Science Teaching and Learning Postdoctoral Fellow

Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title
Science Teaching and Learning Postdoctoral Fellow

Department
Faculty | Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences | Faculty of Science (Philippe Tortell)

Posting End Date
April 20, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date
Apr 30, 2025

The starting salary for this position, located in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, is $62,700 / year for .75FTE, based on available funding.

Science Teaching and Learning Fellowship Opportunity:

UBC Environmental Science

In partnership, the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) are seeking a Science Teaching and Learning Postdoctoral Fellow (STLF) to support a grant-funded project to renew and expand the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Sciences (ENSC) with an aim to:

●     Centre climate change and its intersections with other environmental and equity concerns

●     Highlight data analysis, computational, and problem-solving skills

●     Add opportunities to work across different knowledge systems including Indigenous knowledge systems

●     Make connections to complementary fields of study (policy, law, engineering etc.)

●    Offer students opportunities to develop a personal professional identity by creating connections with professionals from diverse and allied disciplines involved with the environmental sector.

The renewal will include evaluation and (re)design of pedagogy in both existing and new courses.  Pedagogies will need to address the aims above, support student well-being, and accommodate large class sizes.  There may be opportunities for the incumbent to teach up to two environmental science courses with a separate postdoctoral teaching fellow appointment.

Under the supervision of Professor, Milind Kandlikar, the STLF will collaborate with the program renewal team, including Professor of Teaching, Tara Ivanochko, the Director of the Environmental Science Program and:

• Conduct desktop research into best practices in pedagogical design in environmental science and make evidence-based recommendations to the committee concerning teaching and learning materials, practices etc.
• Assess various pedagogical and assessment options to address the aims of the renewal, support student well-being, and accommodate large class sizes
• Make recommendations for pedagogical and assessment practices for existing and new courses based on the principles above and specifics of each course's content and contexts
• In consultation with the committee, develop and propose options for the evaluation of new courses
• Develop and facilitate a community of practice in support of instructors and graduate teaching assistants renewing existing and developing new environmental science courses.
• Foster collaborations and relationships with UBC colleagues (i.e. Xwi7xwa Library, EaSEIL....) and community partners.

Qualifications

A PhD is required in at least one of the following: environmental science, environmental studies, science education, curriculum development, pedagogy, or a related field. Desired experience includes managing and collaborating on scholarly projects, developing pedagogical resources and participating in teaching delivery.

The successful applicant will have an interest in developing:

• Excellent project management skills including the ability to:
  • coordinate a complex project with multiple concurrent tasks
  • plan and facilitate workshops
  • address challenges that arise and effectively resolve them in a timely manner;
• Strong communication skills including the ability to:
  • be thorough, accurate, and pay attention to detail;
  • listen actively and attentively, and obtain clarification as required;
  • compose clear concise correspondence, project updates, lesson plans, presentations, and other written materials;
  • create and distribute meeting minutes and action items,
• The ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships one on one and in groups;
• The ability to interact with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, respectful and effective manner.
• Educational resources, activities and assessments

This is a one-year position with the possibility to renew for an additional two years.

For further information or questions regarding this position please contact: [email protected]

Review of applications will begin on March 25th and continue until the position is filled. For more information about the existing environmental science specialization, please visit:

https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/undergrad/degrees/environmental-sciences

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.