Postdoctoral Fellow

American University • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advancing College Teaching for Student Success National Center in the Baker School of Education at American University invites applications for a grant-funded postdoctoral fellow. The appointment is a 12-month term position, with the possibility of renewal for an additional 10 months based on performance and funding availability, and will commence on June 1, 2026. Applicants should hold a PhD in higher education, the learning sciences, disciplinary-based education research, educational technology, or a related technical field on or before June 1, 2026. The central project will be the project management and facilitation of the Alliance for Better College Teaching, including the Teaching Excellence Colleges & Universities (TECU) pilot designation. The postdoctoral fellow will be the primary liaison with institutions in the Better College Teaching Network (BCTN) and the organizations in the Better College Teaching Coalition (Coalition). The ACTSS Postdoctoral fellow will lead or co-lead empirical investigations of college teaching and student success, including data collection, statistical analysis (utilizing software like R), focus groups and interviews with qualitative coding, and rigorous literature synthesis. They will also coordinate site teams for the TECU designation pilot, including training and support for observers. The successful candidate will become a part of an national, interdisciplinary team working to elevate college teaching nationally.

Requirements

• PhD in higher education, educational technology, disciplinary-based education research, or a related technical field.
• Proficiency in using both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive written reports and scholarly manuscripts, including the use of data visualization tools to convey information clearly.
• Publication record in relevant peer reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent project management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grant proposals and grant management is desired, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Project management and facilitation of the Alliance for Better College Teaching, including the Teaching Excellence Colleges & Universities (TECU) pilot designation.
• Serve as the primary liaison with institutions in the Better College Teaching Network (BCTN) and organizations in the Better College Teaching Coalition (Coalition).
• Lead or co-lead empirical investigations of college teaching and student success.
• Conduct data collection and statistical analysis (utilizing software like R).
• Perform focus groups and interviews with qualitative coding.
• Conduct rigorous literature synthesis.
• Coordinate site teams for the TECU designation pilot, including training and support for observers.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree