Assistant Professor of Secondary Science Education

Position Available: Assistant Professor of Secondary Science Education

Beginning Date: Fall 2025

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at the Pennsylvania State University (University Park) seeks applications from individuals with scholarly interests and expertise in secondary science teaching and learning. The position is a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor rank within the Science Education emphasis area of Curriculum and Instruction.

The College of Education is committed to “the creation of more equitable educational opportunities and outcomes for learners…and progressive social change” through joint foci on equity, access, and anti-racism (https://ed.psu.edu/strategic-plan-2021-2025). In line with this mission, candidates should have an explicit diversity, equity, and/or inclusion orientation to their scholarship. We are particularly interested in applicants whose Science Education research contributes to the Learning Sciences and addresses issues of equity or social justice in teaching and learning. Further, we are interested in applicants whose experience teaching science at the secondary level shapes their commitment to a more equitable and just education system.

The position offers opportunities to prepare pre-service teachers and provide leadership for secondary science teacher education (U.S. grades 7 – 12), including contributing to a newly formed teacher-in-residence program. Faculty members normally teach both undergraduate and graduate courses. Successful candidates will be expected to engage in recruiting and mentoring graduate students interested in Science Education and to teach graduate courses relevant to Science Education and/or the Learning Sciences. The position also offers the possibility for collaborations with science faculty across the University, as well as community and school partners such as the Penn State Arboretum, the Rivet at Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, the State College Area School District, and the Penn State Center for Science and the Schools.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain a research program in Science Education with the potential for or demonstrated track record of external funding, commensurate with experience.
• Teach courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, supervise doctoral students in their programs and research, and supervise graduate teaching assistants.
• Engage with Science Education undergraduate and graduate programs through residential and online instruction.
• Provide service, outreach, and leadership to the University, educational institutions, agencies, professional organizations, and learned societies.
• Contribute to the College-wide efforts to being, becoming, and sustaining an anti-racist College.

Required Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in science education or a related field by start date;
• Substantial graduate study in science education or related fields;
• Potential to develop and maintain a research agenda in science education;
• Willingness to teach residential and online courses in Science Education and Curriculum and Instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Evidence of a commitment to equity-related approaches to service, teaching, and/or scholarship; and
• Potential for obtaining external funding, commensurate with experience.

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience teaching science either in traditional (e.g., K-12 schools, public or private) or non-traditional (e.g., community-based partnerships, museums) settings.
• An interest in aspiring to leadership roles in science education and related fields;
• An investment to connecting science to intersectional environmental justice and/or other forms of social justice;
• Interest in the design of learning environments, curriculum in secondary science settings, and/or a facilitating professional learning of prospective or practicing teachers.

Applicants should submit a cover letter discussing qualifications for the position, a current CV, a research statement, and at least three references (including name, address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers). Applications received by November 15 are assured full consideration; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of minoritized and/or marginalized groups. For questions, please contact: Dr. Julia Plummer, Science Education Faculty Search Chair, [email protected].