About the position: 

We are looking to hire a postdoctoral researcher for our NSF-funded project Tools for Teaching and Assessing Visual Literacy in Molecular Biology. 

This project aims to strengthen undergraduate biotechnology education through the development of students’ visual literacy skills, a critical competency for interpreting and communicating scientific information. The postdoctoral researcher on this project will be working with research team to develop, validate, and disseminate an open-access Visual Literacy Toolkit consisting of two integrated components: the Visual Literacy Assessment for Biotechnology and a suite of Visual Literacy Instructional Materials. Project goals include identifying common visual literacy challenges, developing a reliable and valid assessment of biotechnology visual literacy, and creating instructional materials that address documented learning needs. Assessment development will include textbook analyses, expert review, student think-aloud interviews, pilot testing, psychometric analyses, and validation studies. The instructional materials will be piloted and refined through classroom implementation and instructor feedback. The project will generate new knowledge about the visual representations that are most challenging for students, the misconceptions that persist across instructional contexts, and effective strategies for teaching visual literacy as a core scientific practice.

Job description:

Job Posting Title: Postdoctoral Research in Biology Education Research

Job Summary:  The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in all aspects of the project but will primarily be working on the development, validation and testing of the Visual Literacy Assessment for Biotechnology (VLAB).  The postdoctoral researcher will participate in weekly research meetings and will complete annual reviews with their mentors and will prepare publications and presentations that result from the work supported by the grant.

The postdoctoral researcher will engage with a vibrant community of STEM education researchers, including faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, who make up the Center for Advancing Scholarship to Transform Learning (CASTLE) at RIT.  The postdoctoral researcher will have the benefit of frequent interactions with all members of the RIT’s CASTLE, including weekly journal club and weekly work-in-progress meetings, both of which focus on STEM Education Research. Presently the CASTLE group is composed of faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students from biology, chemistry, physics, math and engineering education research, plus Education Research-adjacent faculty who attend periodically. Postdocs will receive guidance and training in writing from their mentors as well as getting feedback on presenting from the entire CASTLE group.

Funds are available for the postdoctoral researcher to travel to conferences to present their research and network with other professionals in STEM Education. They will be encouraged to join one or more professional societies in their field of research. 

We will provide experience with grant writing by directly involving the postdoctoral research in proposals prepared by the mentors. Key aspects they will learn include identifying key research questions, defining objectives, describing approach and rationale, and constructing timelines and budgets. 

The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to teach or co-teach a course or a section of a course in their discipline if it aligns with their career interests and timing. They will have the opportunity to mentor undergraduate research students who may assist, part-time, with their research during the academic year.

The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to take part in various professional development activities on the RIT campus, such as the Access and Belonging series at RIT, which will help them to learn and practice research-based mentoring and teaching strategies. The postdoctoral researcher may also choose to attend workshops hosted by RIT’s Center for Teaching and Learning.

A strong candidate will have experience in biology education research, using evidence-based instructional practices, strong communication skills, and interest in mentoring undergraduate students.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Biology, Biology Education, STEM Education, or a related field, or will earn such a degree by December 31, 2026

Timeline

• Position is one year with the potential for renewal for a second year, starting approximately January 4, 2027 (exact start and end dates are flexible).
  
  
  

Salary and Benefits

• In addition to an annual salary of $68,000 and full benefits, funds are provided for travel to several professional meetings each year to present research, learn and network.

Eligibility

• Candidates for this position must be eligible to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not offered.

• This is an in-person position. 

How to apply: 

What you will need for the application:

1. Your CV, undergraduate and graduate school transcripts (official)

2. Letters from two professional references that can speak to your background and skills (have your letter writers email their recommendation to lkwsbi@rit.edu)

3. A  research statement about your experience and career goals that includes the following:

• Your Ph.D. research and teaching experience (approximately 500 words)

• The skills and experience that you currently have that would help you successfully contribute to the Visual Literacy Toolkit project (approximately 250 words)

• The skills and experience you plan to develop to successfully contribute to the Visual Literacy Toolkit project (approximately 250 words)

• Your experience with a collaborative group and why it succeeded/failed (approximately 150 words)

Submit your application on Workday: 
https://rit.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/Rochester-NY/Post-doctoral-Research-in-Biology-Education-Research_JR103312

Application review will begin on November 1, 2026 and will remain open until the position is filled. 

Questions about the position?

Contact Kate Wright at lkwsbi@rit.edu