Postdoctoral Fellow in Evolution & Medicine: Education Resources Development and Online Learning

Salary: $40,000 – 48,000, Salary is negotiable based on the candidate’s experience and ASU salary scales.
Reference # 11450
Full‐time

The Center for Evolution & Medicine (CEM) at Arizona State University (ASU), and Founding Director Dr. Randolph Nesse, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Education Resources Development and Online Learning. Anticipated start date is August 1, 2016. This is a full‐time (1.0) benefits‐eligible, fiscal year (July 1 ‐ June 30) appointment. The successful candidate will be co-mentored by Dr. Nesse, an expert in evolutionary medicine and Dr. Sara Brownell, an expert in undergraduate biology education research. As a physician, Dr. Nesse’s research on the neuro-endocrinology of anxiety led to a series of publications that established the field of evolutionary medicine. Dr. Brownell is a neuroscientist whose research is focused on biology education.

Renewal is possible on an annual basis contingent on satisfactory performance, availability of resources, and the needs of the program. For additional information and policies regarding postdoctoral scholars at ASU, please see http://provost.asu.edu/postdoc.

The successful candidate will help curate existing online resources in evolutionary medicine, participate in the development and delivery of new innovative evolutionary medicine courses, both in‐person and online, and will evaluate and study the impact and effectiveness of these resources and courses. The Fellow will help develop a project plan to build courses that will initially be offered to ASU and ASU online students and later to medical personnel all over the world. This is an exciting opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary faculty in a growing field of study to develop, implement, and research innovative curriculum and other resources related to evolution and medicine.

While specific technology expertise is not required, an ideal candidate would demonstrate a strong interest in the applications of technology in higher education, and would have an aptitude for developing and assessing new approaches to learning and how they are best supported by new technologies. This, together with experience in curriculum development and teaching, will allow the Education Resources Fellow to provide disciplinary and pedagogical expertise in creating innovative and rigorously assessed learning experiences. The Fellow may have supervisory responsibilities that include the training and mentoring of staff and/or student interns.

This Postdoctoral Fellows Program is a service and training program designed for early career scientist‐teachers who are interested in an academic pathway involving curriculum development, teaching, and educational programming in the interdisciplinary field of Evolutionary Medicine. Fellows will receive mentorship to support their development as educators throughout the duration of the fellowship and have an opportunity to participate in the ASU Science Education Group, the Evidenced‐based Teaching Seminar series, as well as the Biology Education Research Lab.

The Center for Evolution & Medicine is a university-wide Presidential Initiative whose mission is to establish evolutionary biology as an essential basic science for medicine, worldwide. As an interdisciplinary unit, and a member of ASU’s BioDesign Institute, the postdoctoral fellow will have multiple opportunities to work in collaboration with faculty from a wide-range of disciplines. The Center brings leading scientists to ASU to join existing faculty in research that demonstrates the power of evolutionary biology to address problems in medicine and public health.

The School of Life Sciences (SOLS) is a creative hub for research and teaching excellence at Arizona State University. Fast becoming a global leader in life science education and discovery faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff, work together to support an environment of interdisciplinary research to inspire and transform life science students by providing an innovative learning experience that prepares them to thrive in a dynamic and demanding world. SOLS aims to improve life by stimulating scientific discovery and solving critical problems at the intersection of the life sciences and society.

By the start date, candidates must have completed a Ph.D. in anthropology, biology or other natural science or science education field that provides an extensive background in evolutionary biology. Cross‐training and experience in education is desirable. Candidates with experience in the following are preferred: developing and assessing education resources; conducting educational research; and using developing digital resources for online and classroom use. The successful candidates will have a commitment to science education, must have outstanding writing and organizational skills, demonstrated capacity for independence and innovation, and the ability to work as part of a team.

To apply, please email a single pdf document containing a letter of application that states your interest in and qualifications for the position, a curriculum vitae, names of three references, and an item of choice that represents your approach to teaching in undergraduate science classroom to evmedsearch@asu.edu . The initial closing date for receipt of complete applications is January 15, 2016; applications will be reviewed weekly thereafter until the search is closed. A background check is required for employment.

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 80,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation’s fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

Arizona State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply (http://www.asu.edu/titleIX/). For more information on ASU’s non‐discrimination policy, visit ACD 401. For additional information on the Center for Evolution & Medicine, visit https://evmed.asu.edu. For additional information on the position, please contact Kathleen Holladay, Assistant Director, at kholladay@asu.edu.