Postdoctoral Associate (Department of Communication – Ithaca, New York)

Postdoctoral Associate (Department of Communication – Ithaca, New York)

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

   

As part of the university's comprehensive vaccination program, all Cornell employees are required to have and provide proof of an FDA-or WHO-authorized or approved COVID-19 primary vaccination or have obtained a university-approved disability/medical or religious exemption, regardless of their role and work location.


New hires are required to provide documentation showing primary vaccination status (that is, completion of two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) before their first day of work. If a new hire's vaccination is not complete or information is not received by their start date, the first day of work will be delayed. It is possible in some cases that an offer of employment may be withdrawn.


For additional information on Cornell’s Vaccination Compliance Program click here.

   

      

SUMMARY:

The Cornell Social Media Lab, in the Department of Communication at Cornell University, is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Associate to participate in the inter-university research at the intersection of educational technology, instructional design, gerontology, and human-computer interaction. The postdoc will work on the development of technologies, games, and content for educational interventions as a part of the DART (Deception Awareness and Resilience Training) project. DART aims to equip users with the ability to recognize online deception and the motivations behind its various forms, and introduce them to ways in which to avoid or mitigate its harms. The initial target population is older adults (ages 65+), the disproportionate targets of online exploitation, manipulation, and fraud.


This position is a 2-year full-time academic position. The postdoctoral associate will be part of an interdisciplinary project team of researchers and students in the Cornell Social Media Lab, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Department of Information Sciences, University at Buffalo SUNY Computer Science & Engineering and Humanities Institute, Lehigh University College of Engineering and Applied Science, and Clemson University Departments of Communication and Psychology.


The postdoc will be based in the Cornell Social Media Lab and will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and a collaborative community of scholars interested in social behaviors and information and communication technologies. The Postdoctoral Associate will take a lead role in developing technologies and educational content for and conducting research studies on Social Media TestDrive. The postdoc will coordinate and carry out the proposed instructional design, user experience, and evaluation research, as well as analyze the data to prepare written reports for publication in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals. They will also mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and take an active role in writing grant proposals.


Anticipated Division of Time

List the position’s assigned responsibilities and estimate percentage of annual time spent on each responsibility. Include only the essential functions that are fundamental and necessary to the position.


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and development of digitally-mediated educational interventions (40%)

  • Design and help develop systems for digital literacy educational interventions.
  • Design and help develop new features to enhance the DART platform.
  • Develop digital literacy education content for DART modules and versions targeted at particular populations.

Conducting research studies (20%)

  • Establish goals and benchmarks for an outcome evaluation of DART.
  • Conduct and participate in a multisite formative evaluation of DART, using surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews.
  • Conduct exploratory studies to assess digital literacy education needs of diverse populations.

Writing, publishing, and presenting research findings (20%)

  • Analyze data and write research papers for publication.
  • Present results of research at academic conferences.
  • Facilitate workshops, webinars, talks, and other outreach activities to promote DART and digital literacy education.

Project management (20%)

  • Manage partnerships and collaborations (e.g., funders, educational partners, users, other outreach and education groups) to improve and promote DART.
  • Help coordinate project members and tasks across the different sites and universities.
  • Help identify grant funding opportunities and assist in preparing grant proposals and reports for submission.

Requirements

List education degrees required to perform the duties of the position. List specific skills and technical/administrative training required. Specify the amount of job-related experience needed. Separate what is required and what is preferred skills and experience.

  • A Ph.D. in educational technology, information science, communication or related fields (e.g., psychology, human development, computer science, etc.) is required.
  • Research experience in instructional design, educational technology, or digital literacy is required.
  • A strong background in quantitative and qualitative research, including methods of analysis and statistics is required.
  • Demonstrated ability to carry out independent research and a record of communicating research results via publications and presentations is necessary.
  • Interest and experience designing inclusive technologies and educational interventions for diverse populations is required.
  • Previous background and/or experience in gerontology is highly desired.
  • Enthusiasm for, and ideally experience with, working in interdisciplinary teams with managerial responsibilities is desired.
  • Technical skills and experience in building web and/or smartphone-based applications are desired.
  • Willingness to mentor undergraduate and graduate research assistants and participate in the collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment at Cornell University. 

Supervision Exercised

List the functional supervision that will be exercised over support staff, as well as graduate and undergraduate students involved in research.


The associate will also mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the departments associated with the project, assigning and coordinating tasks, monitoring progress, and providing support in necessary areas.


Application:

Applicants should submit a Cover Letter, CV, Statement of Research Background and Interests, and Contact Information for three people who can provide professional references. Additionally, a Statement of contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We welcome discussion about the position in advance of application, and candidates are encouraged to contact ENTER NAME OF CONTACT to discuss research interests and potential future directions.


All components of the application must be submitted through this application portal:  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22563


Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.


Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Research Statement (postdoctoral positions)
  • A statement of contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion (for all positions)
  • Three References (no actual letters, just names and email addresses)

  


Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.


If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at equity@cornell.edu.


Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

2022-09-01-07:00

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.