FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What does DBER-E stand for?

DBER-E refers to Discipline Based Education Research (DBER), specifically within the Engineering (-E) community.

Will I be able to travel to conferences?

Yes! Fellows will have the opportunity to travel to at least one domestic conference (e.g., ASEE, FIE) per year and one international conference (e.g., SEFI, REES, AAEE) during the duration of the program. Fellows will be able to present their work, and their faculty mentor will help them expand their professional network at these conferences.

Do I get to move to Lincoln?

Because of the philosophy of our program - to build fellows ability to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate their research with disciplinary engineering faculty - and because of the cohort model of the program, fellows will be expected to relocate to Lincoln, NE for the duration of the post-doctoral program. Relocation funds are available. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Lincoln! For resources to help with relocating to Lincoln, visit this website: Relocating to Lincoln | About Lincoln | Nebraska (unl.edu). 

How much autonomy will I have?

Fellows will spend their first year in the program working on a mentored research project and developing an independent research project, which will be their focus in the second year. The independent research project is intended to help fellows launch their research agenda and collect pilot data to support their first grant proposal as a faculty member.

Will I get to choose the research mentor that I work with?

We will do our best to match fellows to mentors that are most closely aligned with their research interests, skill sets, and future career plans. 

Do I get to mentor graduate and/or undergraduate researchers?

Yes! Mentoring is a key aspect of developing your skill set for becoming a future faculty member. Not only that, it can be a rewarding process! 

How many positions are available?

We plan to bring in a cohort of three post-doctoral fellows in Fall 2025.