Navigating Careers in Education Research: A Comprehensive Guide
The field of education research offers diverse and rewarding career paths for individuals passionate about improving teaching, learning, and educational systems. The American Educational Research Association (AERA) serves as a central hub for professionals in this field, providing resources, networking opportunities, and a platform for disseminating cutting-edge research. This article explores various aspects of careers related to AERA, including job opportunities, professional development, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
The AERA Online Job Board: Your Gateway to Opportunities
The AERA Online Job Board stands out as the premier site for education research job opportunities. It acts as a crucial link, connecting qualified candidates with employers who are actively seeking to fill positions. Job seekers can utilize the platform to search for openings that match their qualifications and interests. They also have the option to post their resumes, increasing their visibility to potential employers. Furthermore, the job board allows users to create job alerts, ensuring they are promptly notified of new opportunities that align with their specific criteria.
Faculty Positions in Higher Education: Avenues for Research and Teaching
Several universities actively seek qualified individuals to contribute to their education departments. These positions often involve a combination of teaching, research, and service.
University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences
The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego is seeking applicants for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of associate or full professor. This role focuses on teaching and research at the master's and doctoral levels, with a specialization in leadership within higher education and community college settings.
University of North Texas, Department of Learning Technologies
The Department of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas (UNT) has openings for two nine-month tenure-track faculty positions. One position is at the rank of Associate Professor, and the other is at the rank of Assistant Professor, both starting in August 2025. The typical workload for a tenure-track faculty member includes 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service, with a 2-2 teaching load each fall and spring. Optional summer teaching opportunities are also available. The department seeks candidates with a Ph.D. in Learning Design and Technologies, Instructional Systems Technology/Design, Learning Sciences, or a related field that complements the current faculty's strengths.
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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Early Childhood Studies Department
The Early Childhood Studies Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is seeking applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin in the academic year 2025-2026. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Early Childhood Education (PK-3rd Grade) and a doctorate in Early Childhood Studies, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related field. A demonstrated commitment to culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy, anti-racism, and equity in early childhood is required. The position's responsibilities include teaching, advising students, engaging in scholarship leading to publications, and providing service to the early childhood broader professional community.
University of Houston, College of Education
The College of Education at the University of Houston is seeking a tenure-track Assistant or tenured or tenure-track Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence, Teaching, and Learning. This individual will serve the teacher preparation, master’s, and doctoral programs. The College offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs in multiple areas of specialization, including teaching and learning, health, and human development and family sciences. There are also multiple master’s programs along with 5 Ph.D. programs, including curriculum and instruction and measurement, quantitative methods, and learning sciences. The programs have a special focus on student success, social justice, and community engagement.
Key Responsibilities of Faculty Positions
Faculty positions generally entail teaching courses at various levels, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The mode of instruction can vary, encompassing in-person, hybrid, online, and combinations thereof. Faculty members also engage in activities such as attending program and department meetings, participating in student programs and activities, and collaborating with other faculty and staff to ensure student success. Some positions may also involve supervising field event courses, which require travel to diverse school communities to provide experiential learning opportunities for students.
Professional Development Opportunities through AERA
AERA is dedicated to building research capacity among scholars and researchers, and it engages in activities that promote knowledge and enhance research skills.
AERA Annual Meeting Professional Development Courses
AERA offers a rigorous program of professional development courses for the AERA Annual Meeting. These courses cover a range of salient topics in education research, including design, quantitative and qualitative research methods, meta-analysis, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research, data collection techniques, and communicating research.
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AERA-ICPSR Partnership for Expanding Education Research in STEM (PEERS)
The AERA-ICPSR Partnership for Expanding Education Research in STEM (PEERS) Data Hub announces the PEERS Research Methods Series, a webinar series of research capacity-building workshops that focus on research methods used in STEM education research. The AERA-ICPSR Partnership for Expanding Education Research in STEM (PEERS) Data Hub Series in STEM Data and Data Use features workshops that examine the structure, design, and purpose of multiple datasets that can be analyzed using quantitative, qualitative, and/or multi-method techniques. In these workshops, participants can explore diverse forms of designed data, administrative data, and big data that can be used in STEM research.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Organizations like the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recognize the importance of creating an environment in which all employees feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work. They acknowledge that each employee’s experiences and perspectives are unique and add value to their ability to serve their membership and community. While this example is from a different field, it highlights the broader importance of diversity and inclusion in professional organizations.
The Role of Cookies in Enhancing User Experience
Many websites, including those associated with AERA and related organizations, use cookies to enhance user experience. Cookies are text files stored on the browser of a computer and are used to make the experience on websites more personal and less cumbersome. While users can choose to decline cookies, doing so may affect their ability to access or use certain features of the site.
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