Postdoctoral Research Position in the Cognitive Development Lab at the University of Rochester
Postdoctoral Position: Cognitive Development Laboratory at the University of Rochester
The Cognitive Development Lab (PI: Karl S. Rosengren) at the University of Rochester is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on an NSF-funded research project investigating the role of visual representations in children’s learning about biological variability. Dr. Rosengren has joint appointments in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science and the Department of Psychology at the University of Rochester. This research is in collaboration with Dr. Martha W. Alibali and Dr. Chuck Kalish at the University of Wisconsin and the postdoctoral researcher will be collaborating with all three investigators.
Required/Preferred Experience: A PhD in Science Education, Developmental Psychology or a related field is required. Knowledge of human subjects research and experience conducting research with children is required, with a preference for individuals with experience working with school-aged children. Expertise in biological education is also preferred. The ideal candidate will have experience in using qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis approaches, and experience (or an interest in) in conducting research in schools and/or museum settings.
Job Duties:
The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in the design and implementation of research studies examining how different types of visual representations influence school-aged children’s learning and generalization about biological variability. The individual will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of aspects of the project and will be involved in training graduate and undergraduate research assistants who will be helping on the project. One of the primary goals of this position is to work closely with a number of local museums to collect data, design displays (in the museums and online) to test the impact of different visual representations, and to help develop workshops related to cognitive development and biological education for teachers and museums.
This postdoc position is available to begin immediately with an initial appointment for 1 year, with possibility of renewal depending on performance.Currently, COVID-19 rates are quite low in Rochester and the surrounding community, so it is expected that the postdoctoral researcher would live in the Rochester area and collect data in person when safe and appropriate.
The University of Rochester is strongly committed to creating and supporting a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status or status as an individual with disability and are encouraged to apply.
To apply, please email a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Dr. Karl S. Rosengren at Karl.Rosengren@rochester.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this position you may contact Dr. Rosengren directly.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Karl S. Rosengren
Professor
Department of Brain & Cognitive Science
Department of Psychology
University of Rochester
Post-doctoral position University of Chicago, NSF-SLAI
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
The Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago seeks a postdoctoral researcher to design and implement research projects to test the effectiveness of teaching methods that incorporate gesture or spatial highlighting tools for math learning in hearing and deaf children and adults from diverse backgrounds. The research also includes the development and testing of an online tool that incorporates gesture for teaching mathematics. The postdoctoral researcher will work with the institutional principal investigator and co-principal investigators from University of Chicago and other universities. The postdoctoral researcher will participate in all aspects of research management, development, and implementation. He/she will oversee design, data collection, coding, and analysis for this NSF funded project. He/she will prepare manuscripts for publication, collaborate on the writing of annual grant reports, and present research findings at scientific conferences.
A doctoral degree is required in psychology, cognitive science, or a relevant field with research interests in development and learning, preferably mathematical development. Expertise in online education and website design preferred. ASL knowledge, experience supervising, and coordinating the work of others, and strong project management skills are preferred. Must be able to represent the project to diverse audiences. Start date is flexible.
Interested candidates should send a CV, a research statement, preprints/reprints of papers, and two letters of recommendation to:
Markie Theophile
Lab Manager, Goldin-Meadow Lab
Department of Psychology
5848 S University Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-1562
Postdoctoral position in cognitive development & artificial intelligence
Postdoc position at the University of Pittsburgh
The Parents Promoting Early Learning (PPEL) project at the University of Pittsburgh directed by Drs. Heather Bachman, Melissa Libertus, and Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal is currently looking for a post-doctoral fellow to support our interdisciplinary research on home environment influences on children’s early math skills across the SES continuum. The PPEL project is housed in Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh, an interdisciplinary center that brings together researchers in the cognitive, social, and educational sciences.
The position involves working collaboratively with a research team and assisting with the data management, analysis, and manuscript preparation for two large, federally funded longitudinal studies of toddlers and preschoolers. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong skills in generating and testing hypotheses regarding cognitive, social, and parenting influences on math skill acquisition during early childhood. The position entails a leadership role in authorship of research manuscripts, posing and testing key questions, and conducting quantitative analyses using a range of analytic approaches, such as mixed linear modeling, latent growth modeling, and econometric approaches. Additionally, this post-doctoral fellow will assist the PIs in managing a team of Research Assistants in data collection and processing efforts.
Required qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, Applied Developmental Psychology, Human Development, or a related field
- Training in one of more of the following areas including cognition, mathematics development, spatial development, executive functioning, parenting practices, and community-based research
- Experience working with diverse children/families in research settings
- Experience with managing and cleaning large data sets
- Strong analytical skills for quantitative data, including proficiency with SPSS, Mplus, and/or R
- Excellent scientific writing and communication skills
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in a research environment
- Desired, but not required: Ability to travel to off-site locations that may not be accessible by public transportation
Application Instructions
Please email a letter of interest including a statement of research, a curriculum vita, three representative publications, and names and contact information for three individuals who can be contacted for a reference to Juliana Kammerzell, Project Coordinator for the PPEL project (juk83@pitt.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2021. The position is for one year initially with the possibility of renewal. Salary is commensurate with experience. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Questions can be directed to Heather Bachman (hbachman@pitt.edu) or Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal (evotruba@pitt.edu).
The University of Pittsburgh is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check will be required for employment in this position.
Melissa Libertus, PhD
Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychology
Research Scientist, Learning Research and Development Center
University of Pittsburgh
607 LRDC
3939 O’Hara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Email: libertus@pitt.edu
Phone: (412) 624-7457
Fax: (412) 624-9149
Postdoctoral Position: TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
Postdoctoral (Scholar or Fellow) Position Open at the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health.
Area of expertise: Developmental Psychology
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work on a project that aims to create the next iteration of a tool, the Scale of Parent/Provider Expectations And Knowledge (SPEAK), that has been developed and validated at the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health. The SPEAK is a clinical and research tool that fills a critical, previously unmet need in the early childhood field. Given the pivotal role that parents and caregivers play in shaping young children’s cognitive and language development, it is necessary to assess what they know and believe about that process. As part of the TMW Center’s commitment to investing in cutting-edge R&D to develop scalable, evidence-based interventions and tools, the TMW Center is developing a version of the SPEAK that uses computer-adaptive testing, called the SPEAK CAT. This version will streamline assessment by adapting to the individual responding to the questions and issuing new questions based on the level of knowledge they’ve displayed. The results of the SPEAK CAT will provide a more complete and useful picture of respondents’ knowledge and beliefs about child language and cognitive development, which can be used to more precisely target information and interventions for maximal individual and population-level impact.
The postdoc will, in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Dana Suskind, and the Principal SPEAK Researcher, Dr. Dani Levine, as well as internal and external research partners, support all aspects of research development for the SPEAK CAT project. This position will build and expand on literature reviews for the SPEAK CAT test domains and write and develop survey items. The postdoc will also contribute to the cognitive interviews of new survey items, plan for and test the item bank, perform statistical analysis of testing data, and define feature specifications for the technology of the SPEAK CAT. The postdoc may contribute to publications and presentations, and present results from the SPEAK CAT at early childhood, education, and public health conferences and symposiums.
A PhD is required in psychology, child development, or a related field, and 0-2 years of postdoctoral experience. The ideal candidate will have familiarity with survey research methods, experience supervising research assistants, and research experience in one or more of the following domains: language development, socioemotional development, cognitive development, early literacy, math/spatial development, dual language learning, screen media use, and neurodevelopment.
This postdoc position is available to begin immediately in a remote capacity, and the appointment is initially for 1 year with possibility of annual renewal, depending on needs and performance.
Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of research goals to Dr. Dani Levine at danilevine@bsd.uchicago.edu. Compensation in the Biological Sciences Division follows the NIH NRSA Stipend scale. Additional information on benefits and being a postdoc in the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division can be found at bsdpostdoc.uchicago.edu.
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Disabled / Veterans Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status or status as an individual with disability. Job seekers with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact the Employment Office by calling 773-702-8900 or by emailing employment@uchicago.edu with their request.
Dani Levine, Ph.D.
Principal SPEAK Researcher
TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
Post-doc positions in Singapore
The Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Singapore and coordinated through the Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES), is a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the University of Cambridge. CLIC is a flagship programme in the Science of Learning to harness advancements in neuroscience to develop cognitive training programmes for the improvement of lifelong flexible learning, focusing initially on adolescents and young adults, but also envisaging work with infants and older adults. This is a strategic global initiative for the Universities of Cambridge and NTU that brings together multidisciplinary expertise from over 30 investigators in the areas of Neuroscience, Psychology, Linguistics and Education across the two universities.
Nanyang Technological University is a research intensive university currently ranked 13th globally and placed 1st amongst the world’s best young universities. The University has Colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and an Interdisciplinary Graduate School. Further, the new Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine benefits from a dual campus located at Novena, in close proximity to the Singapore city centre. The Cognitive Neuroimaging Centre (CoNiC) houses state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities including a newly installed 3T MRI scanner and MEG, as well as new EEG, NIRS, TMS and tDCS equipment.
The first phase of the CLIC program will initially be housed at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. As the programme progresses, other sites will be developed to meet the needs of the experimental programme. The new CLIC research centre will provide a vibrant, fast-paced, international and interdisciplinary environment with excellent opportunities for skills development and knowledge exchange between partner Principal Investigator labs in Singapore and Cambridge.
The Principal Investigators involved in the first phase of the research programme include:
From Cambridge: Director Professor Zoe Kourtzi (Psychology), Senior Scientific Advisor Professor Trevor Robbins (Psychology), Deputy Directors Professor Henriette Hendriks (Linguistics), Professor Anna Vignoles (Education), and Imaging Lead – Professor John Suckling (Psychiatry); supported by co-Investigators Prof Barbara Sahakian (Psychiatry) and Dr Michelle Ellefson (Education).
From NTU: Director Professor Annabel Chen (Psychology), Deputy Director Asst Prof Victoria Leong (Psychology), Imaging Lead – Professor Balázs Gulyas (LKCMedicine), and Principal Investigators Professor David Hung (NIE), Asst Prof Bobby Cheon (Psychology) and Assoc Prof Georgios Christopoulos (Nanyang Business School); supported by co-Investigator Dr Teo Chew Lee (NIE).
Postdoctoral position at University of Essex- Essex Babylab
One postdoc position is available starting in February 2021, to work on an Academy of Medical Sciences project looking at the developmental mechanisms underlying emotional eating. The postdoc will work on a novel approach that combines developmental cognitive neuroscience and embodied psychology to study emotional eating in the first years of life (please see job pack for details). The position is available for 2 years and applications should be submitted online (deadline 25 October).
The project is supervised by Dr Maria Laura Filippetti. The position will be based at the Department of Psychology, University of Essex. The department provides a stimulating and vibrant research environment designed to encourage and support individuals in crossing conventional disciplinary boundaries to collaborate in research. The postdoc will join the growing research team of the Essex Babylab, which is part of our Centre for Brain Science (CBS). The CBS is purpose-built to house state-of-the-art equipment that allows staff to directly measure and modulate brain activity, as well as a range of equipment to measure physiological response (e.g. EMG, EEG, heart rate, etc.).
Informal enquiries can be sent to Dr Maria Laura Filippetti via email on m.filippetti@essex.ac.uk.
Best wishes,
Maria Laura
Maria Laura Filippetti, PhD
Lecturer
Department of Psychology
University of Essex
T +44 (0)1206 873780
► https://www.essex.ac.uk/babylab
► https://mlfilippetti.netlify.com
Postdoc in Cross-Cultural Developmental Psychology
Developing Belief Network
Postdoctoral Awards Announcement
The University of California, Riverside is pleased to invite Postdoctoral scholars to apply to be part of a five-year research project: Developing Belief: The Development and Diversity of Religious Cognition and Behavior: Phase 1 (Project Directors: Rebekah Richert and Kathleen Corriveau). This John Templeton Foundation grant funds the development of the Developing Belief Network (https://www.developingbelief.com/), a research initiative designed to bring together a network of scholars interested in cross-cultural study of the development of religious cognition and behavior. We seek proposals from postdoctoral-level scholars interested in being affiliated with this network. The program of research will explore the development of religious cognition broadly, as well as focus on topics of interest to the global developmental science community. The network activities will be coordinated to investigate two general research questions:
1. How does the acquisition of religious cognition and behavior vary within and between populations? How is the acquisition of religious beliefs and practices facilitated and constrained by child-level developmental factors?
2. How does the transmission of religious cognition and behavior vary within and between populations? How do processes of social learning (e.g., testimony, text, instruction, imitation) support the development of religious cognition and behavior?
1. What is the Developing Belief Network?
The initial formation of the Developing Belief Network will involve 8-10 investigators working across 10-16 research sites working over 5 years to develop a collaborative cross-cultural methodology, create culturally-validated measures, and collect data to contribute to a shared dataset on the development of religious cognition and behavior from children and families around the world. The Developing Belief Network will partner with Databrary to provide access to this rich dataset to the developmental science community broadly. The inaugural instantiation of the Developing Belief Network is currently being constructed through an open and invited RFP solicitation (now closed). Sites have been selected for their (a) demonstrated ability to collect developmental data and (b) representation of important dimensions of religious belief (e.g., supernatural agents, animism, atheism). Upon successful building of the research network and completion of the first round of data collection, we will apply for funding to expand the network to include multi-time point data collection (expanding the data set to be a semi-longitudinal data set on patterns of individual development over time) and new teams of researchers (expanding the cultural data set to incorporate even greater cultural variation).
2. What are the specific research questions of interest?
Inaugural members of the Developing Belief Network will have the opportunity to shape the specific research questions that the collaborative network will address. Some specific processes and research questions of interest to the PIs and the John Templeton Foundation include:
● What are cultural variations in the development of folk theories? Do children need to have a foundational folk theory of humans or the physical world before they can develop concepts of supernatural agents or causes?
● How do cultural variations in religious concepts (e.g., beliefs about animism, the properties and functioning of spirit/life force/soul) relate to the development of ontological boundaries and the extent to which religious concepts are or are not minimally counterintuitive?
● How do natural and supernatural explanations develop to (co)exist in individual minds?
● How do cross-cultural and within-cultural variations in verbal, non-verbal, and textual information provided to children relate to children’s concepts about and belief in natural and supernatural agents and causes?
3. What is the purpose of the Postdoctoral Awards?
The Developing Belief Network will support up to 2 postdoctoral scholars, with a focus on supporting researchers who are beginning their careers in this field of study. The purpose of these awards is to build the field of researchers studying religious cognitions and behaviors, beyond those researchers formally involved in the collaborative data collection effort. As such, the Developing Belief Network of investigators will provide mentorship to emerging scholars by involving them in the Developing Belief Network. Recipients of the Postdoctoral Awards will not be expected to collect data for the collaborative dataset. Instead, awardees will be expected to be focusing their research on questions related to the goals of the Developing Belief Network. Awardees will be expected to attend the annual workshop of the Developing Belief Network held during the year of their award and to present their research at this workshop.
4. What is expected of Postdoctoral Awardees?
a. Postdoctoral Awardees are expected to have completed their dissertation by December 31, 2020 and to have a Postdoctoral Mentor outside of the Developing Belief Network. Research topics should be related to the research questions outlined above, and are likely to utilize data collected with children and parents at a location outside of the United States or with an understudied population within the United States.
b. Postdoctoral Awardees will have the opportunity to work with Developing Belief Network members, the project leaders, and an advisory board to develop a collaborative methodology that can be used across the sites, although award winners will not be expected to collect data for the collaborative dataset.
c. All Postdoctoral Awardees must commit to attending a collaborative site meeting during the year of their award to present their preliminary or completed research. Postdoctoral Awardees will be asked to submit regular progress reports.
d. Postdoctoral Awardees will be expected to actively engage in dissemination of findings, through conference presentations and manuscript submissions.
e. Postdoctoral Awardees will be asked to contribute content to a website devoted to this project. Content may include descriptions of their field site and lay summaries of key findings.
5. Who Can Apply?
Postdoctoral award proposals are invited from scholars who have completed their dissertation by December 31, 2020. Scholars will need to have a mentor with a university affiliation who will supervise the postdoctoral scholar. Awards will not be given to postdoctoral scholars working with the project leaders (Rebekah Richert and Kathleen Corriveau) or with PIs who have been selected to lead research teams in the Developing Belief Network (i.e., are receiving a Full Award from the initial RFP).
6. Subgrant Budgets:
Funding is available up to 2 Postdoctoral Awards. The funds can only be used for stipend and to cover travel costs to the required meetings. The budget cap for all awards is $55,000 and inclusive of overhead (indirect costs). The Templeton Foundation’s maximum overhead allowable for these awards is 15%.
7. What are Required Expenses?
Applicants are required to allocate some of their budget toward travel (e.g., flights or train tickets) to attend one meeting. [Lodging and meal costs will be covered by the large project grant.]
8. What Are Allowable Expenses?
Postdoctoral Awards can only be used for stipends and associated living costs (e.g., health insurance).
9. Who Will Review My Proposal?
Proposals will be reviewed by the Project Directors Dr. Rebekah Richert (University of California Riverside) and Dr. Kathleen Corriveau (Boston University).
10. What should I include in my proposal?
Proposals should include a 5-page narrative of the postdoctoral research plan, including (1) fit between the research and the Developing Belief Network, (2) a description of the research site(s) for participants with an explanation for why that site would be particularly informative for the study of the development of religious cognition, and (3) a timeline for the project. In addition, all proposals should include (4) a CV for the applicant, (5) a brief budget and budget justification, (6) proof of IRB approval for the research (or timeline for securing this – funding will not be dispersed prior to IRB approval), and (7) a letter from the Postdoctoral Mentor indicating support for the applicant and the research. All materials should be emailed to Rebekah Richert (rebekah.richert@ucr.edu) in a single email.
Proposals will be due by 11:59pm on November 15, 2020. Notifications will be sent by December 1, 2020. The start date is anticipated to be January 1, 2020, but this date is somewhat flexible.
Please send questions to Rebekah Richert (rebekah.richert@ucr.edu).
Clinical Dev Neuroscience Post-docs in San Diego & Maryland
Post-Doctoral Research Positions in Clinical Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Maryland College Park and San Diego State University
Drs. Lea Dougherty (University of Maryland College Park) and Jillian Wiggins (San Diego State University) are seeking to hire several post-doctoral research associates for NIMH-funded research projects examining neural mechanisms of youth irritability. The projects include new data collection in young children as well use of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data. We use functional and structural MRI methods.
Post-doctoral research associates: Candidates must have completed or be in the process of completing a PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, or other related discipline. Training in MRI and fMRI data analysis, programming experience and knowledge of advanced statistical methods (e.g., machine learning, multilevel modeling), clinical diagnostic assessments, mastery of English speaking and writing, and experience working with human subjects, particularly children, are preferred. Successful candidates should have keen attention to detail; and strong organization, problem solving, and analytic skills. Prior background in developmental or clinical neuroscience is also a plus but not required. The position will provide opportunities for training in big data management and analysis, advanced computational methods and longitudinal data analysis.
The position start date is flexible (from immediate to Summer 2021). Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled. Renewal of contract is contingent on performance and funding. Interested individuals should email a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information of 3 references to Lea Dougherty at ldougher@umd.edu. Please include all documents in a single pdf file and include your last name in the file (i.e., “LASTNAME.pdf”).
UMD and SDSU are equal opportunity affirmative action employers with a commitment to racial, cultural, and gender diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position at UTHealth in Houston
IES Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position at UTHealth
The Children’s Learning Institute (CLI) within the UTHealth Department of Pediatrics seeks acandidate for postdoctoral research training focused on developmental and academic outcomes of preschool and early elementary children with or at risk for disabilities. Candidates need interest and background in: (1) Early Interventions & Assessments, and/or (2) Scalable Professional Development (PD) for Educators of Young Children. Our training framework is focused on the benefits of Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) and developing skills to become valuable partners with practitioners.
This is a competitive training program funded by IES NCSER that will support a total of four fellows for two years each. The Fellows will be matched with one of three primary mentors – Susan Landry, Ph.D., Tricia Zucker, Ph.D., April Crawford, Ph.D. Fellows will also work with secondary mentors, including Yoonkyung Oh, Ph.D., Michael Assel, Ph.D., and Cheryl Varghese, Ph.D. The primary and secondary mentors along with a team of educators, clinicians, and experts will provide training on education research design, partnerships, data collection, statistical analyses,dissemination, and developing grant applications. We expect Fellows will produce scholarly publications, participate in preparation of research grants, and conduct original research within an active project (detailed below).
Topic 1: Early Interventions & Assessments
1. Expansion of the CIRCLE Progress Monitoring (CPM) System
2. Development of Reading RULES!
3. Pre-K Home and Classroom Interventions for Spanish-Speaking English Learners
Topic 2: Scalable Professional Development (PD) for Educators
4. Developing Talkers: Building Effective Teachers
5. Continuous Improvement for Teachers
The position is for two years and the salary will be $60,000 annually with benefits. Fellows will receive a small stipend to cover research costs.
Minimum Requirements:
· Ph.D. or Ed.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g., education, public policy, psychology, sociology, or related fields).
· U.S. Citizen
Description of Qualified Candidates:
· Record of research productivity through publications and presentations related to child development, education, or school-related public policy
· Skills in applied statistical methods
· Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member
· Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication
· Strong organizational skills
Required Application Materials:
Interested applicants should submit the following materials to Dr. Tricia Zucker, Ph.D. at tricia.zucker@uth.tmc.edu
1. A cover letter detailing:
a. The applicant’s research interests and fit with the position
b. How research experience and interests align with one or more active training grants
c. Note that you are a U.S. citizen, as applicants must be U.S. citizens
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Scholarly writing sample
4. Names and contact information for three references
UTHealth is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment-related activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law or university policy. Reasonable accommodation, based on disability or religious observances, will be considered in accordance with applicable law and UTHealth policy. The University maintains affirmative action programs with respect to women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and eligible veterans in accordance with applicable law.
Kelly A. Vaughn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Children’s Learning Institute
6655 Travis | 10.12 | Houston, TX 77030
713 500 8243 tel