"Pedagogical Research Postdoctoral Scholar"

Pedagogical Research Postdoctoral Scholar

University of California Los Angeles

Requisition Number: JPF10683

The UCLA Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) was established in August 2023 to support UCLA's educational mission to engage a university-wide community of scholars composed of educators and the diverse learners they serve in a collaborative process to discover and advance knowledge and practice across the disciplines both in and beyond the classroom. The TLC is a key driver of innovation and excellence in teaching across UCLA's broad academic landscape, a campus resource for programming in support of inclusive and evidence-based teaching practices, and a champion of pedagogical research.

The TLC invites applicants for a position of Pedagogical Research Postdoctoral Scholar to support the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL) in developing a research agenda for the newly established Pedagogical Research and Scholarly Teaching (PRST) unit of the TLC. The position is a full-time appointment with a start date of January 1, 2026. Salary range is commensurate with experience. The position comes with University benefits. This appointment is for 2 years with the possibility of extension.

Overview of the Position

Pedagogical Research and Scholarly Teaching (PRST) is a new unit within the TLC devoted to advancing action research, discipline-based education research (DBER), the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), and interdisciplinary research in the learning sciences. PRST brings together faculty, including Professors of Teaching, TLC staff, and campus partners (including students) as thought leaders in investigatory teams to identify research themes, secure funding, and pilot projects that elevate teaching excellence, accelerate instructional innovation, and promote pedagogical experimentation and discovery across the disciplines at UCLA. Current research projects include empirical investigations of evidence-based teaching practices, the impact of educational technology (i.e. Artificial Intelligence) and technology-enhanced learning spaces, systematic studies of instructional modalities and other methodological interventions at the undergraduate and graduate student levels, and faculty engagement in professional teaching development. The Pedagogical Research Postdoctoral Scholar will work collaboratively with the VPTL to contribute to TLC's mission of increasing the use of data-informed pedagogical practices.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop theory of change, conduct literature reviews, and design IRB-approved, mixed-method empirical studies to examine the impact of educational interventions.
• Engage with graduate research assistants, project team members, and TLC staff to focus, improve, and evaluate the efficacy or feasibility of research approaches.
• Support extramural grant proposal writing and study design including logic model development.
• Create and administer assessments, collect data, analyze results, report and disseminate research findings.
• Establish and maintain data collection and management standards for the PRST.
• Work collaboratively with the VPTL to author research manuscripts, prepare and present research conference papers, posters, and talks.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned by the VPTL.

Qualifications and application instructions

Applicants who are All But Dissertation (ABD), and who will ideally have received their Ph.D. degree by December 31, 2025, are encouraged to apply.

To apply, candidates should submit a cover letter expressing their interest in the position, curriculum vitae, sample of academic writing that includes a section on research methods (e.g., article, dissertation chapter), and the names and contact information for three professional references. Please complete reference check authorization release form and upload with your application materials.

This position is represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW): https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargainingunits/px/contract.html.

Questions about the position should be directed to Professor Erin Sanders O'Leary, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, at esoleary@teaching.ucla.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10683