Job Title

Biology Education Research, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Department

Biology

University Expectation

MTSU seeks candidates committed to innovative teaching and meaningful service. We also seek to attract culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with diverse students.

Salary

$60,000

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Department of Biology at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) invites applicants for a full-time, post-doctoral research fellow position (K29010) for the Barnes Social Perceptions of Science Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. M. Elizabeth Barnes. This is a one-year temporary appointment. The contract may be renewed annually based on available funding, demonstrated need, and satisfactory performance as assessed by annual evaluations. The start date for the appointment could be as early as September 1, 2025.

The post-doctoral research fellow will contribute to projects informing the creation of an instructional framework for science communication education in undergraduate biology courses as part of an NSF CAREER award. To learn more, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2238174&HistoricalAwards=false. The successful candidate will be involved in every stage of the research, including study design, collecting and analyzing data, disseminating results, and mentoring junior researchers working on the project, including PhD students in MTSU’s vibrant Math and Science Education Ph.D. program These duties will prepare the post-doctoral research fellow to run their own subsequent research team by providing experience in team building and project management needed to be successful in a tenure-track or other managerial position. The ideal candidate for the post-doctoral research fellow will possess the following:

• record of published research in biology, education, or psychology.
• familiarity with foundational literature in biology education research.
• basic proficiency in quantitative and qualitative analyses in education research.
• a desire to grow knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analyses in education research.
• experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate researchers.
• excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

Please note that although we will begin reviewing applicants on August 1, the position will remain open until filled. Since the successful candidate will be required to reside in the state of Tennessee, remote work will not be allowed.

Required Education

A PhD in biology, education, psychology, or a closely related field is required by the appointment date.

Documents Needed to Apply

Applicants must submit the following documents as separate attachments:

1. Cover Letter (1–2 pages): Describe your qualifications and interest in the position.
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Research Statement (2–3 pages): Summarize your past research, its significance, and your research interests, particularly as related to this position and science communication in undergraduate biology education.

Special Instruction to Applicants 

For more information about the Middle Tennessee area, please visit our faculty recruitment webpage.

For application support, please contact Mitzi Dunkley, Faculty Recruitment Specialist, at (615) 898-5128. For position-specific inquiries, please contact Liz Barnes at Liz.Barnes@mtsu.edu.

Application Review Date: 08/01/2025