Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy has three open positions for
Postdoctoral Fellows, starting July 1, 2015.
Position 1: Research Use in Schools and School Districts
We seek a postdoctoral fellow to work on the IES-funded National Center for Research in Policy
and Practice. This one-year position begins July 1, 2015 and has the possibility of extension into
a second year. We seek applicants with a strong training in qualitative or mixed-methods
research, and expertise in one or more of the following: the relationship between research and
practice, district decision making, organizational theory, policymaking, school leadership, or
implementation of Common Core Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts.
The postdoctoral fellow will participate in a two-year mixed-methods study of the factors that
enable and constrain research use in four urban school districts. The study, led by Cynthia
Coburn and Jim Spillane, involves an interdisciplinary team from Northwestern University,
Harvard University, and University of Colorado-Boulder. The postdoctoral fellow will
participate in all phases of the project including: developing instruments; data collection; data
analysis, and the publication of results. The principal investigators will encourage the
postdoctoral scholar to develop publications that build on her or his emerging research agenda.
The postdoctoral scholar must be able and willing to travel to research sites; work both
individually and as part of a multi-campus team; and provide supervision to undergraduate and
graduate research assistants.
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have an earned doctorate in education, sociology, political science, public
policy, or related field. The position carries a competitive salary plus health insurance coverage
and has the possibility of renewal, conditional upon performance and available funding. Review
of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Northwestern University is located in an attractive lakefront community adjacent to Chicago. Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire.
To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, and two representative publications to: Natalie Talbert,
Natalie.talbert@northwestern.edu. Please put: “NCRPP Postdoc” in the subject line. For
questions, please contact Cynthia Coburn at Cynthia.coburn@northwestern.edu.
Positions 2 and 3: Early Childhood Mathematics Policy
We seek two Postdoctoral Fellows to participate in an innovative study of districts’ efforts to
create greater alignment preschool through grade 3 in mathematics. The multi-level, longitudinal
study investigates the relationship between district policy efforts and students’ experiences,
learning opportunities, and mathematics learning. The study is being carried out under the
auspices of the DREME Network (Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education),
an interdisciplinary network of scholars dedicated to conducting innovative research and
development on early childhood mathematics funded by the Heising-Simons Foundation.1 This
study is a collaboration of scholars from Northwestern University, UCLA, University of Denver,
and Vanderbilt University.
Both positions begin July 1, 2015 and have the possibility of extension into a second year,
pending funding. We seek applicants with strong training in qualitative research methods and
expertise in one or more of the following: mathematics education in K-12 or early childhood
settings, professional development, instructional policy, and/or policy implementation. The
postdoctoral fellow will participate in all phases of the project including: developing instruments;
data collection; data analysis, and the publication of results. The principal investigators will
encourage the postdoctoral scholar to develop publications that build on his or her emerging
research agenda. The postdoctoral scholar must be able and willing to travel to research sites;
work both individually and as part of a multi-campus team; and provide supervision to
undergraduate and graduate research assistants.
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have an earned doctorate in education, developmental psychology, sociology,
public policy, or related field. The position carries a competitive salary plus health insurance
coverage and has the possibility of renewal, conditional upon performance and available funding.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.
Northwestern University is located in an attractive lakefront community adjacent to Chicago. Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire.
To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, and two representative publications to: Natalie Talbert,
Natalie.talbert@northwestern.edu. Please put: “DREME Network Postdoc” in the subject line.
For questions, please contact Cynthia Coburn at Cynthia.coburn@northwestern.edu.
1 Members of the DREME Network include: Deborah Stipek, Stanford University (Director);
Amy Claessens, University of Chicago; Doug Clements, University of Denver; Cynthia Coburn,
Northwestern University; Eric Dearing, Boston College; Dale Farran, Vanderbilt University;
Megan Franke, UCLA; Herb Ginsburg, Columbia University Teachers College; Susan Levine,
University of Chicago; Michele Mazzocco, University of Minnesota; Deborah Phillips,
Georgetown University