Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow

About the School of Education:
The VCU School of Education, ranked #16 among public schools of education and #9 for funded research
activity per faculty member by U.S. News and World Report, advances learning and knowledge through
impactful research, teaching, and engagement. As part of a major urban, minority-serving research
university, we mobilize partnerships and resources to drive progressive change and improve education for
all. From our base in the heart of Richmond, VA, our work bridges campus and community to inform
policies, programs, and practices that make a lasting impact.

Position Summary:
The VCU School of Education invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in queer and
trans studies in education, particularly in critical and queer quantitative methodologies. This fellowship
provides opportunities to conduct innovative, equity-centered research, publish scholarship, and prepare
grant applications while engaging with a diverse, supportive academic community.
This Postdoctoral Fellowship will focus on queer and trans studies in education, with particular emphasis
on queer quantitative methodologies. Working with Dr. Kamden Strunk as the primary supervisor, the
Fellow will engage in research projects, grant development, and scholarly writing. Teaching opportunities
(up to one course per semester) will be available based on the Fellow’s expertise and interests.
Specific projects on which this Postdoctoral Fellow would work include:

• National Science Foundation funded work to understand the experiences of LGBTQ
  undergraduate STEM majors. This project involves a systematic literature review and multi-phase
  survey of undergraduate students using QuantQueer methodologies and applying
  person-centered methodological techniques such as cluster analysis, latent class analysis, and
  latent profile analysis.
• Developing a national dataset of higher education policies and practices around sexual
  orientation and gender identity, with the ultimate goal of pairing this with perception-based data
  from LGBTQ students to understand the multilevel interactions of experiences, campus policies
  and practices, and state-level policies.
• Work to expand and improve the ways that higher education institutions collect and use faculty
  data around sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Other projects related to queer studies, critical quantitative methodologies (including QuantCrit,
  QuantQueer, and others), and equity in education as they are available and relevant.

This position will have responsibilities including: 

• Conduct systematic literature reviews and literature searches.
• Design and evaluate survey instruments, including item development, content validation,
  structural analysis, and validity testing.
• Write and publish work related to queer and trans studies in education, as well as critical
  quantitative methodologies.
• Develop competitive external funding proposals, including foundation and federal grants.
• Participate in mentoring student researchers along with the project PI.
• Teach up to one course per semester, as appropriate to the Fellow’s background and expertise. 

As a Postdoctoral Fellowship, the person selected for this position will receive ongoing mentoring with
their primary supervisor and other School of Education faculty, in addition to structured training and
education opportunities to help them advance their skills. Exact mentoring and professional development
plans will be developed in collaboration with Dr. Kamden Strunk after hire to tailor those to the specific
skill set and need areas of the selected individual.

This position is grant funded and renewable for two years, assuming adequate performance of the individual hired.

Required Qualifications (must meet all of these requirements) 

• Ph.D. in Education or closely related field
• Familiarity with quantitative research methods
• Familiarity with queer and trans studies scholarship 
• Experience in writing for publication
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 

Preferred Qualifications (these elements would strengthen an application) 

• Experience with and knowledge of critical quantitative methodological approaches such as
  QuantCrit and QuantQueer
• Experience with and knowledge of critical theoretical frameworks
• Experience with developing external funding and grant proposals

Required Materials

• Cover Letter outlining the applicant’s qualifications for the position and reasons for pursuing this
  fellowship
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Writing sample (e.g., recent publication) that highlights the applicant’s communication skills and
  research abilities
• Names and contact information for three references 

This position is eligible for VCU’s full postdoctoral benefits package, which includes options for health
insurance, paid leave, retirement plan participation, and more. To learn more about postdoctoral benefits,
visit: https://research.vcu.edu/resources/postdoctoral-services/postdoctoral-benefits/

For questions about this position, contact Dr. Kamden Strunk (strunkk2@vcu.edu). We welcome
applications from candidates who may not meet all “preferred qualifications,” but bring strong skills and a
deep commitment to equity-oriented queer and trans educational research.

For full consideration of your application, apply by March 1st, 2025. The position remains open until filled.

Tentative Start Date:
May 15, 2025 or August 15, 2025

Requested Salary Range:

$58,000-$62,000

Salary Range: $58,000- $62,000

Position Details:

Department: SOE Foundations
Employment Type: PD - Post Doc
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100.00
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Kamden Strunk

Contact Email: strunkk2@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: 

Salary : $58,000 - $62,000