Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for a postdoctoral research scholar position focused on engaging Hispanic/Latinx communities in informal STEM learning. We seek candidates whose field of research and practice is related to Earth science, space science, or a closely related field; and who have a demonstrated interest in public engagement, science communication, or informal education. The appointment will reside in the Center for Innovation in Informal STEM Learning (CIISL) within the School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS) and work extensively with local community partners. Applicants must be within five years of the doctoral degree award. This is a full-time, fiscal year (12-month), non-tenure track, benefits-eligible position. The appointment has potential for renewal for a second year contingent upon satisfactory performance, the needs of the center and the availability of resources. The anticipated start date is Fall 2024. The position is based at ASU’s Tempe campus. Tempe is part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, where demographic change, cultural diversity, and socioeconomic disparities demand new models of higher education, which are highly relevant to ASU’s charter (asu.edu/about/charter-mission-and-values).

The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate in a creative and rigorous way with CIISL and the NASA-funded Engaging Hispanic Communities initiative (https://www.nisenet.org/hispaniccommunities). Such collaboration will include working closely with the Principal Investigator, National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) collaborators, and community partners to: 1) Build and strengthen relationships with Hispanic/Latinx communities; 2) Co-create engagement opportunities that make Earth and space science relevant to these communities’ culture and priorities; and 3) Work with project team members across six different sites as a community of practice to develop, evaluate, and share approaches to equitable partnerships and engagement. Building on substantial data from research, evaluation, and practice related to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI), Engaging Hispanic Communities employs two strategies to accomplish these goals. The first strategy involves intensive partnerships among educational organizations and Hispanic/Latinx community-based organizations at six sites in the southwestern US, where the Hispanic/Latinx population is much higher than the national average. The second strategy engages hundreds of leveraging partners across the US, where Hispanic/Latinx populations may be well-established or emerging.

Specific responsibilities will include: 1) Using an equity-centered co-creation process to help plan, develop, and implement bilingual English-Spanish STEM learning experiences and materials with Hispanic/Latinx families in out-of-school settings; 2) Facilitating partnership activities, such as communicating and collaborating with bilingual community members and leaders; 3) Working collaboratively with project partners locally and nationally; 4) Identifying and connecting with subject matter experts to accomplish project goals; and 5) Participating in scholarly communities through publication of research articles and presentations at professional conferences.

SFIS provides a unique environment for scholarship, education, and engagement in public engagement with science and technology, with current faculty research activities including informal education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), participatory technology assessment, participatory futuring, citizen science, serious games, and storytelling. In addition to the Center for Innovation in Informal STEM Learning (https://ifis.asu.edu/content/center-innovation-informal-stem-learning) and the National Informal STEM Education Network (https://www.nisenet.org/), the successful candidate will interact with other ASU units such as the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), and with the NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Activation program (https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/). The community of SFIS shares a vision of socially responsive and responsible innovation and is situated within the College of Global Futures (https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/) and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory (https://globalfutures.asu.edu/).

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. or other appropriate terminal degree by the time of appointment. Applicants must be within five years of the doctoral degree award.
• Due to the interdisciplinary and socially embedded nature of this work, candidates must have a degree in Earth science, space science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in public engagement, science communication, or informal education.
• Spoken and written proficiency in both English and Spanish.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience working on teams that include diverse individuals and organizations.
• Experience coordinating project activities and communications.

Only electronic submissions will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications should be submitted electronically and must contain: 1) a cover letter that includes a description of professional interests and experience and their relationship to the position (limited to 2 pages); 2) a current Curriculum Vitae; and 3) the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of three references. Review of applications will begin June 14, 2024; if not filled, a review will occur every Friday thereafter until the search is closed.