tenure track instructional faculty. The College serves nearly 5,000 students in undergraduate majors and 668 students in graduate programs. The College also provides critical coursework to undergraduate students across the university, including nearly 10,000 College of Engineering students.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.