Postdoctoral position at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

Join us as a postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Mellon’s HCI Institute. The postdoc will perform design-based, classroom research on the topic of teacher-student-AI co-orchestration of personalized learning in K-12 with AI-enhanced learning software, covering both classroom and remote learning scenarios. The project will explore different hardware options, including augmented and mixed reality. The work will be carried out in the context of two synergistic and funded projects, namely “Human/AI Co-Orchestration of Dynamically-Differentiated Collaborative Classrooms” (NSF Cyberlearning) and “Enhancing Student Learning with an Orchestration Tool for Personalized Teacher-Student Interactions in Classrooms Using Intelligent Tutoring Software Education Technology” (IES Education Technology). The candidate will be part of both project teams. We are looking for applicants with expertise and enthusiasm in relevant research areas, including AI in education, learning analytics, educational data mining, classroom orchestration tools, and computer-supported collaborative learning.

The postdoc will work under the supervision of Drs. Vincent Aleven and Bruce M. McLaren at the HCI Institute. Fellows will also regularly interact with other project faculty including Dr. Ken Holstein at the HCI Institute, Prof. Nikol Rummel at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, and Dr. Steve Ritter at Carnegie Learning Inc., Pittsburgh, PA.

Tasks may include user research and needs analysis with students and teachers, ideation and design, co-design with teachers and students, prototyping and user studies, operationalizing learning theory, development or tuning of analytics, development of decision support tools for teachers and students, data collection, data analysis, and publication of results. We will also encourage and support the postdoc in developing their own research that builds their research agenda and leads to publications and grant applications. The postdoc works individually and as part of a multi-site team, and they must supervise undergraduate and master student research assistants. Work with K-12 schools in the Pittsburgh region and beyond is required.

The position begins as soon as a suitable candidate is found. The candidate needs to have completed all PhD requirements by that date, although does not need to have formally graduated just yet. We anticipate the position to be two years in duration, annually renewable based on performance and availability of funding.

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received.

Applicants should have a doctorate in learning technologies, human-computer interaction, computer science, learning sciences, learning analytics, psychology, design, or a related field. They should have completed strong, compelling PhD research in one (or more) of these areas.

We are looking scholars who have strong methodological backgrounds in both design and research methods, and a propensity toward innovation in methods for design and user research.  Applicants should have experience with research and development of advanced learning technologies and learning analytics. Applicants need strong technical skill with interactive digital technologies. Experience with design and development of classroom orchestration tools or teacher support tools is preferred but not strictly required. Experience with augmented/mixed reality application design and development is a plus but not strictly required.

Compensation includes a competitive salary and benefits plan. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications should include a cover letter describing qualifications, a CV, 2 representative publications, and contact information for 3 references. Please direct questions and interest in the position to aleven@cs.cmu.edu.