"Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow"

Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow

Company: University of Oklahoma

Job Location: Category: Teacher Education - Early Childhood, Type: Full-Time

Position Title: Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow

Location: OU-Tulsa Campus

Department: Early Childhood Education Institute

Position Type: Faculty

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Early Childhood, Child Development, or related field (completed by start date)
• Expertise in infant-toddler care and education (e.g. Early Head Start)
• Minimum of two years of experience conducting early childhood research
• Demonstrated methodological and related software skills, including quantitative analyses (e.g. SPSS, SAS, or MPlus) and/or qualitative analyses (e.g. NVivo, DeDoose)
• Record of or strong potential for peer-reviewed publications
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Research expertise in infant-toddler care and education
• Experience in teaching or mentoring at the college level
• Experience using mixed-method research approaches

If you have questions about this position, please contact Dr. Kate Gallagher, ECEI Director, at kgallagher@ou.edu.

Application Instructions:

You will submit all required documents in Interfolio using this link: https://apply.interfolio.com/171415

The following documents are required:

• Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position.
• Current CV, including projected dates of degree completion and pending publications if applicable.
• Research statement summarizing your current research interests, expertise, and long-term career goals.
• Teaching statement including any teaching in early childhood classrooms in addition to teaching/mentoring graduate students.
• At least one first-author peer-reviewed publication (published or in progress).

Description:

The Early Childhood Education Institute (ECEI) at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa is seeking a Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Fellow with expertise in early childhood education to contribute to its applied research mission and engage in meaningful teaching opportunities. The earliest start date for this position is October 1, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

Situated on the campus of The University of Oklahoma at Tulsa, the ECEI is an applied research center focused on understanding and advancing access and opportunity for young children and families. Our team of researchers engages in research-practice partnerships, bringing expertise in early care and education and the early childhood workforce. We apply cutting-edge approaches, leveraging longitudinal data to examine practices and policies that lead to thriving children, families, and communities. We partner with community agencies and researchers to infuse multiple and interdisciplinary perspectives.

This position offers a unique blend of independent and collaborative research within an interdisciplinary team, with the additional opportunity to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in early childhood education through OU-Tulsa's academic departments. The role is ideal for an early career scholar looking to deepen research expertise while developing a strong teaching portfolio.

Position Summary

This position is designed for a motivated scholar with a background in early childhood, child development, or a related field who is passionate about research and teaching. The Fellow will work with the ECEI team on a range of applied research projects focused on infant-toddler care and education, with the expectation of developing publications from existing datasets, supporting ongoing projects, and pursuing an independent research agenda.

Additionally, the Fellow will teach one undergraduate or graduate course per academic year (with possibility for more based on interest and capacity) in early childhood education. Courses may include child development, research methods, or early learning environments.

Representative Duties

• Analyze existing data (ECEI and national) and develop peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Provide methodological and/or statistical support to ECEI projects
• Collaborate on proposal writing and securing external funding
• Mentor junior research staff and graduate assistants
• Teach one graduate-level course annually in early childhood education
• Engage in curriculum development and graduate student advising (as appropriate)
• Deliver presentations and attend professional conferences
• Contribute to professional development and dissemination efforts within ECEI