Education Fellow

The office of an independent oversight and policy Board of an independent federal agency in the Washington, DC area, that funds a significant portion of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities, is seeking a post- (or an exceptional pre-) doctoral associate to assist it on several potential activities over the next one to two years, including an examination of the role of the federal government in supporting international science and engineering partnerships and a proposed Commission for 21st Century Education in Science, Mathematics and Technology (the Commission). The Commission would make recommendations for implementation of bold new approaches to a long-term national strategy to achieve excellence in U.S. K-16 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. To carry out this mission, the Commission must develop an understanding of the roles and potential of all stakeholders in the process, and a thorough understanding of the suggested strategies and recommendations of previous STEM education studies for improving STEM education in the US.. The Board is holding three hearings to initiate the process for establishing the proposed Commission. The next hearings are scheduled February 10, 2006 in Boulder, Colorado, and March 2006 in Los Angeles, California. These hearings will include spokespersons for employers, school systems, parents, students, academe, State and local government, professional organizations, and Federal agencies and policymakers with an interest in STEM education and the workforce. This process will lead to a decision by the Board, based on input from both the literature and hearings, on the establishment of and charge for a Commission on Education at the March 29-30, 2006 Board meeting.

This fellowship position will require a highly organized individual with excellent written and verbal communication skills. The candidate must be comfortable working with high-level government officials and leaders in academia and industry. Duties of this position will involve organizing, attending and documenting Commission meetings, assisting in development of regular reports of Commission activities, conducting research on behalf of the Board Office and documenting said research by writing short papers, keeping accurate and detailed records of Commission activities, and drafting a final report outlining the ultimate strategy of the Commission.

The Fellow should have a Masters or Ph.D. in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field. The individual should have familiarity with office automation systems and computer knowledge; and some knowledge with procedures regarding record keeping. A successful candidate will also have a proven record of high-level writing skills and be able to provide writing samples upon request. Previous experience with STEM education is preferred. This is an 18 month appointment beginning in February 2006.

Qualified applicants should send a resume and a cover letter to Yolanda Thorpe-Harris, Director of Human Resources, Sigma Xi, P.O. Box 13975, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3975. E-mail: hrdept@sigmaxi.org.