Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate

The Iovine and Young Academy (IYA) for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation at the University of Southern California invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral position in learning and sociotechnical innovation to begin in the Fall 2024 semester. As part of a larger grant initiative, we seek a postdoc (12-month term, with an opportunity for a second-year renewal) who will advance the efforts to discover and deliver innovative learning processes and experiences, design innovative sociotechnical environments, and outcomes.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree, as well as a record of research experience, in one or more of the following or a related field: information science, learning sciences, education, management, communication, sociology, policy, domain related pedagogy education (e.g. engineering education) or related sub-fields.

Qualifications

Candidates with expertise and interests in the following areas will be given priority (with willingness to bring in and delve into diverse/new bodies of literature): collaboration, learning innovation, sociotechnical systems and design, interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary/metadisciplinary learning, future of work, educational technologies, ethics, sociocultural learning theories and applications, as well as integrated and inclusive design/pedagogy.

Candidates should possess strong writing skills and demonstrated skills related to conducting hybrid/mixed research methods relevant to studying learning, design, and innovation processes, or for conducting sociotechnical or user research. We particularly encourage candidates with methodological expertise in qualitative methods including case/field/user studies, interview, focus group, observations, and ethnography, and other mixed methods involving surveys and experimental studies to apply.

Preference will be given to candidates who can show evidence of participation or leadership published and/or funded research. An ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and teams in a collaborative, inclusive, and multidisciplinary environment is essential, as is demonstrated experience. An ideal candidate is one with interests in practical, impactful research, pushing the boundaries of their research areas, seeking an environment that encourages bold ideas and interdisciplinary projects, and looking for a place where collaboration and creativity flourish.

Responsibilities

The position focuses on applied research in learning and innovation emerging at IYA and beyond, focusing on the intersection of technology, arts and design, and business of innovation. Settings to examine related phenomena include college, professional settings, high school or after-school, and other informal settings.

A key goal is to design, analyze, codify and assess components related to the groundbreaking IYA learning framework such as courses, pedagogy and curriculum, learning culture/environment, innovative spaces and sociotechnical environments, industry/community collaborations. Research will lead to publication(s), and wide dissemination and potential scaling of the framework, including in secondary education in close collaboration with the Iovine and Young affiliated high school (Iovine and Young Center) and local educational centers in Los Angeles. Primary duties of the position include:

● Collaborative support and co-design of research in partnership with a team of IYA faculty, examining learning and innovation process within and outside IYA curriculum

● Participation in data collection, analysis, and assessment/documentation activities examining the application/adoption of the IYA learning framework in various educational or professional contexts

● Sharing research findings and best practices within IYA as well as with industry and academic partners and collaborators

● Translating and compiling research findings to create a tool kit to be shared with grant funders, practitioners and public audience

The appointee will work closely on this research with the Research Director (PI), IYA faculty, students, industry/community partners and local practitioners and secondary education teachers. There may be additional opportunities to engage in grant seeking activities.

The annual base salary range for this position is $66,737 - $70,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The USC Iovine and Young Academy is especially interested in candidates whose backgrounds and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the engagement, teaching, and inclusion of diverse audiences.

About the USC Iovine and Young Academy

USC Iovine and Young Academy students develop expertise at the intersection of design, technology, business and communication along with competencies in each of these areas. Academy graduates can integrate divergent ideas to develop new ways of working, learning, collaborating in key emerging specializations of the 21st century – design strategy, product innovation, integrated business innovation, extended reality, physical computing, health innovation and participatory wellness, purpose-driven innovation and entrepreneurship. Academy students and graduates regularly receive offers for top internships and jobs from

leading companies such as Apple, Google, Intel, Adidas, Sony, Spotify, Khan Academy, Tesla, Facebook, and Ernst and Young, and student startups have garnered more than $150M in funding and acquisition payouts since the school’s opening in 2014.

The Academy is proud of our efforts to foster an accessible, inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning community. As a school, it is our express purpose to reinvent undergraduate and graduate education, specifically to meet the changing needs of our students and, through their abilities, society. Through these new models for education, we are intent on providing greater access for students from diverse backgrounds, and especially those who exhibit talents, traits and attributes different from those traditionally sought by higher education programs.

About the University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC's diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments. USC strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity employment. Women and men, and members of all racial and ethnic groups, are encouraged to apply.

Instructions to the applicant:

This is a 12-month position, with the possibility of renewal for a total of two years. Application review will begin on April 15th, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. The position is available for an August 15th, 2024 start (earlier start date can be negotiated).

All Application materials should be uploaded through the USC Careers site and should include the following materials

- a cover letter demonstrating the candidate’s fit for the position, highlighting relevant background and accomplishments

- an updated CV

- up to two writing samples that best represent your expertise and methodological experiences (first-authored work preferred)

- names and contact information of three references

- teaching statement (optional)

- a transcript of graduate work (unofficial is acceptable) (optional)

For questions related to the research initiative or the position, please contact Research Professor of Technology, Innovation and Learning, SeoYoon Sung, Ph.D. at [email protected] .

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Minimum Education: Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree