Barbara B. Jacobs Endowed Chair & Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology

Indiana University

Indiana University

IT
Posted on Sep 27, 2025

Barbara B. Jacobs Endowed Chair & Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology

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Posting Details

Position Details
Title Barbara B. Jacobs Endowed Chair & Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology
Appointment Status Tenure
Department IU Bloomington Instructional Systems Technolology
Location Bloomington
Position Summary
Barbara B. Jacobs Endowed Chair &
Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Technology
(Associate/Full Rank)
School of Education
Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington, the flagship campus of Indiana University and a major research-intensive university, is seeking a visionary leader for the Barbara B. Jacobs Chair faculty position as well as the opportunity to direct the Center for Research on Learning and Technology (https://education.indiana.edu/research/centers/crlt/index.html).

The scholar selected for the endowed Jacobs chair will be at the forefront of advancing teaching and learning through technological innovation, with a commitment to improving K–12 education. The Jacobs Chair receives annual support for five years to advance research, teaching, and service, including outreach to schools and teachers, support for graduate research assistance, and the development of innovative educational initiatives. The Jacobs Chair will reside in the program within the School of Education that best fits their expertise (e.g., Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems Technology, or Curriculum and Instruction). The Jacobs Chair will advance research aligned with the School’s strategic direction, which includes AI in education. The position is at the rank of tenured associate or full professor.

The Jacobs Chair will have the option of directing the Center for Research on Learning and Technology (CRLT). This Center advances both research and design of pioneering learning environments at the intersection of pedagogy, technology, learning theory, and 21st-century knowledge demands. The CRLT Director will be the architect of the Center’s strategic vision—shaping the research agenda; fostering collaborations; supporting faculty in securing external funding; and building a strong community of faculty, staff, and students. The Director will lead a flexible, interdisciplinary team and elevate the CRLT’s national and international profile, with particular emphasis on the rapidly growing area of AI in education.

Responsibilities include:
  • Securing external funding to advance teaching and learning through technological innovations, with preferred emphasis on AI in education.
  • Conducting and disseminating impactful research in leading journals and professional venues.
  • Teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and supervising doctoral research.
  • Cultivating a collaborative and stimulating intellectual community by forging interdisciplinary partnerships across the University and with external organizations, particularly K–12 schools.
  • Collaborating with colleagues across the School, University, and external partners to identify educational challenges and to design and test creative solutions.
  • Engaging in outreach with K–12 schools and educators to connect research with practice.
  • Developing and implementing a strategic vision that positions the IU School of Education as a global leader in education.
Application Procedures
The search committee will begin reviewing applications on October 20, 2025, and continue to accept and review applications until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2026. Applicants should upload the following materials to: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/30737

· A cover letter outlining interest in the position and relevant qualifications.
· A current curriculum vitae.
· A research statement.
· Contact information for three references (references will not be contacted without the applicant’s prior knowledge).

Before a conditional offer of employment with tenure is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers along these lines. The relevance of information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a candidate’s eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University Bloomington on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that Indiana University Bloomington takes matters of sexual and professional misconduct seriously.
Basic Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
We seek a forward-thinking scholar with a well-established record of research, teaching, and service that demonstrates the following qualifications:
· A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree and an exemplary record of research, publications, and external funding commensurate with appointment to a tenured professorship.
· An active research agenda that includes the advancement of teaching and learning through technological innovation.
· A commitment to K–12 education and sufficient expertise to work with K–12 teachers.
Department Contact for Questions
Inquiries about the position may be addressed to the search committee co-chairs, Cindy Hmelo-Silver at chmelosi@iu.edu or Kyungbin Kwon at kwonkyu@iu.edu.
Additional Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
· Expertise in AI in education.
· Experience designing and testing creative solutions for educational challenges.
· Demonstrated experience leading a research center, lab, or similar academic unit is preferred, particularly if interested in directing the CRLT.
Salary and Rank
Special Instructions
For Best Consideration Date 10/20/2025
Expected Start Date 08/01/2026
Posting Number IU-101359-2025

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
  1. Letter of Application
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Research Agenda
  4. List Of References
Optional Documents
  1. Other
  2. Other 2
  3. Other 3