SUMMARY:

The Exploratorium Teacher Institute (TI) is a nationally prominent teacher professional development program that provides content, pedagogy, and networking support to middle and high school teachers of physics, biology, and physical sciences. TI takes a hands-on approach to teaching that engages and motivates learners by stimulating their curiosity and questions.  The Teacher Institute has three main areas of work: (1) the Teacher Induction Program, an intensive 200+ hour program for new teachers that focuses on content, pedagogy, and classroom acculturation through institutes, workshops, classroom coaching, and mentoring; (2) the Classic Teacher Institute, a program of summer institutes, follow-up workshops, and online networks for experienced science teachers; (3) a Research and Dissemination program that studies the effects of discipline-based induction programs in supporting and retaining new teachers.  Dissemination also includes award winning Iron Science Teacher webcasts, the Exploratorium Snackbooks, and other curricular and professional development efforts.  The Teacher Institute faculty also provide content and pedagogical expertise to other programs in the Exploratorium, including webcasts, exhibit design, publications, and on-line resources.

The 12-month Post-Doctoral appointment is designed for physicists or mathematicians interested in working in an informal education setting — to investigate innovative ways to communicate cutting edge science (particularly related to science education using modern electronic media) — and supporting middle and high school science teachers in their efforts to make the science engaging for their students as well as the public. The Post-Doctoral Fellow will work closely with Teacher Institute faculty (a mix of PhD scientists and ex-classroom teachers) in developing and implementing institutes and workshops and working with teachers in the classroom.  This work provides a base for thinking about communicating science to both interested adults and their students.  The Post-doctoral Fellow should have experience in using electronic communication to deliver science content. This experience could include, but is not limited to, experience in creating web pages, virtual world science explorations, podcasts, or videos. In addition, the Postdoctoral Fellow will work with other museum staff to design ways to communicate materials sciences to the public, through websites, publications, on-line resources, or exhibition design, where appropriate.  

This postdoctoral appointment is funded through the National Science Foundation Mathematics and Physical Sciences division IPSE initiative. Applicants need to be U.S. citizens.


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Co-teach multi-week summer institutes for middle and high school teachers
• Develop and co-teach a range of Saturday workshops to support teacher content knowledge
• Provide content-based training workshops for Exploratorium exhibit floor staff
• Participate in Teacher Institute activities, including teleseminars, institutes, and workshops.
• Participate in other museum programs and activities, where appropriate.
• Work with other museum program developers/designers to develop innovative means to communicate physics/mathematics to the public.  .



MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Bio-Physics or related field
• Proven ability to communicate science effectively
• Interest in inquiry-based teaching and informal science institutions
• Ability to work with flexible schedule, including Saturdays
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience working with diverse populations at multiple levels
• Ability to work independently and within a team; excellent interpersonal skills


APPLICATION DEADLINE:

The application submission deadline expires on Monday, November 17, 2008 by 5:00pm or when the position is filled.  This position is available immediately. 





HOW TO APPLY:

This is a fixed-term (12 month), full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, union position that includes benefits.  Please apply by sending cover letter and resume to:

Dept. TI-1
Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Fax: (415) 561-0307
E-mail: resume@exploratorium.edu (attachments not accepted)
No phone calls please
The Exploratorium is committed to a diverse workforce.