Post Doctoral Fellow - Skills

ETS; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ETS is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to research on future-ready competencies in STEM education, with emphasis on mathematics and assessment. The role focuses on how learners develop collaboration, critical thinking, and communication within authentic contexts.

The position is a one-year appointment at ETS Research Institute, with possibility of renewal. Strong quantitative and mixed-methods skills, and programming in R or Python, are preferred.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. completed within the past three years or expected before start date.
• Strong background in STEM education, measurement, and AI-related education research.
• Experience analyzing assessment data and publishing findings.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct studies on competency-based STEM learning and pathways.
• Analyze data and develop validity arguments for measuring future-ready skills.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary ETS teams and external partners.
• Disseminate findings through journals and conferences.

Skills

STEM education

Mathematics education

Learning sciences

Educational measurement

Human-AI collaboration

Programming (R, Python)

Education

Ph.D. in STEM education or related field

Tools

R

Python

Job description

About ETS ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners worldwide to be future-ready. For more than 75 years, we've been advancing the science of measurement to build benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment across cultures and borders. Our worldwide impact extends through our renowned assessments including TOEFL®, TOEIC®, GRE® and Praxis® tests, serving millions of learners in more than 200 countries and territories. Through strategic acquisitions, we've expanded our global capabilities: PSI strengthens our workforce assessment solutions, while Edusoft, Kira Talent, Pipplet, Vericant, and Wheebox enhance our educational technology and assessment platforms across critical markets worldwide.

Through ETS Research Institute and ETS Solutions, we're partnering with educational institutions, governments, and organizations globally to promote skill proficiency, empower upward mobility, and unlock opportunities for everyone, everywhere. With offices and partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, we deliver nearly 50 million tests annually. Join us in our journey of measuring progress to power human progress worldwide.

Position Summary

The Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to research initiatives within the Center for Advancing Human Competencies at the ETS Research Institute. Research work will focus on how K-12 education can better prepare students for future STEM pathways by conducting innovative, high-quality research on how future-ready human capabilities are developed, demonstrated, supported and measured within authentic disciplinary learning contexts, with an emphasis on STEM education, especially mathematics, and preparation for future STEM pathways. This role is designed for an early-career scholar who have recently completed their doctoral degrees and aim to advance research at the intersection of STEM learning, assessment, and skills development. The role will study how students demonstrate skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking, communication, through disciplinary learning. The role will also examine how educators recognize, interpret, and use evidence of these skills within existing standards, curricula, assessments, and instruction. The postdoctoral fellowship will be a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent on funding.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute research projects on competency-based STEM learning, skills development, and STEM pathways.
• Study how K-12 learning and teaching can integrate skills-based or competency-based approaches to better prepare students for future STEM pathways and AI-era STEM workforce opportunities.
• Support innovation by contributing to skills assessment tools and practical resources.
• Apply quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, or computational methods to analyze student competencies, disciplinary practices, human-AI interaction, and assessment evidence.
• Contribute to the development of skills indicators, competency maps, validity arguments for measuring future-ready skills in STEM contexts.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across ETS and external partners.
• Disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and internal reports.
• Contribute to proposals for externally funded research projects.
• Strong background in one or more areas: STEM education, mathematics education, learning sciences, educational measurement, human-AI collaboration, or a related field.
• Experience in analyzing assessment data, process data, or human-AI interactions.
• Experience with STEM pathways, career-connected STEM education, K-12 system reform.
• Strong quantitative, mixed-methods, computational research skills, or programming skills (e.g., R, Python)preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in diverse, interdisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to ethical and responsible research practices.

Education And Experience

• Ph.D. in mathematics education, science education, STEM education, learning sciences, educational psychology, educational measurement, or related field completed within the past three years or expected before the start date.

ETS is mission driven and action oriented. We are passionate about hiring innovative thinkers who believe in the promise of education and lifelong learning. We are energized by cultivating growth, innovation, and continuous transformation for the next generation of rising professionals as leaders. In support of this ETS offers multiple Business Resource Groups (BRG) for you to learn and advance your career growth! As a not-for-profit organization we will encourage you to lean in to your passion for volunteering. At ETS you may qualify for up to an additional 8 hours of PTO for volunteer work on causes that are important to you! The base salary range advertised represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base pay is only one aspect of the Total Rewards Package that will be offered to the successful candidate. ETS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in creating a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.