Title: Researcher (2 positions)

Job Purpose

The American Historical Association (AHA) seeks two full-time researchers for its project, Mapping the Landscape of Secondary US History Education. Through this two-year, grant-funded initiative, the AHA is researching how state and local authorities develop curriculum standards in US history and how district administrators and teachers translate those standards into classroom practice. The project aspires to establish an empirical grounding for ongoing civic deliberations about the teaching of US history in American classrooms.

At the direction of the project director and research coordinator, the researchers will collaborate in reviewing state and district-level secondary school curriculum standards in American history, inclusive of state legislation, official guidelines, textbooks, and web-based teacher resources. Researchers will be responsible for identifying and collecting source bases, conducting qualitative analyses of curriculum, assembling local legislative histories of education policy, and synthesizing findings in both quantitative and narrative forms.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Conduct content analysis of curricular materials related to US History.
• Identify and review state and local legislation related to curriculum policy.
• Collaborate with the research team to develop assessment criteria related to US History content.
• Compose and submit regular reports on documents reviewed.
• Regularly enter data into project-management and tracking tools.
• Attend regular online meetings with the research team.
• Contribute to ongoing review and revision of research plan.
• Attend occasional academic conferences to present and solicit feedback on research in-progress.
• Stay informed of developments in American history education policy and social studies curriculum.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications/Key Attributes

• PhD in US History or closely related subject.
• Teaching experience in survey courses covering US History (at any level, K-16)
• Familiarity with the US educational system.
• Familiarity with topics and concepts covered in typical high school survey courses in US history.
• Grounding in historical thinking and commitment to scholarly integrity.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Experience working as part of a team.
• Ability to self-manage and time-manage in a remote work environment.
• Effective communication skills—strong writing and editorial skills.
• Legal status to work in the United States.

SALARY/BENEFITS: $60,000. Benefits package includes competitive medical and life insurance and a qualified retirement plan.

FLSA STATUS: Exempt.

DATE POSTED: May 12, 2022. Review of applications will begin on May 27, 2022, and continue until the positions are filled.

APPLICATION:  Upload an Application Packet as a single PDF. Include a cover letter, resume/cv, and list of three references.

To apply, log into your MY AHA account at historians.org/myaha; click “Available Application Forms” in the AHA Awards, Grants, and Jobs section; and select the "Researcher" link. If you don't have an account, create one for free at historians.org/createaccount.

For more information about the AHA, visit historians.org. For more on the Teaching History with Integrity initiative, visit https://www.historians.org/news-and-advocacy/teaching-history-with-integrity. Questions regarding the AHA or the search should be sent to Dr. Sarah Weicksel, director of research and publications, at sweicksel@historians.org.

*This job description is not intended to describe every job duty or responsibility that the AHA requires of the person in this position.

*The AHA is an equal opportunity employer.

LOCATION, SCHEDULE, AND TRAVEL: Full-time (through April 2024), option of fully remote or onsite in Washington, DC, Monday through Friday. Required travel to the AHA annual meeting and other conferences as determined by the research team.