Assistant/Associate Professor of Science Education - University of Florida

AST/ASO PROF

The University of Florida invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position within the Science Education program area in the School of Teaching and Learning.  The successful applicant is expected to maintain a robust line of research, teach and advise master’s and doctoral students, and contribute to a nationally recognized and growing graduate program.

We seek candidates focused on issues of national and international importance in the context of science education as practiced in either formal or informal spaces, including those focused on one or more of the following areas:

• Innovative models and approaches to teaching and learning in K-5, including applications of engineering and computational thinking
• Advancing applications of technology, including artificial intelligence and game-based approaches for promoting teaching, learning, and research
• Learning environments, teacher-student and student-student interactions, including sociocultural perspectives
• Professional or workforce development, including forms of knowledge and relations to programs, policies, and issues of educational significance or
• Public participation in science, socioscientific issues, sustainability, and sustainable development.

The successful applicant for the tenure-track position is expected to maintain a systematic research program, seek external research funding, contribute to the instruction of graduate students, and recruit and mentor doctoral students. This 9-month faculty appointment will begin in August 2025 and includes the possibility of summer employment. Salary is negotiable, competitive, and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct scholarly activities commensurate with the expectations of a tenure-track faculty member at a top-10 public research institution and member of the AAU
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary faculty, students, and other stakeholders
• Maintain and develop new partnerships for innovative degree programs focused on education in fields such as medicine, engineering, and the sciences
• Vigorously pursue external funding to enhance research activities
• Publish in significant, high-impact refereed journals
• Advise, mentor, and engage graduate students in research
• Teach courses (face-to-face, blended, and/or online)
• Provide service to the program, school, college, university, and profession

ABOUT THE COLLEGE: The College of Education at the University of Florida, founded in 1906, has consistently been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation in Online Graduate Education for the last nine years, No. 2 nationally for undergraduate education and 8th nationally among public graduate colleges of education (U.S. News & World Report). Four of the College's academic programs occupy top-20 spots in the U.S. News rankings: Counselor Education (1st), Special Education (5th), Educational Administration (17th), and Elementary Education (17th). Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and public scholarship—often conducted in partnership with other UF colleges, school districts and communities across the state and nation—are yielding powerful learning systems and models that are helping to transform education in today’s changing world, starting with our youngest learners. Faculty researchers last year garnered more than $150.3 million in external awards supporting studies and projects addressing education’s most critical issues. With both on campus and online options, the college offers 29 bachelor’s and advanced degree programs and concentration areas, within nine academic specialties. To sustain the college's innovative edge, heightened emphasis on emerging technologies, student experience and interdisciplinary research will effectively prepare tomorrow's leaders in all education disciplines. The College's educator preparation programs have been continuously accredited by CAEP and NCATE since 1954. Follow us: @UF_COE (X), @uf_coe (Instagram), @university-of-florida-college-of-education (LinkedIn), and @UF.COE (Facebook)

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY: The University of Florida, founded in 1853, is a public land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant research university and one of the most academically diverse universities in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks UF 6th among public universities. National rankings such as 1st by the Wall Street Journal and 4th by Forbes in their respective lists of Public Universities are a result of UF’s commitment to provide the highest quality education at the best value. UF is home to 16 colleges and more than 200 research, service and education centers, bureaus and institutes, and boasts more than 6,600 faculty members, 60,000 students and 405,000 living alumni. Faculty scholars last year generated more than $1.26 billion in research awards. UF recently launched a $70 million AI partnership with NVIDIA, taking the first step toward ensuring equitable access to bringing AI to students and faculty from across campus and the state. The Florida Legislature designated UF as a “preeminent'' state university in 2013. 

ABOUT THE AREA: UF is situated in Gainesville in North Central Florida, a vibrant college town that blends big-city cultural and athletic offerings with small-town friendliness and charm, along with excellent schools. Gainesville, located about halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, is often recognized as one of America’s best college towns and is easily accessible to three major metropolitan areas (Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa). The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Gainesville as a “Tree City USA” every year since 1982. USA Today ranked Gainesville as the number one place to move in the Sunshine State. Add the allure of Florida’s famous sunshine, tropical breezes, and abundant wilderness, springs, rivers and seashores nearby, and it is little wonder that top-caliber faculty and students find our College and University to be the perfect balance of premier academics and a fulfilling lifestyle.

Salary is negotiable, competitive, and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Doctorate or concentration in science education or academic discipline relevant to STEM education

• Evidence of securing and successfully managing externally funded projects
• Ability to positively contribute to the national visibility of a science education program
• Experience designing and delivering high-quality instruction in face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats
• Record of effectively mentoring graduate students
• Ability to lead and participate in interdisciplinary R&D teams
• Knowledge and use of a variety of research methodologies
• Active engagement with and/or leadership in science education professional organizations
• K-12 teaching and/or supervisory experience in the United States
• Technical skills related to area of expertise
• Evidence of a well-articulated research agenda focusing on high-impact topics
• Record of scholarship as demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences, commensurate with experience
• Evidence of potential to propose, secure, and successfully manage externally funded projects
• Evidence of collaboration with faculty, students, and other stakeholders
• Experience or strong interest in working in an interdisciplinary teaching and learning environment
• Record of excellence in teaching and/or mentoring students in higher education contexts

Applicant should upload all materials to the University of Florida’s employment website https://jobs.ufl.edu. If technical assistance is needed, please contact Human resources at (352) 392-2477. Complete applications include: (1) a letter of application addressing required and desired qualifications, (2) curriculum vitae or résumé, (3) contact information for three references, who after further review will be asked to send a letter of recommendation through the online application system.

Applicants should reference requisition 533633, position number 00041747. Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Dr. Kent Crippen, Search Committee Chair (kcrippen@coe.ufl.edu) or Dr. Melissa Soto, Search Co-Chair (msoto@coe.ufl.edu). Review of candidates will begin on November 21, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be submitted by November 18, 2024. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and hiring authority.

The selection process will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida’s “Government in the Sunshine” and Public Records laws. Search Committee meetings and interviews are open to the public and all applications, resumes, and other documents related to the search will be available for public inspection. Final candidates will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credentialing Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org.