Associate Research Scholar Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Center for Empowered Learning and Development with Technology (CELDTech) is looking for a postdoctoral research scholar to start on November 1, 2025. The successful candidate will work on the National Institutes of Health-funded CRITmetic Project, which is a multi-year project that includes the design and development of a digital literacy and mental health intervention.

Applications are strongly encouraged from developmental scientists with expertise at the intersection of Black and/or Latine adolescent development and digital studies. More specifically, we have a project that will use a liberatory design lens to create an online mental health intervention. The successful candidate would also have access to datasets focused on digital learning, critical digital literacy and race-related experiences online.

Our new postdoc will work closely with CELDTech's director, Brendesha Tynes, in all research and design phases including curriculum design, prototyping, interview protocols, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, and research presentations at national conferences. The role will also involve project management, including managing data analyses and manuscript writing. There will be some management tasks that require working with the grants administration office, members of the research team, and research participants to ensure that the project runs smoothly. The scholar will also work on their own research projects 20% of the time and receive mentoring in their role as principal investigator.

CELDTech is committed to conducting methodologically rigorous research on how students learn and develop with technology in schools and beyond. We also design and develop liberatory educational technology. CELDTech draws on cutting-edge learning and developmental science to foreground students' histories, cultural assets and needs. Recent projects include a national study of critical race digital literacy, a survey of culturally sustaining online learning, and the design of a platform to teach adolescents racial coping skills.

Applicants should have a completed PhD in developmental, clinical or educational psychology, human development, education, African American Studies, computer science or a related field. They should also have a solid publication record for a scholar just obtaining their doctorate. This position is a full-time, 12-month appointment, with the possibility of renewal. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The annual base salary range for this position is $67,000 to $70,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Letter of interest, three sample publications, current vita, and contact information for three letters of reference.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email atuschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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