Department of Communication

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Cornell University Ithaca, NY

Postdoctoral Associate position

SUMMARY:

The Cornell Social Media Lab https://socialmedialab.cornell.edu/ in the Department of Communication at Cornell University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Associate to participate in inter-university research at the intersection of instructional design, human-computer interaction, and educational technology. The postdoc will work on the development of technologies and content for educational interventions as a part of the Social Media TestDrive project https://socialmediatestdrive.org/, an interactive digital citizenship education tool developed in collaboration with Common Sense Education https://www.commonsense.org/education/. As we seek to expand the Social Media TestDrive program to new populations, such as youth from low-income households and older adults, we are especially interested in someone who has interest and experience designing inclusive technologies and educational interventions for diverse populations of learners. This position is a 1-year, full-time academic position beginning August 1, 2020 and renewable for a 2nd year contingent on available work, funding and performance. The Postdoctoral Associate will be part of an interdisciplinary project team of researchers and students in the Cornell Social Media Lab, the Cornell Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Information Science, Lehigh University College of Engineering and Applied Science, and external partners (e.g., Common Sense Education, New York State 4-H) who are working to advance social media literacy and digital education among youth. The ideal candidate will be proactive, resourceful, highly engaged, and passionate about digital learning and social media literacy. The Postdoctoral Associate will be based in the Cornell Social Media Lab and will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and a collaborative community of scholars interested in social behaviors and information and communication technologies.

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY:

The Postdoctoral Associate will take a lead role in developing technologies and educational content for and conducting research studies on Social Media TestDrive. The Postdoctoral Associate will coordinate and carry out the proposed user experience, instructional design, and evaluation research, as well as analyze the data to prepare written reports for publication in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals. The Postdoctoral Associate will also mentor graduate and undergraduate students and take an active role in writing grant proposals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and development of digitally mediated educational interventions (30%) 

•  Design and help develop systems for digital literacy educational interventions.
•  Design and help develop new features to enhance the Social Media TestDrive platform.
•  Develop digital literacy education content for new Social Media TestDrive modules and versions of existing modules for targeted populations.

Conducting research studies (30%) 

• Establish goals and benchmarks for an outcome evaluation of Social Media TestDrive.
• Conduct a multi-site outcome evaluation of the Social Media TestDrive platform, using surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews. 
• Conduct exploratory studies to assess digital literacy education needs of diverse populations, such as youth from low-income households and older adults.

Writing, publishing, and presenting research findings (20%) 

• Analyze data and write research papers for publication.
• Present results of research at academic conferences.
• Facilitate workshops, webinars, talks, and other outreach activities to promote Social Media TestDrive and digital citizenship education.

Project management (20%) 

• Manage partnerships and collaborations (e.g., funders, educational partners, users, other outreach and education groups) to improve and promote Social Media TestDrive. 
• Help coordinate project members and tasks across the different sites and universities.
• Help identify grant funding opportunities and assist in preparing grant proposals and reports for submission.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Ph.D. in communication, information science, or related fields (e.g., psychology, human development, education, computer science, etc.) is required.
• Research experience in instructional design, digital literacy, or educational technology is required. 
• A strong background in quantitative and qualitative research, including methods of analysis and statistics is required. 
• Interest and experience designing inclusive technologies and educational interventions for diverse populations is required.
• Enthusiasm for, and ideally experience with, working in interdisciplinary teams with managerial responsibilities is desired.
• Technical skills and experience in building web and/or smartphone-based applications are desired.

Application: All components of the application must be submitted through this application portal: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/16313.

For questions, contact Dr. Natalie Bazarova at nnb8@cornell.edu. We will begin reviewing applications on May 25, 2020 and will continue reviewing until the position is filled. Application Materials Required: cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, contact information for three reference, and statement of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

Employment Assistance: If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at owdi@cornell.edu. For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting. Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application. Notice to Applicants: Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant. EEO Statement: Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.