"Post Doctoral Fellow-Learning Science for Innovators"

Carnegie Mellon University Africa seeks a Postdoctoral researcher to join the Learning Science for Innovators Project at Carnegie Mellon University. The LSFI Project is a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation which aims to enhance educational technology products for Africa by training EdTech entrepreneurs and their staff in learning sciences and learning experience design.

The Postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for novel research on applied learning science in EdTech on the African continent focusing on evidence-based research from the data from 12 educational technology incubators known as Hubs. Additionally, this person will support the EdTech Hubs and Entrepreneur Fellows in the co-creation of knowledge and dissemination through scientific publications as well as popular science. This role will report to the LSFI Project Principal Investigators in CMU Pittsburgh, Dr. Amy Ogan and Dr. Tutaleni Asino.

Core Responsibilities:

• Novel study and instrument design with associated qualitative and/or quantitative data collection, processing, and analysis
• Assisting EdTech fellows to develop their own aspect of the research that lead to publications and grant applications
• Travel to Hub sites across Africa and CMU Africa when required.
• Remote support and mentoring for Hub staff and EdTech entrepreneurs
• Development of internal data structures, survey and other learning and impact measures to support future learning science research studies.
• Analyze data for meaningful impact on learners or other stakeholders (e.g. parents or teachers) to boost a unique African EdTech perspective on learning that is currently underrepresented in the global community.
• Supervise undergraduate and master student research assistants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required

• Experience in evidence-based learning research with educational technology, formative evaluation in formal and/or informal learning settings.
• Strong interest in teaching cognition, learning from data, audio processing, personal informatics, and/or data visualization.
• Substantive experience using qualitative and/or quantitative methods including field observations, interviewing, educational data mining, and/or longitudinal data collection and analysis.
• Quantitative data collection, analysis, and presentation skills, including the ability to quickly learn new software programs and work with data in different environments and formats AND/OR qualitative and mixed methods data collection, analysis, and presentation skills, including instrument design, coding, and demonstration that intervention best practices have been maintained.
• Demonstrates an awareness and practice of the cultural competency needed to work with others in diverse international settings.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills in team collaboration settings.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• PhD in computer science and education, human computer interaction, instructional design, or other related fields

Desirable

• Experience working in multicultural teams
• Language skills (particularly African languages, Arabic and French).
• Experience working in the African context.

Please apply to the Interfolio link and submit your CV and cover letter. For any questions, please reach out to LSFI@cmu.edu.

Carnegie Mellon University is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition, family status, marital status, parental status, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.

About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon (www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university’s seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon’s main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California’s Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.