Authentic Community-Engaged Scholarship in STEM Education Postdoc Training Program

University Of Houston, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

The number of STEM postdoctoral researchers has increased more than threefold over the past 40 years due to the need for the United States to develop a well-equipped STEM workforce. While research training and publication have traditionally been standard in STEM postdoctoral research training programs, these programs often lack structured and formal community support. Because many postdocs transition into future positions involving various amounts of teaching, research, and service that involves their local and connected communities, it is important for postdoctoral training programs to provide effective training in all these areas. To address the need for improvements in postdoctoral training programs, the project team seeks to develop three independent STEM education researchers equipped with distinctive skills in building community-engaged research-practice partnerships. The project aims to prepare postdoctoral researchers through structured cohort-based training designed to enhance the six core competencies outlined by the National Postdoctoral Association as important for postdoctoral success. These core competencies include discipline-specific conceptual knowledge, professionalism, enhanced research skills, responsible conduct of research, communication skills, and leadership and management skills. The project team plans to recruit postdoctoral researchers from a large network of scholars by recruiting at academic conferences, virtual recruiting events, and through electronic databases. Recognizing that some applicants will have had access to more resources and opportunities than others, the project team plans to prioritize applicants’ potential for future success based on the information provided in their cover letter coupled with the recommendations provided by experts in their field. To achieve the goals of this project, the project team plans to leverage existing collaborations between the project team and partners in the surrounding community, Houston’s Historic Third Ward, to provide postdoctoral scholars with community-engaged research opportunities. The project design is grounded in theoretical and conceptual frameworks that facilitate learning by doing and benefits from the expertise that each postdoctoral researcher possesses. Postdoctoral trainees will be immediately engaged in existing research projects led by the project team, attending weekly research and mentoring meetings, having the opportunity to audit research methods courses of their choosing, and enrolling in the ProQual Institute of Interpretive Research Methods. The project also aims to implement a professional development plan that includes onboarding, an individualized development plan, monthly networking, immersive teaching and mentoring experiences, and participation in training on topics such as proposal preparation and academic writing. This project is funded by the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (STEM Ed PRF) with co-funding from the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) and EDU Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER) programs. The STEM Ed PRF Program aims to enhance the research knowledge, skills, and practices of recent doctorates in STEM, STEM education, education, and related disciplines to enhance their ability to engage in fundamental and applied research that advances knowledge within their field. The AISL Program is committed to funding research and practice, with continued focus on investigating a range of informal STEM learning (ISL) experiences and environments that make lifelong learning a reality.  The ECR: BCSER Program is designed to build the capacity of individuals to carry out high-quality, fundamental STEM education research that will enhance the nation’s STEM education enterprise. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.