The Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education is an endowed Center that forms partnerships with engineering faculty and programs in designing, implementing, and evaluating research-based innovations in undergraduate and graduate engineering education. The Leonhard Center also provides workshops and summer academies for faculty on a wide range of topics, from creativity and innovation to engineering communication. In addition, the Leonhard Center initiates and evaluates College-wide projects in support of the College’s strategic goals. These goals include dramatically shifting the demographics of our undergraduate student population to achieve an entering cohort of student in which representation of women and students from other underrepresented groups matches their representation more broadly. With leadership by the College’s Associate Deans for Equity and Inclusion and for Education, the College has begun multiple programs to achieve these equity goals, collectively referred to as the Engineering Equity Initiative.

The Leonhard Center is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to take a leadership role in a multi-phase study related to the Engineering Equity Initiative. This mixed methods study is being conducted in partnership with the Center for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) at Penn State. CSHE is focusing on the students’ experiences, and the Leonhard Center is focusing on understanding how College of Engineering faculty and staff create a positive and inclusive culture for all students. One of the goals for this project is to better understand current faculty and staff practices and beliefs around equity and inclusion so that we can design workshops to support our faculty and staff (and, by extension, our students) in enhancing equity and inclusion within the College of Engineering. After the faculty/staff study is launched, the Postdoctoral Scholar will have the opportunity to participate in other projects within the Leonhard Center, such as developing and evaluating faculty-driven projects in engineering education and leading college-level workshops relating to instructional practices and educational research. The position requires strong qualitative research skills. Additional, quantitative and mixed methods research abilities would be preferred. The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellence in communication and collaboration. The ability to publish and present the results of the studies at national or international conferences is also important for the position. Minimum requirements for the position are a Ph.D. in an appropriate field such as engineering education, educational psychology, or higher education. Knowledge of current trends in engineering education is desirable. Penn State’s College of Engineering strives to build a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for students, staff, and faculty. We rely on the expertise, sensitivity and commitment of an inclusive faculty to enhance diversity, seek equity, and create a welcoming environment within our community. We are committed to nurturing a learning and working environment that respects differences in culture, age, gender, race, ethnicity, physical ability, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation. In welcoming every candidate, we strive to meet the needs of professional families by actively assisting with partner-placement needs. We are inspiring change and impacting tomorrow.

This is an annually renewable, fixed-term appointment. Applicants should submit their applications packet, including a letter of interest, a resume, and a list of three references online. Review of applications will begin April 4, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled.

Apply online at https://apptrkr.com/1852192

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