Post-Doctoral Associate- Learning Informatics Lab at University of Minnesota in Twin Cities, MN.
Job ID: 361839
About the Job:
The University of Minnesota’s (UMN) Learning Informatics Laboratory (LIL) seeks a candidate to fill one Post-Doctoral Associate position. The position is focused on the uses of AI and GenAI in education (K-12 and higher education), and specifically on 1) developing ways to leverage large scale datasets to improve learner experiences and 2) establishing data-driven ways to improve student and teacher understandings and use of AI (e.g., AI Literacy).
The post-doctoral associate will be a full-time, 12-month employee of the University of Minnesota. The post-doctoral associate will work closely with and be primarily supervised by Drs. Panayiota Kendeou and Caitlin Mills in the Department of Educational Psychology. Initial appointment will be one year, with an option for a second year based on performance and continued availability of funding.
The post-doctoral associate should be committed to producing original research and publishing their work in highly ranked conference proceedings and journals (as appropriate). Mentors are committed to the professional development of the post-doctoral associate and will provide resources to support professional development, including participation in professional conferences.
This position is based on campus. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.
Job Responsibilities
Research (100%)
- Create and manage large-scale data sets
- Lead independent research projects related to the LIL goals surrounding AI/genAI.
- Apply AI-driven methods to existing large datasets to improve learner experiences.
- Work closely with existing LIL team members to conduct interdisciplinary research related to learning analytics/educational psychology
- Assist with mentoring graduate students on AI-related research in education projects.
- Lead and/or assist with the preparation of research articles, reports, and grants.
- Disseminate research findings at academic conferences and journals.
Required Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in psychology, data science, computer science, cognitive science, learning analytics, or a related field
- A very strong technical background with demonstrated experience developing computational tools and/or applying data science methods to large data sets.
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Strong professional writing skills, including research reports, peer-reviewed research articles, or other print and electronic publications
- Ability to work well with diverse populations
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in leading independent research projects related to AI or Gen AI methods
- Experience in collaborating as a member of a larger research team
- Experience with one or more of the following: machine learning, natural language processing, LLMs, or computer vision
The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
- Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- University HSA contributions
- Disability and employer-paid life insurance
- Employee wellbeing program
- Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
- Financial counseling services
- Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
- Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area
Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume. Upload additional documents after submitting your application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.
To be considered for this position, please include:
* Letter of Interest (including your relevant background and research skills)
* Curriculum Vitae
* Three relevant publications (conference proceedings or journals)
* Names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references
Review of applications will begin in two weeks. For questions about the position please contact Drs. Panayiota Kendeou (kend0040@umn.edu) and Caitlin Mills (cmills@umn.edu). For questions about the application process please contact epsy-hr@umn.edu.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.
Employment Requirements
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
Apply on Institution’s Website
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