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Postdoctoral Scholar, Developmental Psychology

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Position overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar, Developmental Psychology
Salary range: $56,712 – $60,780, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Minimum annual salary rates are made based on the individual’s Experience Level, which is determined by the number of months of postdoctoral service at any institution. See current salary scale for Postdoctoral Titles at https://apo.ucsc.edu/compensation/salary-scales/index.html
Percent time: Full-time (100%).
Anticipated start: September 1, 2021. Ph.D. must be in hand at time of the initial appointment.
Position duration: Postdoctoral Scholar appointments are full-time; the initial appointment is for a minimum of one year, with the possibility of reappointment. Reappointment will be contingent upon positive performance review and availability of funding. The total duration of an individual’s postdoctoral service may not exceed five years, including postdoctoral service at any institution. Under limited circumstances, an exception to this limit may be considered, not to exceed a sixth year.

Position description

The Department of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the position of Postdoctoral Scholar in Developmental Psychology, under the direction of Professor Maureen Callanan. The Postdoctoral Scholar will contribute to an NSF funded collaborative project called “Ciencia en Relatos: Latine Families’ Talk about Science in Stories with Young Children.” The overarching goal of the project is to identify cultural strengths that support early science learning opportunities among Spanish-speaking children from immigrant Latin American communities, a population that is traditionally underrepresented in STEM educational and career pursuits. Building on a growing interest in the ways stories can promote early engagement in and understanding of science, the project will investigate the role of oral and written stories as culturally relevant and potentially powerful tools for making scientific ideas and inquiry practices meaningful and accessible for young Latine/x children. Findings will reveal ways that family storytelling practices can provide accessible entry points for Latine/x children’s early science learning, and recommend methods that parents and educators can use to foster learning about scientific practices, and increase interest and participation in STEM fields. The Postdoctoral Scholar will participate in all aspects of research management, development, and implementation of the three-year project. They will supervise undergraduate researchers and serve as the main liaison with caregivers, teachers, and staff at our partnering preschools, museums, and family resource centers. They will engage in data collection, video coding, data analysis, and writing papers for publication. The project is a collaborative effort with Dr. Gigliana Melzi from New York University and Dr. Catherine Haden from Loyola University, Chicago. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work closely with the local PI, Dr. Callanan, and will collaborate closely with postdocs, students, and faculty researchers from the two partnering institutions, as well as those at UCSC. We are seeking applicants with a completed doctoral degree in psychology, education, or a related field, with research interests in child development and/or early STEM development. Experience conducting research in partnerships with Spanish-speaking immigrant communities, as well as quantitative and qualitative data analysis expertise are strongly preferred. Given the focus on Latine/x communities, the successful candidate must be a fluent Spanish speaker with experience transcribing and translating Spanish and English.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in Developmental Psychology, Education, or a related field.
  • Experience conducting research with young children and/or families.

POSITION AVAILABLE
September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024. Ph.D. must be in hand at time of the initial appointment.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
All documents and materials must be submitted as PDFs and should be forwarded to Dr. Maureen Callanan, callanan@ucsc.edu.

Documents/Materials

  • Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position (required).
  • Curriculum vitae (required).
  • Preprints/reprints of papers or publications (one is required and a maximum of three will be accepted) .
  • Professional/academic letters of recommendation (two are required and a maximum of three will be accepted).

Full consideration will be given to applications completed by August 1, 2021. Applications received after this date will be considered only if the position has not been filled.

Psychology Department: https://psychology.ucsc.edu

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

See position description.

Help contact: callanan@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify). The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html).

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz: https://www.ucsc.edu

Job location

Santa Cruz, California