(Postdoctoral) Research Scientist in AI for Education

(Postdoctoral) Research Scientist in AI for Education

Requisition Number: 71963 Location: Boulder, Colorado Employment Type: Research Faculty Schedule: Full Time Posting Close Date: 01-Jul-2026

Job Summary

The Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in AI for Education. This role focuses on investigating how AI technologies, co-designed with students and practitioners and deployed in real-world educational settings, can improve educator and student outcomes.

This position is ideal for a recent PhD graduate interested in the design, implementation, and research of AI for education. You will collaborate with project team members, partner educational service providers, educators, and students to develop AI learning technologies and help scale them to new contexts. This role offers interdisciplinary experience within a multidisciplinary team, opportunities to hone research skills, and hands-on experience conducting applied research and evaluation in real-world educational settings.

CU Boulder 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.

Who We Are

This work will be conducted within a vibrant and world-class research and development environment, collaborating with a team of researchers in Computer Science, Cognitive Science, and Education, as well as designers, developers, and partner educational service providers.

We are housed in the Institute of Cognitive Science (ICS; www.colorado.edu/ics), dedicated to enhancing human cognition, learning, and development through interdisciplinary partnerships. ICS fosters scientific interchange across a broad range of fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Psychology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Philosophy, and Education. ICS serves as an incubator for research centers and projects such as the NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (www.isat.ai) and the Hybrid Human-Agent Tutoring Technology (www.colorado.edu/research/hat).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, testing, and evaluation of conversational AI technologies for classrooms.
• Coordinate with internal development teams to ensure conversational AI tools are usable, valuable, and scalable within real classrooms and educational contexts.
• Support educators in testing new and existing versions of AI tools and technologies in classrooms.
• Lead research dissemination activities, including data analysis and paper authorship.

What You Should Know

• This is a 1 to 3-year grant-funded position, with an initial one-year contract pending a six-month probationary period.
• The contract is renewable annually based on performance and funding availability.
• The desired start date is September 1, 2026.
• This is a hybrid position, but the candidate must be located in the Denver Metro area.

What We Can Offer

• Salary range: $65,000 - $85,000, based on experience and qualifications.
• Up to $2,500 in relocation assistance.
• Eligibility for medical, dental, life insurance, and retirement benefits programs.
• Eligibility for monthly vacation and sick leave accruals.

Benefits

The University of Colorado Boulder (https://www.colorado.edu/) is committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of its employees. Our comprehensive benefits package (https://www.colorado.edu/jobs/benefits) includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for employees and dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As a major employer in Boulder County, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage (https://advantage.cu.edu/campus/cu-boulder) program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• PhD in computer science, human-computer interaction, or a related field.
• Multiple first-author publications in key AIED publication venues (AIED, EDM, LAK, CHI, CSCW, Cognitive Science).
• Experience working with conversational AI technologies that support collaborative learning in classrooms.
• Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary research project involving technology developers, computer scientists, curriculum developers, and educators.

What You Will Need

• A strong theoretical background in the learning sciences and the cognitive science of learning.
• Demonstrated strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently to advance projects in ambiguous or evolving contexts.
• Demonstrated willingness to actively contribute to project success.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Current resume/CV.
2. Cover letter specifically outlining your unique qualifications for this role.
3. PDF Sample of Work.

(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If selected as a finalist, your degree will be verified by CU Boulder Campus Human Resources. If your degree was obtained outside the United States, please submit an English-translated version as an optional document.

Application Deadline: 7/1/2026

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. Please submit applications through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you may redact or remove age-identifying information (e.g., age, date of birth, dates of school attendance or graduation) from submitted materials without penalty.

To apply, visit: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Postdoctoral-Research-Scientist-in-AI-for-Education/71963

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The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.