The Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) invites applications for a “Bridge to the Faculty” (B2F) postdoctoral scholar with expertise in school-based social, communication and/or behavioral interventions for adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in urban public schools. B2F is a program designed to recruit and retain historically underrepresented scholars; a successful postdoctoral scholar in this position may be appointed for an additional year and, with department approval, may have the opportunity to transition to a tenure-track faculty position after two years. This initiative aims to attract and retain promising candidates to UIC and diversify our faculty.

The postdoc recruited for this position will contribute to the development of cutting-edge research that aligns with the Department mission of developing innovative interventions to support historically overlooked and underrepresented groups. Specifically, they will conduct research on school-based social communication and/or behavioral interventions for adolescents and young adults with ASD in urban public schools.

The scholar will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities over the two-year postdoctoral period: (a) engage in research with schools in the Chicagoland area that results in the submission of at least one first-author manuscript and one co-authored manuscript per year; (b) disseminate findings of their research activities at one state and one national conference per year; (c) complete an application for external funding from a foundation, state, or federal funding agency as a co-investigator, in collaboration with members of the Department of SPED; and (d) teach one course per year in the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, Disability, and Diversity in Urban Society.

The postdoc will have access to mentors within the department and institutional and departmental resources specifically designed to support their success. This unique opportunity includes structured mentorship while building a successful program of research and gaining experience teaching in higher education. In addition to mentorship within SPED, the selected scholar will participate in a cohort-based mentoring experience through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Engagement, where they will have the opportunity to meet other Bridge to the Faculty Scholars.

Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in Special Education or related field by August 14, 2022. Preference will be given to candidates who: hold Board Certification in Behavior Analysis (BCBA), have expertise in applied behavior analysis, have a background in supporting secondary youth and young adults with ASD in urban settings, have an interest in culturally responsive practices for this population in urban settings that include under-resourced and disenfranchised groups; and have a minimum of two years’ experience working with individuals with ASD in school or clinic-based settings. Highly qualified candidates will have a record of or demonstrated potential for academic publication, experience working on grant-funded projects, and a commitment to obtaining external funding for research, and some experience teaching at university the level.

To Apply:

For full consideration, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, research statement and sample publication by January 29, 2022 to https://jobs.uic.edu/job-board/job-details?jobID=157079:

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities, women, covered veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 

The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=141189