The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services (CEHS) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellow with interest and expertise contributing to research, scholarship, and pedagogy focused on access and accessibility in STEM (broadly defined). The fellowship, supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) institutional postdoctoral training grant, will provide 18 to 24 months of mentored training focused on enhancing access and accessibility to STEM across multiple disciplines. Critically, upon completion of the fellowship period with adequate performance (evaluated multiple times per year using a 360-degree review procedure), the fellow will receive an offer to become a tenure-track assistant professor within the college.  

The postdoctoral training period will provide scaffolded research opportunities with a primary and secondary mentor across two departments in the college. Participating departments in this program include: Human Development & Family Studies, Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences, Kinesiology & Health Science, Psychology, the School of Teacher Education & Leadership, and Speech & Hearing Sciences. Examples of existing projects and potential mentors within these departments can be found here (https://cehs.usu.edu/faculty-employment). In addition to collaborative work, the fellow will receive professional development funds each year to support their own independent line of research and travel to attend professional conferences.    

Responsibilities include engagement in ongoing projects, development of new research projects, manuscript preparation, conference presentations, project management, grant proposal training and submission, and instruction of at least one course across the 18 to 24 month training period. Importantly, training for all responsibilities will be explicitly provided as a part of the fellowship curriculum.

Per NSF regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident.

Compensation:

• $70,000 (firm) per year during the postdoctoral fellow period

Timeline:

• Fellowship will start no later than January 1, 2026; earlier start dates are available and preferred

• Pending adequate performance in the postdoctoral fellow role, faculty position will begin August 1, 2027

Questions about the positions can be directed to Drs. David Feldon (david.feldon@usu.edu), Professor of Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences and Associate Vice Provost of the School of Graduate Studies, and Shawn Whiteman (shawn.whiteman@usu.edu), Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Interim Dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.

• Engagement in ongoing research projects, including data analysis and manuscript writing
• Development of an independent research program focused on access and accessibility in STEM
• Completion of training in grant writing and subsequently submit an extramural proposal
• Work as a part of a collaborative team
• Mentorship of graduate and undergraduate research assistants
• Effective communication with fellowship training mentors
• Instruct at least one undergraduate or graduate course in primary discipline

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in Communication Disorders, Education, Human Development/Family Science, Kinesiology, Learning Sciences, Psychology, or related field by the time of the appointment and no more than 24 months prior to the appointment
• Research agenda related to STEM access and accessibility with relevance to at least two departments within the USU Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
• Demonstrated productivity in terms of published peer reviewed journal articles and/or scientific conference presentations focused on access and accessibility in STEM
• Ability to work in a team environment and to work without direct supervision
• Commitment to a research career in an academic research setting
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced methodological training or proficiency (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies)

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Curriculum Vita (including items in preparation) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV” 
2. Cover letter (maximum length: 3 pages) that describes your research agenda (including delineating your focus on access and accessibility in STEM) and interest in the position, clearly identifying two potential mentors from different departments (designate one mentor/department as the preferred primary mentor/academic home; see the website listed above) and describing how both will support and advance your research goals to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under Documents 1-10
3. Up to two scholarly writing samples (published or unpublished manuscripts; we recommend candidates submit the research they are most proud of, regardless of journal or publication status) to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under Documents 1-10
4. Names and contact information of three references who will be contacted at a later point in the review process to be entered into the Candidate Profile

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

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & 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 elementary laboratory 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. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. 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.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. 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. 

*updated 02/2025

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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:

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

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 06/2025