The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University invites applications for two tenure track positions at the Assistant Professor level to join the internationally recognized Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences (ITLS). We seek applicants whose work is interdisciplinary and lies at the intersection of the Learning Sciences and Instructional Technology. Our faculty has a strong record of engaging in research that addresses disparities in education, learning, health, and/or wellness, including design and research that strives to see people as individuals with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We seek applicants whose research centers these topics and who are interested in collaborating with existing faculty to address pressing issues in learning, education, health, and/or wellness. We specifically encourage applications from individuals who bring scholarly and applied expertise in areas including the following (in no particular order): emerging technologies (e.g., AI, XR), learning across contexts or spaces, language and literacies, and/or design approaches to research and practice.

Successful candidates will, by the time of appointment, have (1) a doctorate in Learning Sciences, Instructional Technology, Information Sciences, Educational Psychology, or other closely related fields and (2) have demonstrated excellence or the potential for future excellence in research and teaching. Located on the main campus in Logan, Utah, these are 1 FTE, 9-month academic year positions. The role assignment for these positions is 50% research, 40% teaching, and 10% service.

The successful candidate is expected to develop a cutting-edge research program, supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and teach graduate and undergraduate courses delivered face-to-face, broadcast, and online. Candidates will have expertise in relevant theories, technologies, or methods and be prepared to teach existing course offerings in the department. The successful candidate will also propose innovative new courses that will serve the needs of our student population at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Successful candidates will be receptive to opportunities for collaboration within the department, college, or university. Note: For reference, department curriculum is available on our website and current teaching needs are listed here.

The anticipated start date for this position is August 2025.

Priority Application Deadline: September 16, 2024

To be given full consideration, candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by September 16, 2024. Applicants who submit their materials after this deadline may still be considered but should be aware that their applications may not receive the same priority.

Inquiries may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Breanne Litts (435-200-1718; breanne.litts@usu.edu)

• Participate in research, publication, grant writing, and other scholarly activities.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of learning sciences and/or instructional technologies, including research methods.
• Serve on graduate student committees and advise graduate students.
• Engage with undergraduate students such as a research mentor or teaching fellow.
• Provide service to the department, college, university, profession, and community.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate in Instructional Technology, Learning Sciences, Information Science, Educational Psychology, or a closely related field before starting appointment. ABD will be considered
• Potential to conduct and disseminate high-quality research
• Potential to teach and mentor at the collegiate level
• Potential to write successful funding proposals to support scholarly activities

Preferred Qualifications:

• National reputation
• Established record of conducting and disseminating high-quality research
• Grant or contract proposal writing experience
• Experience designing and developing educational materials, tools, or programs
• Teaching experience at the collegiate level, particularly in online courses
• Experience in teaching beginning and advanced quantitative analyses classes. College method courses are listed here.
• Expertise in multimedia design and game design
• Expertise in design and development such as project management, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI)

Along with the online application, please attach:

• A curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
• A cover letter (2 pages) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10". The cover letter should describe:
  • areas of synergy or opportunities for expansion you see between your current and future research and research in ITLS or at USU broadly
  • areas of synergy or opportunities for expansion you see between your teaching experience and expertise and teaching needs or opportunities in ITLS
• Contact information for three professional references to be provided in the Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

The Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences department is composed of fifteen faculty with specializations in several areas including gaming, STEM education, assessment, the maker movement, mobile technologies, simulation, cognitive science, computer science education, digital libraries, learning analytics, and computational thinking. The department offers Ph.D. and Master’s degrees along with endorsements in School Library Media Administration and Adult Learning. The department also offers an undergraduate degree in Human Experience Design and Interaction, with emphases in game studies, esports, and multimedia development, as well as an undergraduate Multimedia Development Minor. The department was recently ranked 3rd in the nation among all online graduate education programs and ranked 1st in our field by US News and World Reports. Faculty have received national awards for teaching, research, and service, and serve in a variety of leadership positions in professional and scholarly organizations. The ITLS department has a strong track record of procuring research funding from the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and other funding organizations. 

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is committed to inclusive excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields.  The college is home to eight academic departments with approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-quality graduate and undergraduate education. The college’s programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus Edith Bowen Laboratory elementary school and five stand-alone centers, including the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center, Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice, and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to both provide opportunities for community-engaged research and learning and enhance the quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023