PROGRESS in STEM Education Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postdoctoral Research Opportunities for Greater Retention, Engagement, Scholarship and Success (PROGRESS) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education
Weber State University’s first postdoctoral fellowship program, the PROGRESS Fellowship, will help four postdoctoral fellows become independent teacher-scholars and prepare them for employment at any higher education institution, government agency or in any industry.
Over the course of a two-year fellowship at WSU, the fellows will interact with the College of Science, the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education, and foster engagement all across campus.
The majority of the approximately 66,000 postdoctoral researchers in the United States spend their time advancing scholarship, and the role of teaching is minimized.
However, the PROGRESS Fellowship will place an emphasis on teaching, using the teacher-scholar model for higher education, which is commonly used at regional colleges and universities, and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs).
While some postdoctoral fellowships may include certificates in teaching on top of research responsibilities, our program is unique and leading the field for its focus on training and mentoring future teacher-scholars. Applications are open.
How Weber State Will Prepare You
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WSU and the COS emphasize teaching, and there are multiple faculty members in the college focused on STEM teaching practices, including those in the Center for Science and Math Education. The COS has high teaching standards that are explicit in its promotion and tenure requirements, so PROGRESS fellows will become well-versed in comprehensive, high-impact teaching.
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At WSU, a dual-mission university, PROGRESS fellows would be well positioned to gain the necessary experience for careers at two- or four-year institutions. WSU admits all applicants, resulting in a large cross-section of students enrolled. This provides multiple opportunities for PROGRESS fellows to further develop research and teaching methods to best support a wide variety of students.
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In and out of the classroom, WSU has worked to include high-impact educational experiences (HIEEs), such as course-based undergraduate research, community-engaged learning and on-campus employment. PROGRESS fellows will have the opportunity to integrate HIEEs into their classes and interactions with students.
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PROGRESS fellows will focus on how to manage a research program at a PUI. Faculty in the COS are well-versed in conducting research, in collaboration with undergraduates, and using available resources. Faculty will help PROGRESS fellows develop an appropriate research program that they will be able to build on in their careers as STEM education research scholars.
Postdoc Resources
Documents and information covering PROGRESS Fellowship resources can be found on the associated Canvas class.
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Individual Professional Development Plan
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Postdoctoral Handbook
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Postdoctoral Orientation
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Postdoctoral Association
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Mentoring Information
PROGRESS Program Directors
James Cohen
Department of Botany and Plant Ecology
Assistant Professor
Tracy Hall, Room 424
801-626-6174
jamescohen@weber.edu
Bridget Hilbig
Department of Botany and Plant Ecology
Associate Professor and Chair
Tracy Hall, Room 415
801-626-6176
bridgethilbig@weber.edu
Kristin Rabosky
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Associate Professor
Tracy Hall, Room 324
801-626-7973
kristinrabosky@weber.edu
PROGRESS Advisory Board
- Camila Amaral, University of Utah
- Gennie Parkman, Weber State University
- German Vargas Gutierrez, Oregon State University
The PROGRESS Fellowship was founded by professors James Cohen, Megan Hamilton, Bridget Hilbig and Kristin Rabosky. We gratefully acknowledge their efforts, the National Science Foundation for the funding of this program under NSF - 2329490, and resources provided by WSU and the Colleges of Science and Education.
