Postdoctoral Associate bei CLA-Dean's Office

• Write articles, present results at academic conferences, publish articles / book chapters 
• Supervise graduate and undergraduate students employed on the project 
• Explore and apply for external funding related to the project along with the Dean and other campus partners 
• Host a few discussions on campus related to faculty governance
• Attend community organization meetings related to faculty governance 
• OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

Skills:

• Qualitative research methods in education, particularly conducting and analyzing interviews
• Ability to write formal papers and present talks at conferences
• Ability to communicate and network effectively across a variety of audiences / groups
• Designing curriculum and assignments to attract and engage students
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

• Experience in developing and testing experimental designs, sampling techniques, and analytical methods.
• Proficiency in using statistical analysis and ability to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information 

The postdoctoral researcher will work primarily with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts to focus on research, writing, and publishing scholarly work related to faculty governance in higher education. The position provides an opportunity to explore key issues surrounding faculty participation in strategic planning, budget decisions, and institutional decision-making processes for comparative analysis. The researcher will occasionally facilitate discussions within the university community on the benefits and challenges of faculty governance. Additionally, the researcher may attend local faculty governance meetings to observe and analyze participation practices directly and learn about current issues related to governance. The postdoctoral researcher will also explore and submit grant proposals to secure funding that supports ongoing research on faculty governance. This may include applying for foundation support, or federal research.

Potential research areas include examining the current level of faculty involvement in strategic and financial decision-making, analyzing how the extent and nature of participation influence institutional outcomes, and investigating the relationship between governance and institutional stability, particularly during times of crisis. The researcher will also consider the broader political context impacting higher education, exploring how governance structures may affect the reputation, resilience, and overall success of American colleges and universities. Limited studies have systematically tracked the influence of governance mechanisms over time, the impact of strong communication practices, and comparative analyses across institution types and crisis scenarios are needed.

A key objective of this position is to produce scholarship that informs ongoing discussions about the role of faculty governance, exploring how participation and strong communication practices can potentially benefit decision-making processes and the broader standing of higher education institutions globally.