Impact Research and External Relations Specialist PhET Interactive Simulations

PhET Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks an Impact Research and External Relations Specialist to join PhET’s team. Working with the PhET team and collaborators, the successful candidate will gather and synthesize evidence of how PhET is used and the difference it makes for educators and learners, collaborate on reports and communications that share these findings, and research funders and the funding landscape for education and STEM, comparing that landscape with PhET’s own funders and supporters.

They will use these findings to support new proposals, reports on grant outcomes, and PhET’s case for support, helping build lasting relationships with the funders and supporters who sustain PhET’s work. This new position is a 60% appointment (24 hours per week) with full benefits; we will also consider appointments up to full time for the right candidate. There is real room to grow: depending on their strengths, the successful candidate may take the lead on parts of this work.

You will work closely with PhET’s new Director or Senior Director of Impact Research and External Relations, a position being hired at the same time, and with PhET’s Executive Director, Senior Director of Global Initiatives, Business Manager, and education researchers. We build diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and we aim to cultivate a sense of belonging in our team.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder is a world leader in the design and use of interactive math and science simulations for advancing STEM education. The PhET team is dedicated to high-quality STEM education for all students, disseminating PhET simulations as open (free) educational resources globally and pioneering approaches for making interactive content accessible to all learners.

Today, PhET simulations are used more than 250 million times per year globally and are available in more than 130 languages. The PhET team is a passionate, creative, and productive group, including STEM education, simulation, and inclusive design experts, education researchers, software engineers, quality assurance specialists, business strategy and operations specialists, and more. Our project is a blend of an academic research project, an outreach project, and an innovative education technology company, housed within the Department of Physics and working with diverse partners at CU Boulder and around the world.

PhET’s work has received numerous international awards, including the 2019 Open Education Global Award, the 2018 American Physical Society Excellence in Physics Education Award, and a 2017 WISE Award.

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize evidence of PhET’s reach, use, and impact, drawing on usage data, surveys, and stories from educators and learners, working with the PhET team and research collaborators.
• Collaborate on reports, presentations, and other materials that share these findings with funders and supporters, such as one-page summaries, impact stories, and charts of PhET’s reach.
• Research funders whose priorities align with PhET’s work and trends in funding for education and STEM, synthesize findings into funder profiles and briefings, and track funder priorities and deadlines.
• Contribute to the design,…