Postdoctoral Scholar

Illinois State • Normal, IL

8d • $65,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Illinois State University Department of Special Education is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to work with Dr. Natalie L. Shaheen on A11y in Sci (NSF grant #2334693). This blind-led project is designed to improve the long-term accessibility of technology-mediated high school science education for blind and low-vision students. The specific aims of the project are to: 1. Investigate the state of in-service teachers’ knowledge about constructing born accessible (i.e., proactively accessible) technology-mediated science classes using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design; and 2. Develop opportunities for pre- and in-service teachers to learn how to construct born accessible technology-mediated science classes. The Postdoctoral Scholar will coordinate the research and education activities for the project. The Postdoctoral Scholar’s research responsibilities will include overseeing recruitment, data collection, and data analysis; co-authoring manuscripts and presentations; designing and conducting original research that aligns with the aims of the project; and mentoring doctoral and undergraduate research assistants. With respect to the education activities, the Postdoctoral Scholar’s responsibilities will include overseeing the iteration of a case library and case-based learning modules. The position will begin in Fall 2026 based on the candidate’s availability. The employment term is one-year, with opportunity for a second-year pursuant to satisfactory performance and available funding. The annual salary for this position is $65,000-70,000, with both a research and travel allowance. This is a non-continuous, grant funded position. The initial appointment will be for 12 months. Appointment renewal for the following grant year will be based upon available grant funding and performance.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in any of the following fields: disability studies, blind/low-vision education, science education, STEM education, instructional technology, special education, or related fields; ABD will be considered at time of application, but terminal degree is required prior to start date.
• Evidence of strong research skills in qualitative and/or mixed methods research (e.g., published work, training, mentorship).
• Strong task management skills (e.g., deconstructing complex tasks, organizing and prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Experience managing individuals, small teams, or complex projects.
• Experience with common office productivity applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, maxQDA, R, etc.) and the ability to learn new software applications and simple markup languages (e.g., HTML, Markdown).

Nice To Haves

• Lived experience with disability.
• Experience collaborating with and/or taking direction from disabled people.
• Experience teaching disabled and/or nondisabled students in formal (i.e., PreK-12 or higher education) or informal (e.g., museums, after school programs, etc.) settings.
• Expertise in digital accessibility (e.g., WCAG, 508), critical disability studies, critical digital pedagogy, or Universal Design for Learning.
• A publication record in any of the following fields: disability studies, blind/low-vision education, science education, STEM education, instructional technology, or special education.
• Experience using and creating content with content/learning management systems such as WordPress, Pressbooks, and Canvas.
• Experience working on interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing recruitment
• Data collection and data analysis
• Co-authoring manuscripts and presentations
• Designing and conducting original research that aligns with the aims of the project
• Mentoring doctoral and undergraduate research assistants
• Overseeing the iteration of a case library and case-based learning modules

Benefits

• Insurance benefits , including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday / administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees