Associate Research Physicist - Science Education

Associate Research Physicist - Science Education

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2023-16759
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research and Laboratory

Princeton University

Overview

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory seeks to fill a postdoctoral position at PPPL in the Science Education Department.

The PPPL Science Education department has a mission of public engagement and workforce development for the US plasma physics and fusion sciences/engineering community. The department leads several programs at a local, national, and international level and for various audiences, including K-12, general public, undergraduate, graduate, and faculty-level. The department contributes to, and often leads, national efforts in public engagement, including the USFusionEnergy.org, the APS-DPP Education and Outreach committee, and the Plasma Network for Engagement and Training (PlasmaNET). It also leads local engagement programs, including the Science on Saturday seminar series (going into its 38th year) and the Young Women’s Conference (going into its 22nd year). The Science Education department also manages the PPPL High School and Undergraduate internship program which hosts ~70 students per year.

The successful candidate will design,manage, and evaluate a variety of learning opportunities within the Science Education Program. The responsibilities include leading workshops, designing new programs, conducting assessment, and leading lab activities, including the remote-controlled experiments. They will support programs for students, faculty and teachers, such as the Introduction to plasma and fusion 2-week course, the graduate summer school, and the undergraduate workshop in plasma physics. They will also support our international collaboration with the IAEA in developing international workshops. They will identify new funding sources and support all other Science Education programs. Finally, successful candidates will be engaged in DEIA initiatives at the lab and in the plasma/fusion community. Awareness and commitment to the advancement of DEIA principles in the field will be required.

A proud U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is a longstanding leader in the science and innovation behind the development of fusion energy — a clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy source. With an eye on the future and in response to national priorities, PPPL also has begun a strategic shift from a singular focus on fusion energy to a multi-focus approach that includes microelectronics, quantum information science, and sustainability science. Whether it be through science, engineering, technology or professional services, every team member has an opportunity to make their mark on our world. PPPL aims to attract and support people with a rich variety of backgrounds, interests, experiences, and cultural viewpoints. We are committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and believe that each member of our team contributes to our scientific mission in their own unique way. Come join us!

Responsibilities

Core Duties:

The successful candidate will support all initiatives but will focus on those that require advanced technical knowledge in physics/engineering, plasma sciences and fusion energy sciences. While the time allocation will vary depending on the candidate’s interests and expertise, as well as evolution in the Science Education priorities, the approximate percentage allocation is:

• 25%- Leading the Science Education Lab, including maintaining and upgrading existing experiments as well as leading new initiatives and mentoring HS and undergraduate students in the lab.
• 25%- Leading/co-leading undergraduate, graduate, and faculty-level workshops in plasma physics and fusion sciences/engineering, including the organization of the annual Introduction to Plasma and Fusion course.
• 20%- Supporting the national public engagement and workforce development initiatives, including the USFusionEnergy.org project, the Pathways to Fusion RENEW Center, and the APS-DPP Education and Outreach activities. This includes traveling to give seminars and develop collaborations with minority serving institutions.
• 10%- Support and participate in local public engagement activities, including the Young Women’s Conference, Bring your Kids to Work day, and Science on Saturday.
• 10%- Coleading international collaboration with IAEA, including the organization and participation in international workshops and trainee events.
• 10% Supporting data acquisition efforts for longitudinal studies and other educational assessment tools.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Applicant is required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent in plasma physics (or related field).

• Public engagement experience is required (e.g., outreach talks, leading local tours, participation in the DPP Expo, etc.). Awareness and commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the field is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Preference will be given to candidates with extensive experience in science education, including teaching, curriculum development, and outreach. Additionally, preference will be given to candidates with DEIA training, including but not limited to antibias, cultural competency, and antiracism training.

Physical Requirements:

• Applicant is expected to be at PPPL >50% of the time.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from participation in certain foreign government talent recruitment programs. All PPPL employees are required to disclose any participation in a foreign government talent recruitment program and may be required to withdraw from such programs to remain employed under the DOE Contract.

PI218113416