Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

College of Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Great Minds Think Illinois

The College of Education’s mission extends far beyond the classroom: we aim to impact people's lives locally, nationally, and globally. Our world-class faculty and students lead scholarship on critical issues in education and are committed to innovation and discovery. As a top-ranked institution, we develop and apply new pedagogies and practices that improve understanding—supporting traditional, blended, and online learning. The Education at Illinois community shares the ideals of respect for diverse ideas and social identities; dedication to community engagement; and the responsibility to make scholarship accessible and inclusive for all.

Position:  The Department of Curriculum & Instruction is seeking a full-time, twelve-month, Postdoctoral Research Associate.  This is a one-year appointment, initially, with the possibility of a second year based upon funding, successful research progress, and mutual agreement.  Fully remote work may be possible for this position per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy. 

Position Description:  The postdoctoral scholar will join a research team led by Dr. Miray Tekkumru-Kisa to contribute to a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project that seeks to understand how a large, urban school district implements a video-based professional learning program that uses performance assessments as a lever for instructional improvement by eliciting, centering, and advancing students’ thinking in middle school science classrooms. This research-practice partnership project brings together a team of researchers from Northwestern University and SCALE Science at WestEd, with partners from a California school district. 

This position provides an exciting opportunity to be involved with a multi-institution team working towards promoting science teachers’ learning to develop ambitious teaching practices. Given the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of this project, the postdoctoral researcher will have abundant experiences to collaborate on the writing of conference papers and manuscripts for journals that target different audiences such as learning scientists, science educators, and teachers, and different focus areas such as classroom-based assessments, teacher learning, and ambitious science teaching.

The successful applicant will play a key role in project management, implementation, and dissemination in this project that employs design-based implementation research approach. Duties include coordinating project activities, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, implementing professional development, presenting project findings at regional, national, and international meetings, and writing manuscripts for publications.

Required Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in Learning Sciences, Science Education or a related field.  Individuals working toward the required degree may be considered, but the degree must be obtained by the starting date. 
• Demonstrated ability to successfully publish and present peer-reviewed scientific articles.    
• Strong ability to communicate effectively and conduct research in interdisciplinary teams. 
• Experience with collecting and/or analyzing interview data, classroom instruction data, and survey data.
• Studying teacher learning, science assessment, and/or science instruction.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with facilitating practice-based professional development.
• Teaching and research experiences in K-12 schools.

Salary and Starting Date:  The budgeted salary range for this position is $63,000 on a twelve-month service basis. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The proposed start date is 8/16/2026, or soon thereafter.  Fully remote work may be possible for this position per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy.  This position may require travel for data collection purposes.  This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee. 

Application Procedures:  For full consideration, all applications must be received by May 15, 2026, at 5:59 p.m. CST.  Please create a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload one pdf file that contains (in this order) a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, names and contact information for three references, and one or two representative publications by the closing date. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled; applications received by the closing date (5/15/26) will receive full consideration.  Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date, however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date.  For any questions related to the position, please contact Dr. Miray Tekkumru-Kisa [email protected].  For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137 or [email protected]. 

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

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The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [email protected].

Requisition ID: XXXXXX
Job Category: Postdoctoral
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu