Linguistics; Postdoctoral Research Associate-Fixed Term

Lsadc; East Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate to manage community partnerships, develop lesson plans, and prepare reports. This position focuses on sociolinguistic data collection and collaboration with schools, starting August 15, 2025.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree required by August 15, 2025.
• Experience developing curricula for K-12.

Responsibilities

• Managing community partnerships with Michigan middle schools.
• Developing lesson plans for grades 5-10.
• Preparing reports or manuscripts on community outreach.

Skills

Sociolinguistics

K-12 Education

Project Administration

Education

Doctoral degree in Education

PhD in Sociolinguistics

EdD in Education

Job description

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate. Responsibilities include managing community partnerships with Michigan middle schools, developing lesson plans for grades 5-10, manuscript preparation, and project maintenance. This is a fixed-term, annual position beginning August 15, 2025, with renewal contingent on performance and funding.

The successful applicant will join the MI Diaries project, which collects sociolinguistic data from Michiganders across the state. The position primarily involves developing partnerships with middle and high school classrooms, creating lesson plans based on MI Diaries data (in partnership with WGVU PBS Station), supporting project maintenance, and preparing reports or manuscripts on community outreach in collaboration with the principal investigator, Betsy Sneller. Applicants with a successful record in sociolinguistics and K-12 education are especially encouraged, as working with schools is a critical component. There are no teaching responsibilities associated with this position.

Position Details

• Title: Linguistics; Postdoctoral Research Associate - Fixed Term
• Organization: Michigan State University, Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures (LiLaC)
• Location: East Lansing, MI, United States
• Posting Start Date: 4/28/2025
• Date Posted: 5/15/2025

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Education, Sociolinguistics, or a related field by August 15, 2025

Desired Qualifications

• Additional training in Education, Sociolinguistics, or related fields (e.g., PhD in Sociolinguistics with a BA or MA in Education, or an EdD in Education with a BA or MA in Sociolinguistics)
• Experience developing curricula for K-12
• Experience in outreach to school districts and maintaining community partnerships
• Project administration skills
• A research agenda intersecting with this position

Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit:

1. a cover letter
2. current curriculum vitae
3. a sample lesson plan for a class on any topic, for grades 5-10
4. a 1-page diversity, equity, and inclusion philosophy statement, including past or planned activities and how the candidate will promote inclusive excellence. For guidance, see MSU’s DEI efforts and guidelines for diversity statements.
5. names and contact information of 3 referees

Apply here: MSU Careers

Contact Information

Address:
619 Red Cedar Road
B331 Wells Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824, United States

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]