Teaching Postdoctoral Associate in Organismal Biology

The Department of Entomology, in collaboration with Cornell’s Active Learning Initiative, invites applicants for a full-time Teaching Postdoctoral Associate (University Title – Instructor) with interest in developing skills and experience in Biology Education Research and Evidence-Based Pedagogy in preparation for an academic career. Specifically, the postdoc will play a key role in supporting the transition of three large non-major courses in Entomology (Alien Empire, Honeybee Biology, Plagues and People) from a traditional lecture course format to active learning format, focusing on student participation and group problem solving. This position is part of a Cornell-wide initiative to shift the undergraduate curriculum toward active learning approaches; the wide range of participating departments is summarized here: http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/02/active-learning-initiative-funds-nine-projects  

The Teaching Postdoctoral Associate will be appointed for a one-year period renewable for a second year and a third year contingent upon performance. The successful candidate will collaborate with four Entomology faculty (Caillaud, Danforth, Harrington and Sanderson) towards the following goals: formulate learning goals, develop active learning-based modules that align with the learning goals and are transferable among the three courses, provide feedback on course teaching practices, evaluate and assess learning gains, present/publish the results, act as a consultant for other Faculty members in the department. We expect that successful candidates will devote 30% of their effort to organizing the active learning transition process, 50% effort to developing active learning material and activities pertaining to the goals and content of the courses, and 20% effort to assessment of the implementation of active learning, presentation/publication and consulting.

* Qualifications *

Candidates should hold a doctoral degree in Organismal Biology, Ecology/Environmental Sciences /Entomology, Biology Education, or a related field and have excellent organizational, interpersonal communication, team building and collaboration skills. Experience in developing active learning curricula and coaching educators is highly desirable.

* Terms of Appointment *

This is a 1-year appointment with the possibility of extension. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualification. The anticipated start date for the appointment is June 1, 2019 (start date is negotiable). 

* Applications *

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by March 15, 2019.

To apply: applicants should submit (as a single pdf file) their CV, a statement of teaching philosophy/experience, a statement of research experience, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can serve as references to Dr Marina Caillaud at cmc27@cornell.edu