Post Doctoral Associate – Developing a Reading Comprehension App for Latino Parents

This position is at the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), a multi-disciplinary center for research to advance the science of learning by bringing together leading researchers in the cognitive, social, and educational sciences.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral position for researchers with interest in early literacy development in Latino communities and human-computer interaction to join Drs. Erin Walker (Computer Science, LRDC) and Diana Leyva (Psychology, LRDC) in a LRDC-funded project. The project investigates the potential efficacy of a new program that integrates dialogic reading and elaborative reminiscing strategies within an intelligent reading comprehension app to help Latino parents foster their preschoolers’ literacy and language skills. It involves a co-design phase (year 1) and a feasibility phase (year 2). We are looking for a recent or expected PhD or post-doc in education/developmental psychology, learning sciences or other related field to this project (e.g., human development and family studies, computer science). The post-doc will be involved in helping to design, conduct, code, analyze, present, and write-up research. In addition, they will be expected to interact fluently and culturally appropriately with the low-income, Spanish-speaking, Latino families that will participate in this research.

Candidates with a strong grounding in one or more of the following areas will be highly competitive: early literacy, Latino family/community engagement, and learning technologies. Prior community engagement experience, research skills in mixed-methods approaches (i.e., qualitative methods such as focus groups and content analysis, and quantitative methods such as multi-level modeling), and experience with co-design methodologies are preferred but not required. The position is for two years with the appointment to be made at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

We value diversity, inclusion, and equity in our work and in our team. Members of under-represented minority groups are especially encouraged to apply for this position.

Target start date: Sept 1st, 2021 (start date is negotiable)

Submit cover letter, CV, statement of research interests, diversity statement, and three letters of reference to Erin Walker (eawalker@pitt.edu). Review of applicants begins April 1st, 2021 until the position is filled.

Interested applicants are invited to direct inquiries to:
Erin Walker
Associate Professor
School of Computing and Information
Research Scientist, LRDC
University of Pittsburgh
eawalker@pitt.edu
Research Website

Diana Leyva
Associate Professor
Psychology Department
Research Scientist, LRDC
University of Pittsburgh
dml114@pitt.edu
Research Website

Please submit application to this posting as well.

Please include cover letter, CV, statement of research interests, diversity statement, and three letters of reference . The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets