Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

1d

About The Position

The Erbeli Lab in the Department of Educational Psychology (Special Education Program) at Texas A&M University invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate in reading research. The Postdoctoral Research Associate is intentionally designed to provide substantial intellectual autonomy and protected research time. This role will pursue independent research questions broadly related to reading development, reading difficulties, and reading-related processes, without being tied to a specific grant or pre-determined project. The ideal candidate for this role is highly motivated to publish, enjoys working with existing data, and is interested in advancing quantitative, meta-analytic, or secondary data analysis approaches in reading research.

This role will work closely with Dr. Erbeli, a faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology (Special Education Program). The Erbeli Lab is an active and collaborative research environment that currently includes two doctoral students. In addition, three postdoctoral researchers are affiliated with the lab through collaborative projects led by other principal investigators where Dr. Erbeli serves as a Co-Investigator. The lab houses large existing datasets, including reading-related data from approximately 8,000 students from a Texas school district. The postdoctoral researcher may choose to work with these data but is not required to do so. Applicants are encouraged to use any extant dataset of their choosing and, if preferred, to focus primarily on meta-analysis or secondary data analysis. The lab holds weekly meetings and maintains a professional, intellectually rigorous research environment that values clear feedback, accountability, and collaboration. The lab also engages in occasional team building activities, such as group lunches. This position may require occasional travel to attend professional conferences or organizational events.

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is committed to enhancing educational achievement and health outcomes, fostering innovation & development, and influencing policy & practice in the fields of education, health, sport, business, and government. Now the fifth largest school at Texas A&M University with nearly 5,000 enrolled students, we are not just a school for teachers. We are a school for leaders not just in education, but also business, sport, health, and government. https://education.tamu.edu/about/

Dr. Erbeli leads a research program focused on reading development and reading disabilities, with particular strengths in quantitative methods, meta-analysis, and the study of individual differences in reading. More information about Dr. Erbeli’s research, publications, and ongoing projects can be found at https://tx.ag/drerbeli. This position is funded through a Texas A&M University EDGES Fellowship awarded to Dr. Erbeli, a competitive institutional fellowship supporting innovative, high-impact research. The EDGES Fellowship provides the financial support for this postdoctoral position and enables protected research time, close mentorship, and scholarly development within the Erbeli Lab. Additional information about the EDGES Fellowship is available https://facultyaffairs.tamu.edu/news/2025/05/texas-am-announces-2025-edges-fellows.html

Requirements

• PhD in Education, Psychology, or appropriate related field
• No previous experience required
• Strong background in (early) reading development and reading-related research
• Strong statistical modeling skills
• Strong academic record
• Strong written communication skills
• Professional demeanor
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Strong self-motivation

Nice To Haves

• Experience with advanced quantitative models (e.g., structural equation modeling, longitudinal modeling, meta-analysis)
• Experience and interest in conducting meta-analysis or research syntheses
• Programming experience (e.g., R, Python) and interest in machine learning approaches
• Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in Education, Psychology, or a closely related field by the start date

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a program of research related to reading
• Conduct advanced quantitative analyses using existing or extant datasets
• Write and submit manuscripts to high-impact, peer-reviewed journals
• Assist with data analysis and contribute to collaborative research projects in the lab
• Work collaboratively with doctoral students in the lab
• Present research at national and international conferences
• Contribute to grant writing, as appropriate

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

What This Job Offers

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