POSITION OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, ISU 4U Promise, School of Education, Iowa State University.

POSITION OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, ISU 4U Promise, School of Education, Iowa State University.


AVAILABILITY: As early as May 1st, 2015.


DURATION: Up to three years (can be extended with successful grants work)


BACKGROUND:  The Postdoctoral Research Assistant will work with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues in the School of Education and in other university academic units such as Human Development and Family Studies and Community and Regional Planning, as well as in Extension and Outreach units such as Economic Development, to engage in needs assessment, activity planning, inquiry, and grant writing related to the ISU 4U Promise.  The ISU 4U Promise is a new and innovative early-commitment or "promise" program between Iowa State University, two elementary schools in Des Moines neighborhoods, and community organizations. Its primary purpose is to enhance college access and affordability for youth historically-excluded from higher education through the provision of tuition awards and in- and out-of-school resources aimed to promote successful enrollment at Iowa State. There are already projects underway that provide immediate access to opportunities for engaged, participatory scholarshi
p around school and community change related primarily to African-American and Latino youth and families.  For more on the ISU 4U Promise go to http://www.hs.iastate.edu/isu4u/.?


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. in Education or related field; demonstrated understanding of interpretive research approaches?; bilingual Spanish-English proficiency; experience related to schooling in urban contexts; work with culturally- and linguistically-diverse youth and families.


DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  Theoretical and methodological familiarity with sociocultural, situated, and place-based theories of teaching and learning;  Interpersonal skills that facilitate interaction and collaboration with new immigrant (particularly, though not exclusively, US Mexican) youth and families; interest in grant-writing, especially in collaboration with community-based organizations.


TO APPLY:  Send a cv, a writing sample relevant to the position, a cover letter indicating nature of interest and expertise, and the name and contact info of one individual to be contacted for a reference to:  Dr. Katherine Richardson Bruna at krbruna@iastate.edu.


DEADLINE:  Review will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.