Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research AssociateMontana State University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to contribute to research on cognitive diagnostic assessments and student learning in introductory STEM courses, with a focus on Bayesian quantitative methods and mixed-methods education research.The Department of Physics at Montana State University conducts nationally recognized research in physics education and STEM learning. This position will contribute to projects focused on developing cognitive diagnostic assessments for college physics and calculus courses and studying student learning using advanced statistical and qualitative research methods. The successful candidate will join a collaborative research team spanning the nation, working on large-scale assessment development, educational data analysis, and professional development resources for STEM instructors.Conduct quantitative analyses of educational datasets using Bayesian hierarchical models and other statistical approaches. Apply cognitive diagnostic models (e.g., DINA) and psychometric models such as Item Response Theory. Analyze large-scale educational datasets using statistical software such as R. Support development of cognitive diagnostic assessments and item banks for introductory physics and calculus courses. Conduct mixed-methods education research including qualitative coding and analysis of student responses and interviews. Collaborate with faculty, research staff, and graduate students on research projects. Supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate student researchers. Assist with development of professional development materials for instructors. Prepare manuscripts, reports, and conference presentations. Contribute to development of research proposals and new research initiatives.PhD in Physics Education Research, Physics, Mathematics Education, STEM Education, Statistics, or a closely related field. Experience conducting quantitative analysis using statistical software such as R or Python. Experience conducting educational, social science, or related research. Demonstrated ability to communicate research findings through publications or conference presentations.Experience with Bayesian statistical modeling. Experience with cognitive diagnostic models or psychometric modeling. Experience analyzing large educational datasets. Experience conducting mixed-methods research combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.Ability to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary research teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple research tasks and deadlines. Ability to translate research findings into practical resources for instructors. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of external funding. Occasional travel for conferences or project meetings may be required.Required Application Documents: Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letter (max 2 pages), Research Statement (max 3 pages).