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Inside Higher Ed

Postdoctoral Research Associate Virtual Reality and Educational Innovation

Inside Higher Ed, Gainesville, Florida, us, 32635

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Postdoctoral Research Associate – Virtual Reality and Educational Innovation Job No:

537499

Work Type:

Full Time

Location:

Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Department:

DW-DIGITAL WORLD

Classification Title:

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Virtual Reality and Educational Innovation

Categories:

Education/Training/Instructional Design, Grant or Research Administration

The University of Florida (UF) is accepting applications for a full-time OPS Postdoctoral Associate position in the Digital Worlds Institute. This dynamic research position focuses on immersive technologies and educational innovation. The Postdoctoral Associate will collaborate with faculty, students, and development teams to advance projects that examine how virtual reality (VR) and eye‑tracking technologies can be leveraged to enhance learning, instructional design, and educational outcomes. Applicants should demonstrate expertise in experimental research design, human‑computer interaction, and technology‑enhanced education. The successful candidate will be detail‑oriented, able to manage multiple projects, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigm shifts in the arts and beyond. As artists and scholars, we embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our students and faculty to shape that experience fearlessly through critical study, creative practice, and provocation. We seek a colleague who identifies as a change‑maker and who will prepare students to access and unsettle centers of power in a radically changing world, positioning emerging artists and researchers as catalysts for change on local and global levels.

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and evaluate VR‑based experimental studies incorporating eye‑tracking to investigate visual attention and learning processes.

Collect, process, and analyze multi‑modal datasets (e.g., eye‑tracking, behavioral, performance metrics) to study learner behaviors and outcomes.

Develop research protocols and ensure compliance with ethical standards for human‑subjects research.

Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and development teams to refine VR instructional tools and integrate eye‑tracking into immersive learning environments.

Disseminate research findings through peer‑reviewed publications and presentations at leading conferences in Human‑Computer Interaction and Educational Technology.

Required Qualifications

Doctoral degree in Computer Science, Human‑Computer Interaction, Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, Cognitive Science, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated research experience with VR and/or eye‑tracking technologies.

Technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence.

Strong quantitative, qualitative, or mixed‑methods research skills.

Record of publications and presentations in relevant fields.

Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration.

Salary USD $65,000 - $72,000 (Negotiable based on qualifications and experience).

Location and Schedule Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; some after‑hours and weekend activities may occur depending on research schedules. Other than occasional off‑campus assignments, duties are performed on the UF main campus in Gainesville, Florida.

Application Process

Letter of Interest

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Names and contact information of three professional references

Applications must be submitted through the University of Florida's online application system. Complete the application and attach the required materials no later than 11:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on

November 15th .

Expected Hire Spring 2026

Contact Hyo Kang, Assistant Professor hkang2@ufl.edu

Additional Information Health Assessment Required: No

Applications Close: 15 November 2025

Time‑Limited Position

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States. The search is conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law and is free from discrimination.

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