Postdoctoral Fellow in Child Development and Learning Sciences

University of Notre Dame, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Notre Dame, INDIANA
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 13 Apr 2025

Position Information


Job Title Postdoctoral Fellow in Child Development and Learning Sciences
Job Description
Position Introduction
The University of Notre Dame’s Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child is looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Fellow in Child Development and Learning Sciences. The position offers a qualified candidate the opportunity to join a vibrant global community of applied researchers with a strong record of publication and policy impact. The Fellow will support empirical research to inform practice and policy advancement with an aim to publish in high-quality academic journals and disseminate findings in practitioner and academic forums. In particular, the candidate will support early childhood development and school readiness initiatives in local, national, and international contexts, providing training and mentorship to ensure our field teams and operational partners play an active role in research design, analysis, and dissemination activities. The Fellow will also be expected to analyze and publish existing data from the GC-DWC implementation science programs in Latin America/Caribbean, South Asia, and Africa.
The position is open to a candidate who has recently earned a doctorate in Child Development, Psychology, Learning Sciences, or another social science discipline relevant to child development and learning. Command of applied and mixed methods research methods is expected, as are strong written and verbal communication skills. The Fellow will be someone who pays attention to details, values rigor, and contributes positively to improvement science initiatives.
Responsibilities
The Fellow will be supervised by Dr. Neil Boothby, Professor and the GC-DWC’s Faculty Director, and work closely with Kate Schuenke Lucien, the GC-DWC’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, other research faculty, and field-based teams. Responsibilities will include:
  • Support research to action projects focused on questions related to promotion of early child development and school readiness in local, national, and international settings.
  • Undertake relevant literature reviews and meta-analyses on child development, learning science, and system strengthening in fragile countries and contexts.
  • Support teams working on qualitative data analysis and writing up results.
  • Provide training, support, and mentorship to ensure partners can play an integral part in study design, data analysis, and dissemination.
  • Contribute to high quality, peer-reviewed journal publications.
  • Contribute to the development and teaching of a UND course on early child development and poverty alleviation or implementation science with direct mentorship of UND students (optional).


Please submit with your application:

  • A 1-page cover letter that explains your interest in the position and outlines your relevant skills and experience.
  • A Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
  • A recent publication or dissertation chapter (upload this as ‘other’ in the documents section).
    		•
    Minimum Qualifications
    Requirements
    • Doctorate in Child Development, Psychology, Learning Sciences, or another social science discipline.
    • Strong preparation in quantitative data analysis with experience working with statistical software (Stata preferred) and digital data collection (e.g.; ODK, Kobo Toolbox, XLS forms) as well as experience with qualitative and mixed methods approaches.
    • Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and effectively communicate complex information.
    • Strong technical knowledge in evaluation design (including experimental, quasi-experimental, and mixed-methods).
    • Demonstrated ability to be self-organized, take initiative, provide creative ideas and solutions, and navigate complex situations.
    • Keen attention to detail with the ability to multitask and keep track of multiple deadlines.
    • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain professional/organizational relationships with relevant external and internal entities.
    Preferred Qualifications
    Special Instructions to Applicants
    Please submit with your application:
  • A 1-page cover letter that explains your interest in the position and outlines your relevant skills and experience.
  • A Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
  • A recent publication or dissertation chapter (upload this as ‘other’ in the documents section).
    		•
    Department Inst for Educational Initiatives (28025)
    Department Website https://iei.nd.edu/gc-dwc
    Family / Sub-Family Research / Research - Social/Behavioral
    Career Stream/Level Other
    Department Hiring Pay Range $60,000 - $70,000
    Pay ID Bi-Weekly
    FLSA Status P1 - Postdoc
    Job Category Other
    Job Type Full-time
    Schedule: Days of Week & Hours
    This position will be based at the University of Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana. The Fellow may be expected to travel to national and international work sites several weeks per year. This is a full time, paid 12-month position, with an option to renew for a second year. The preferred start date is August 2025. The hiring committee will begin reviewing applicants March 1, 2025, and will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
    Schedule: Hours/Week 40
    Schedule: # of months 12


    Posting Detail Information


    Job Posting Date (Campus) 01/09/2025
    Job Posting Date (Public) 01/09/2025
    Job Closing Date 04/13/2025
    Posting Type
    Posting Number S251691
    Quick Link for Internal Postings https://jobs.nd.edu/postings/36783

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