The School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Learning Analytics and Educational Data Science beginning August 1, 2020. This is a full-time research position supported by NSF Award DUE 1821594.
The successful candidate would join a team intent on developing a program of data-driven student success interventions that leverage the data college students produce when they engage with digital platforms for learning.
The postdoctoral researcher will coordinate efforts between researchers in Learning Sciences and Psychology, subject matter experts who instruct Biology courses, and IT professionals who manage institutional and activity data. The candidate will play a central role in the collection of structured and unstructured data from existing digital platforms (for learning and higher education service provision), and the development of data models that afford coordination of disparate data into a central repository and subsequent mining of these data to produce algorithms that identify likelihood of learning outcomes. Experimental design expertise and prior experience developing research products for dissemination are preferred.
Examples of potential areas for scholarship include research on the utility of institutional and activity data in higher education contexts, methods for predicting student success, and implementation science studies examining the robustness of prediction algorithms over time and across student populations. Additional details on the project scope of work can be found at NSF DUE 1821594.
The term of appointment is negotiable; however, an ideal initial term would extend through June 30, 2022.
Context: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Carolina), established in 1793 as the first public university in the nation, is a doctoral-granting institution situated in the beautiful college town of Chapel Hill, NC. Ranked fifth among public institutions by US News & World Report, and one of the original public ivy schools, Carolina has earned a reputation as one of the best universities in the world, and the School of Education is among the best in the nation. The School of Education prides itself on its strong, diverse student body, unparalleled academic opportunities, and a value unmatched by any public university in the nation.
Responsibilities: Candidates will contribute to an established scope of work related to NSF Award DUE 1821594 including the coordination of learning analytics and educational data science activities between researchers in the School of Education and Department of Psychology with professionals from Information Technology Services. Candidates will (a) lead project management (b) educational data mining efforts using learning analytics data derived from multiple digital platforms for learning (c) coordinate collection and curation of data models in a platform that supports coordination of structured and unstructured data and affords analysis via machine learning and AI methods (d) contribute to scholarly publications and products (e) collaboratively supervise graduate and undergraduate students on project activities; (f) support strategic initiatives across research sites; and (g) contribute to dissemination of project output to academic, higher education, and industry audiences. Opportunities to pursue or continue related academic activities are negotiable.
Educational Requirements: Candidates must have an earned doctorate in the learning sciences, statistics, data science, information science, computer science, educational psychology, quantitative psychology, or closely related fields.
Qualifications and Experience: Successful candidates will provide evidence of one or more of the following: (1) managing large-scale research projects; (2) the use of complex data analytic techniques (e.g., machine learning, AI) that leverage rich data (i.e., learning analytics, other ambient data) to understand phenomena related to learning and performance; (3) a portfolio or set of certifications demonstrating expertise in data architecture, with particular relevance to the handling of unstructured data; (4) scholarly work involving empirical and theoretical studies of the cognitive and sociocultural structures, processes, and mechanisms that underly technology-enhanced learning; (5) the design and scaling of innovative learning technologies and/or digital learning environments, including data-intensive consideration of user experience.
Salary and Starting Date: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with rank and experience. The proposed starting date is August 1, 2020.
The Application Process: To apply for the position, submit a letter of interest, vita, and the names of four references with full contact information, using the online application process at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/178002. For full consideration, all application materials should be received by May 1, 2020 at which time the search committee will begin reviewing applications. The search will remain open until filled.
For more information, email the Search Chair, Dr. Jeffrey A. Greene, jagreene@email.unc.edu
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.