New

Postdoctoral Scholar

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
Jun 25, 2025
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the termlengthdiscussed willbebasedonuniversityneed,performance,and/oravailabilityoffunding. POSITION SPECIFICS The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position in the Bilingual Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Lab. This is a full-time, term appointment funded for one year from date of hire, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and available funding. The postdoctoral scholar will play a key role in establishing and coordinating the activities of a newly created research lab focused on bilingual AAC. The lab is dedicated to advancing culturally and linguistically responsive AAC interventions for multilingual children with complex communication needs and their families. In addition to conducting research, the scholar will support infrastructure development, research management, and collaborative engagement with project partners. Key responsibilities include: Assisting in the setup and coordination of the Bilingual AAC Lab's research infrastructure Conducting qualitative and mixed-methods research on bilingual AAC assessment and intervention Developing and refining family coaching and professional development materials Supporting school-based implementation efforts in collaboration with educators and families Managing IRB protocols, participant recruitment, and data collection activities Analyzing data from interviews, focus groups, and field observations using established qualitative frameworks Contributing to the design and evaluation of digital training tools for professionals and caregivers Preparing manuscripts, research presentations, and external funding proposals Providing mentorship and supervision to graduate research assistants and student collaborators Qualifications: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Special Education, Applied Linguistics, Psychology, or a related field by the time of appointment. Successful candidates will demonstrate: Experience with or strong interest in AAC, bilingual language development, or disability studies Familiarity with qualitative or mixed-methods research methodologies Strong organizational and project coordination skills Experience working with families, schools, or multilingual communities A commitment to equity-focused, family-centered research and practice Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scholarly writing Experience with participatory research, AAC system design, translanguaging, or Spanish language proficiency is highly desirable. The successful candidate will be recruited as soon as possible, but no later than early Fall 2025. For questions, please contact Dr. Gloria Soto (gloriasoto@psu.edu). BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. BENEFITS Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. 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