Careers at Virginia Tech

We are pleased to announce a new Postdoctoral Associate position starting Spring 2025 working with directly with Dr. Marc Stern and Dr. Kelley Anderson at Virginia Tech (and in collaboration with Dr. Bob Powell at Clemson University). With funding from the National Park Service (NPS), the National Science Foundation, and other sources, the postdoctoral associate will help to coordinate evidence-based learning networks of NPS units and other educational organizations to (1) direct data collection and conduct research on their programs and operations and (2) provide trainings based on evidence to improve their management and service delivery. The postdoctoral associate will also participate in other ongoing studies and proposal-writing activities focused on human behavior within the realms of environmental education, interpretation, communications, and management. Opportunities for teaching are available if the postdoctoral associate is interested, particularly in Environmental Education.

• PhD in a social science discipline relevant to environmental education; interpretation; evaluation; environmental conservation; park management; or other relevant human dimensions aspects of environmental communications or natural resource management.
• PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong quantitative analysis skills with experience in statistical software programs, such as SPSS, STATA, or R
• Ability to work in a team environment toward the achievement of common goals
• Experience in database management
• Experience in project management
• Demonstrated experience publishing peer‐reviewed social science articles

• Experience or expertise in interpretation and/or environmental education
• Experience or knowledge of the management of the United States National Park Service
• Experience collaborating on larger research projects with an ability to manage others, including graduate students
• Experience with multilevel modeling and other advanced statistical procedures
• Willingness to travel domestically for up to four weeks at a time
• Relevant experience and willingness to teach an undergraduate course in environmental education.

Restricted

$60,000 - $64,000

February 10, 2025

All inquiries should be directed to Dr. Marc Stern at mjstern@vt.edu.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.