Assistant/Associate Professors: Learning Analytics, Clinical Simulation

The Department of Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is seeking two assistant/associate professors for its Division of Professional Education. The positions are full-time on the tenure-track, with rank and salary commensurate with education and experience.  We seek an innovative scholar with special interest and expertise in learning analytics and another with special interest and expertise in simulation training.  Their backgrounds may be based in a wide range of learning, cognitive, and computer sciences such as (but not restricted to): education, informatics, psychology, sociology, and human factors.  Prior experience in health professions education is not required.  To see these job descriptions online, go to https://dlhs-umi.ch/jobs.

Learning analytics position.  We seek candidates in the field of large-scale learning and behavioral data analytics who will focus on understanding, designing, and evaluating systems to advance teaching and learning in formal and informal educational settings. Successful candidates will combine insights from the learning, cognitive, and computer sciences approaches to working with data generated by teachers and learners interacting in face-to-face, blended, and online contexts. Candidates with experience in experimental and developmental research to build, validate, and effectively employ analytic technologies or techniques that make a positive impact on learning and teaching will be well-suited to this position. Examples include (but are not limited to) research on: behavioral interventions for learners; visualizations of learners/learning to support teaching; the use and impact of social media and other online tools in learning/teaching; feedback systems for learners; or adaptive/personalized learning and tutoring systems.

Clinical simulation position.  We seek candidates who will focus on understanding, designing, and evaluating systems to support teaching and learning using simulation techniques and approaches.  Successful candidates will combine insights from the learning, cognitive, engineering, and computer science approaches to working with multidisciplinary teams of colleagues to improve the effectiveness of clinical simulation in enhancing practitioner learning, health care quality, operational efficiency, and learning at all levels.  Candidates with experience in experimental and developmental research to build, validate, and deploy simulation technologies or techniques that make a positive impact on learning and teaching will be well-suited for this position.  Examples include (but are not limited to) research on new simulator development; evaluation of high, medium, and low fidelity simulators for training in clinical procedures; development and evaluation of self-directed simulation-based training programs; virtual reality simulation for clinical practice, impact of simulation-based training on clinical skills and patient safety outcomes, and validation of simulation-based assessment tools to measure clinician’s knowledge, procedural, and communication skills. 

Responsibilities for both positions.

•             Develop and conduct an externally funded research program aligned with the division’s mission and in the area of the individual’s scholarly interest.

•             Foster scholarly initiatives with other faculty members for improving health professions education.

•             Participate as a faculty member teaching in the Department’s and Division’s educational programs such as the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) Program and the Health Infrastructures & Learning Systems (HILS) MS/PhD program

•             Expand and participate in the innovative educational offerings and learning laboratory of the Clinical Simulation Center.

•             Provide leadership and service addressing health care provider learning, primarily on the development, delivery, and evaluation of innovative programs to enhance medical and health science student learning, but also including learning by practicing health care professionals.

Start-up package are available to help the successful candidates establish a sustainable research program. Joint appointments with other departments across the University will be available and encouraged.

Qualifications.  Applicants must have:

•             A terminal research degree (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

•             A clear research focus on either learning analytics or simulation training, and possibly other areas of educational innovation related to the mission of the Division.

•             A record of scholarly achievement and funding capabilities appropriate to the applicant’s seniority and professional experience.

•             Demonstrated potential for successfully teaching students and practitioners, preferably in health care professions. 

•             Exceptional organizational and communication skills for work in an interdisciplinary department.

Application. To apply, assemble and submit the following information:

• Letter of application that indicates the position applied for (learning analytics or simulation training) and addresses the five qualifications listed above as applied to the position description.

• Current curriculum vitae.

Application materials should be sent by email to:

Tana O’Lone (tdeclerc@umich.edu)

Associate Administrator, Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Department of Learning Health Sciences (DLHS). The DLHS is a first-in-the-nation academic department focused on learning applied to health at all levels of scale: individuals, teams, organizations, and ultra-large scale systems. DLHS operates in three divisions: (1) The Division of Professional Education primarily addresses learning by individuals and teams (2) The Division of Learning and Knowledge Systems primarily focuses on learning at higher levels of scale. (3) The Clinical Simulation Center deploys advanced simulation technology and conducts a related program of research.

Division of Professional Education (DPE). Within DLHS, this Division is an interdisciplinary community of scientists focused on improving health professions education through innovation, research, and excellence in teaching. The DPE incorporates a team of nationally recognized scholars in educational program design, learner assessment, curriculum development, and program evaluation. The faculty focus on developing novel and innovative approaches to teaching and learning within the rapidly changing health care landscape. Our department has a long history of inter-professional education and our faculty collaborate closely with other health sciences schools and colleges across the university to facilitate sharing of pedagogical knowledge, best practices, and innovation experiments.

Clinical Simulation Center (CSC).  The CSC is an innovative learning laboratory providing immersive simulation training for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals at the student, graduate training, and practitioner levels.  Its mission is to advance best practices in health care education and improve patient safety through the development of effective simulation-based instruction, robust assessment, and rigorous research. The CSC plays an integral role in leading change by studying how learning can be improved through simulation-based education.  Its research focuses on advanced simulation methods and continuous evaluation and improvement of our programs.  Faculty with academic appointments in the DPE who are interested in clinical simulation training typically also have administrative appointments in the CSC. 

For further information about the DLHS, the DPE, and the CSC, see http://lhs.medicine.umich.edu.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.