City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

The Department of Biology at McMaster University is seeking candidates to fill a 1.2 year Postdoctoral Fellowship, working with Professor Juliet Daniel and Dr. Shaiya Robinson on their Mac-iSTEP STEM Enrichment Outreach Project.

The McMaster Black Youth IMHOTEP STEM Enrichment Program (Mac-iSTEP) is a McMaster University-based initiative designed to inspire Black high school students in the Hamilton-Wentworth and Halton District School Boards to pursue post-secondary STEM education and careers. The Mac-iSTEP program is part of a larger national initiative, Securing Black Futures, led by the Jean Augustine Chair, Dr. Carl James at York University. 

Led by Professor Daniel and Dr. Robinson, Mac-iSTEP offers students hands-on STEM learning experiences, such as coding workshops and lab experiments through an after-school STEM club and a week-long summer immersive STEM residency on the McMaster campus.  

We are seeking a highly motivated Post-doctoral Fellow with experience in mixed-methods research and enthusiasm for engaging Black youth in STEM. 

The preferred start date for the position is May 12, 2025 but is negotiable with the successful candidate. 

The duties and responsibilities of the position will be to: 
-    Collaborate with faculty and local school boards to design, implement, and evaluate outreach programs aimed at increasing STEM participation among Black high school students
-    Conduct qualitative studies (e.g., interviews, focus groups) to explore barriers and opportunities in STEM education and outreach among Black youth 
-    Analyze qualitative data using rigorous methodologies (e.g., thematic analysis, grounded theory) and publish findings in high-impact academic journals and present findings at conferences
-    Provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate student mentors involved in Mac-iSTEP
-    Provide support for after-school STEM club workshops and the summer immersive residency 
-    Assist in developing professional and/or personal student development workshops

The successful research fellow candidate will be expected to:
Work closely with interdisciplinary teams (including faculty, local school boards, and graduate student mentors) to conduct research about the effectiveness of our targeted STEM outreach initiative, design interventions, and assess their impact.

Required Teaching and/or Mentorship (if any):
The successful research fellow candidate will be expected to:
-    Mentor and co-supervise undergraduate & graduate student mentors in our tiered mentorship model
-    Assist with development and assessment of undergraduate and graduate student mentorship models 

Required Qualifications: 
The successful candidate must have been awarded a PhD within the past 4 years and have a:
•    Ph.D. in Education, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field such as STEM pedagogy 
•    Strong background in qualitative research methods, including data collection, coding, and analysis. Experience with NVivo, Atlas.ti, or similar software is an asset
•    Experience working with Black youth or other equity-deserving groups in Canada
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills, including grant and other proposal writing experience
•    Demonstrated interest in STEM education and inclusive pedagogical practices. Experience with curriculum development or educational program evaluation is preferred
•    Demonstrated capacity in multi-stakeholder engagement including students, Black community members, faculty, and senior administration
•    Strong and relevant research skills, evidenced through publications, presentations and other research activities

Preferred qualifications:
•    Experienced with mixed-methods research
•    Familiarity with critical race theory, culturally responsive pedagogy, or intersectionality in education

Supervisor and Academic Unit:
Dr. Daniel is a Professor in the Dept. of Biology and Dr. Robinson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) at McMaster University.

The Department of Biology is a thriving community of scientists working in diverse areas, who are committed to excellence and innovation in research, training, teaching, and outreach.  The Department has 27 full-time research-active faculty members, 2 teaching-stream faculty members, ~80 graduate students, and ~900 undergraduate students. For more information on the Department, please visit https://biology.mcmaster.ca/. 

McMaster University is a globally renowned institution of higher learning and a research community committed to advancing human and societal health and well-being. McMaster is further a pioneer in pedagogical innovation and is the home of problem-based learning. Our focus on collaboratively exchanging ideas and approaches makes us uniquely positioned to pioneer ground-breaking solutions to real-world problems leading to a Brighter World. The Faculty of Science works to create global impact by advancing scientific discovery and knowledge, and promoting greater understanding. Our innovative, interdisciplinary approach generates new methods and insights, results, and lasting change.