Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar who will support the new Transformative Education Lab. The Lynch School emphasizes research and practice in “formative education,” an approach in which educators are responsible for fostering the development of whole people, including interrelations among interpersonal, emotional, ethical, and spiritual dimensions. The new Transformative Education Lab will disseminate information about and establish connections among initiatives across the school which contribute to a research-based understanding of formative education. The Lab will define terms, prototype new educational models and tools, compile existing research, and identify opportunities for future work to expand our understanding of formative education across educational settings. We seek a postdoctoral fellow who will work under the supervision of mentor faculty to develop and maintain an active Lab, facilitating cross-disciplinary partnerships aimed at testing innovative educational models and tools. The fellow will engage in activities such as designing an interactive website, prototyping educational tools, fostering collaborative conversations among faculty, developing and leading professional learning opportunities for K-12 and higher education faculty, seeding additional research opportunities in formative education, and raising the visibility of our expertise in in formative education across external audiences. In addition to establishing the Lab, the postdoctoral fellow will teach in the Formative Education Department and engage in their own research related to formative education. The Fellowship will last for up to three years. Fellowship Support and Expectations Fellows will receive: - Competitive salary and benefits package - Research and professional development funds - Mentorship from faculty sponsors and access to a network of senior scholars - Opportunities to teach in their area of expertise - Support for publishing, grant writing, and job market preparation Fellows are expected to: - Manage the day-to-day activities of the Transformative Education Lab and push forward our efforts to raise the Lynch School’s visibility in this area - Conduct independent research/scholarship and collaborate with faculty members - Participate in Lab and school-wide events and seminars - Prepare for academic job market and transition to faculty positions Contact Information Email: [email protected] Qualifications The candidate should have a Ph.D. in education, psychology, or another field relevant to formative education. Candidates should also be proficient in working across disciplines, and have experience in researching, designing, or prototyping educational tools or models that foster whole-person development. Application Instructions Application Process Applications for the Transformative Education Lab postdoctoral fellowship should be submitted electronically to by January 30, 2025. All application materials must be in PDF format and include the following: 1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2. Cover letter (2-3 pages) addressing: - Your research interests and experience - How your work aligns with the Transformative Education Lab’s mission - Your career goals and how this fellowship will support them 3. Research/Scholarly proposal (2-3 pages) outlining: - Your proposed research/scholarly project for the fellowship period - Potential collaborations with faculty members at the Lynch School 4. Proposed Lab Activities (2-3 pages) suggesting: - Ways that the Lynch School might raise its visibility with respect to research and practice in formative education 5. Writing sample (e.g., published article, dissertation chapter, or manuscript in preparation) 6. Three letters of recommendation, to be sent directly by the recommenders to https://apply.interfolio.com/158363