Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor Susanna Loeb

SCALE Qualitative Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity with Professor Susanna Loeb

The SCALE Initiative is seeking at least one postdoctoral fellow who will contribute to SCALE's research by designing and conducting qualitative studies focused on understanding the implementation of educational programs, policies, and interventions within empirical research settings. Qualitative research will often be embedded within larger quantitative evaluations, including randomized controlled trials that examine implementation processes, contextual factors, and conditions that shape program effectiveness. Responsibilities may include conducting interviews, focus groups, and observations; analyzing qualitative data; producing research publications and reports for external stakeholders; and building and sustaining relationships with education partners. A key goal is for the fellow to develop projects for subsequent publication and contribute to SCALE's broader research agenda.

About The SCALE Initiative
The vision of the SCALE Initiative is to transform the landscape of educational opportunity by leveraging knowledge and insights for better education decision-making. The initiative aims to produce research that identifies, supports, and helps to scale promising solutions across diverse issues in K-12 education. It also engages decision-makers (e.g. policy makers, district and school leaders, teachers, and supporting non-profits) to integrate research, policy, and practice to effect positive change for learners. 

The SCALE Initiative conducts rigorous research in partnership with educators on how to scale promising educational solutions to advance the knowledge base, empowering practitioners and policymakers to make informed decisions that make education systems more equitable and effective for all students. Our research falls into three buckets: understanding impact, understanding the landscape, and understanding the enabling conditions. Underpinning this approach is the potential for identifying avenues that can transform education practice and policy to increase equity and opportunities for all students. The SCALE Initiative partners with school districts, service providers, and umbrella organizations across the country to learn about the effectiveness of new and innovative programs, to learn about features of programs that drive effective, to better understand the challenges to implementation and how to overcome those challenges, and to utilize the unique data provided by tutoring to better understand teaching and learning.  The following projects are housed under SCALE Initiative:

 National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA)

The National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) is a project within the SCALE Initiative. Research within the NSSA is devoted to examining how to provide this relationship-based, personalized instruction across contexts and to translating research into promising action on the ground via research-backed tools and engagement. The NSSA’s vision is that every K-12 student in need will have access to an effective tutor that champions and ensures their learning and success. 

 AI Hub for Education

The AI Hub for Education delivers trusted research, insights, and tools for K12 education leaders to leverage generative AI to benefit students, schools, and learning. We partner with school districts, policymakers, and edtech innovators to research effects, leverage data, and bridge the gap between AI’s potential and real-world impact. The AI Hub’s research agenda focuses on four key areas to understand and impact AI Hub for Education in K-12 education: 1) An understanding of the transformative potential of AI in education; 2) Landscape mapping of tools and conditions that support effective use of AI; 3) Enabling conditions necessary for successful and responsible integration of AI tools; and 4) Real-world impact of AI tools on students and schools.  

 At the SCALE Initiative, our guiding principles for conducting research are to:

• Prioritize Student Engagement, Relationships, and Learning: Focus on what leads to greater student engagement and connection to enhance learning and well-being
• Champion Equity: Commit to challenging and disrupting systems of inequality
• Be Responsive and Nimble: Address urgent, real-time topics that policy makers and practitioners face, delivering timely, actionable insights
• Foster Collaboration: Co-generate questions with partners and work together to solve pressing issues
• Ensure Rigor: Uphold high standards of quality and rigor in research, contributing meaningful advancements to the field
• Be Impact-Driven: Actively translate research for policy makers and practitioners by developing tools and engaging stakeholders
• Be Passionate and Have Fun: Collaborate with a dedicated team of researchers who have a shared mission to create meaningful change and have fun doing it

Mentorship structure
The postdoctoral fellow will join a vibrant community of researchers at SCALE, including a cohort of postdoctoral fellows who provide opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, and professional support. The fellow will meet regularly with Professor Susanna Loeb, who will provide mentorship on research design, study implementation, publications, and career development. As part of SCALE, the fellow will engage with faculty, research staff, and fellow postdocs through collaborative research, intellectual exchange, and professional development opportunities. The fellow will also have opportunities to build relationships with school districts and education organizations across the country. In addition, the fellow will be part of the broader Stanford Graduate School of Education community, with access to research seminars, guest speakers, and other scholarly activities.
 
SCALE is committed to creating a diverse community of scholars who are engaged in contributing to the understanding and advancement of more equitable and effective educational opportunities for students. All members of the team are expected to participate in professional development, cohort-building, and other programmatic activities organized by SCALE.
 
Evaluation criteria

• Ability to identify, motivate, and design rigorous research studies that address important questions in education policy and practice
• Experience managing and analyzing large-scale administrative data using econometric techniques and/or designing and implementing randomized controlled trials
• Strong quantitative research skills, including proficiency in statistical programming software such as Stata, R, or Python
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain research partnerships with educators, school districts, and education organizations, including strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated record of producing diverse research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, working papers, research briefs, and other practitioner- or policy-oriented research products
• Strong commitment to educational equity, inclusion, and systems change, with an appreciation for multiple forms of diversity

 
Timeline

• Application Deadline: Application will remain open until filled.
• Application review will begin January 19, 2027. 
• Applicants advancing in the review process may be asked to submit additional materials, including three (3) letters of recommendation or references, and may be invited to interview.
• This is a 1-year appointment starting Summer 2027, with strong potential for renewal.