Graduate Assistantships Available in Science Education and Physics Education

University of Alabama Department of Curriculum and Instruction has just received funding through a statewide NSF MSP grant on physics education consequently, we have two full year Graduate Assistantships and up to two additional partial graduate student research stipend positions in physics education and science education available beginning Summer or Fall, 2013. The full Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) provide full remitted tuition and a 12 month salary. The C&I works closely with the Department Physics and Astronomy in several joint externally funded programs and in providing a comprehensive set of degree programs (i.e., preservice, MS, and PhD) in science education. 

Responsibilities would involve some combination of research, and professional development for inservice teachers and college faculty. UA is a research university with a strong commitment to the value of discipline based science education. The institution, located in Tuscaloosa Alabama, 50 miles from Birmingham AL., is in the midst of a significant growth phase, which includes the building of a very large state of the art Science and Engineering complex of research and classroom buildings. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction provides preservice programs in secondary (grades 6-12) science teaching, MS degrees for preservice and inservice teachers, and EdS and PhD degrees for science educators.  

Successful applicants will be admitted into the PhD program in science education and participate in research and development projects  broadly related to physics education and discipline based science education of preservice and inservice teachers. Specific areas of focus may include (1) investigation of the impact of professional development on physics teachers; (2) effects of various professional development curricula on classroom teaching and learning; (3) studies of how undergraduate students' conceptions change over time through their interactions with an undergraduate teacher education program; (4)  development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in preservice and inservice teachers; and (5) effects of different levels of PCK on student learning.

Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. The term of the GRA appointments will be two years with an opportunity to extend.  Positions are available beginning Summer or Fall 2013.

To apply, please send your vita, undergraduate and graduate course transcripts with GPA, and a letter of application describing your background relevant to the Graduate Research Assistantship or graduate research student positions. These materials can be addressed to Dennis Sunal (email preferred) to dwsunal@bama.ua.edu. Please put "Physics Education" in the header line.  For further information contact Dennis Sunal (email preferred) at  dwsunal@bama.ua.edu.

Dennis W. Sunal

Director: Alliance for Physics Exchange (UA-APEX)

Editor: Research in Science Teaching book series

Office of Research on Teaching in the Disciplines

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Science Education

205C Graves Hall

University of Alabama

Box 870232

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0232

PH: 205C Graves Hall Office

FAX: 205-348-9863

Best contact email dwsunal@bama.ua.edu