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Postdoc Description
Director:

David Klahr

Department of Psychology

http://www.psy.cmu.edu/people/klahr.html



Co-Director

Kenneth Koedinger

Department of Psychology

& Human Computer Interaction Institute

http://pact.cs.cmu.edu/koedinger.html

Co-Director

Vincent Aleven

Human Computer Interaction Institute

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~aleven/

PostPIER is a post-doctoral training program funded by the Institute of Education Sciences that aims to train a “new breed” of learning scientists who will acquire the skills and experience necessary to advance our knowledge about human learning and to translate that knowledge into effective instruction. This program is built upon our successful pre-doctoral training program (http://www.cmu.edu/pier/) with similar goals.

We seek applicants who have received their PhD training from strong doctoral programs in areas such as psychology, computer science, or STEM education. Selected trainees will work with faculty in CMU’s Department of Psychology (http://www.psy.cmu.edu/), Human Computer Interaction Institute (http://www.hcii.cmu.edu/), or the Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center (http://www.learnlab.org/). Training will focus on cognitive, metacognitive, and/or motivational foundations for developing and implementing evidence-based instructional methods that can improve teaching and learning in authentic educational settings. Content emphasis will be closely related to the development and efficacy goals in IES programs in Cognition and Student Learning, Math and Science Education, and Educational Technology.

The PostPIER program is crafted to advance trainees’ knowledge about the concepts, methods and tools that will enable them to acquire and analyze rich data sets of potential mediating variables between instructional manipulations and final assessments of robust student learning. They will become well versed in emerging technologies, such as intelligent tutors, web-based instructional delivery systems, and educational data mining, that play a central role in this type of data collection and analysis. Our research projects, many of which are supported by IES or involve IES pre-doctoral fellows, have demonstrated how such technologies can not only profoundly enhance robust student learning outcomes, but also significantly increase the specificity, accuracy, and breadth of assessment.

More specifically, the post-docs under this grant would be involved in one or more the following areas of research and training:

o Science and math education, from K-6 through college level, with a focus on Intelligent tutors

o Educational data mining

o New forms of assessment and cognitive diagnosis in science and math education.

The fellowship carries a stipend of $50,000/yr, full-time benefits including health insurance, as well as funds for professional travel and research costs (computer, software, books, etc.). IES requires that applicants be either US citizens or permanent US residents. Successful applicants could expect up to two years of support. For the 2012-13 Academic Year, there are two openings. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2012, but could be earlier.

To apply, send vita, 2 publications, and a brief (1-2 page) summary of your research interests and professional goals for this training program. In addition, you should request two letters of recommendation from people who can comment on your suitability for the position. Inquiries, applications and letters of recommendation should be sent to Audrey Russo, Program Coordinator: ar3v@andrew.cmu.edu. Review of applications will begin February 15 and will continue until the positions are filled.