Adapted from the work of Walker, G. E., Golde, C. M., Jones, L., Bueschel, A. C., & Hutchings, P. (2009). The formation of scholars: Rethinking doctoral education for the twenty-first century (Vol. 11). John Wiley & Sons.
Leading Engineering as Agents of Change and Equity (LEGACY)
Founded by Ohio State College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard in 2021, the LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholars Program was established to prepare and diversify the next generation of engineering leaders in academia. While LEGACY is designed to develop underrepresented minority scholars, the program is open to all qualified applicants regardless of racial or ethnic identity.
Why Ohio State
A unique feature of the LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholars Program at Ohio State is its focus on intersectional mentorship. Scholars and mentors will engage in authentic conversations that promote a culture of inclusivity.
Additional program features include:
Engagement with professional and personal mentors
Participation in a two-year cohort with other LEGACY postdocs
Establishment of a community co-created by scholars
Professional development in areas of need for success as a tenure-track faculty
Formative and summative professional feedback about progress
Transition to a faculty position in the College of Engineering
Our Goals
Diversity Increase the number of underrepresented minority postdocs who transition to faculty positions in the college
Diversity
Increase the number of underrepresented minority postdocs who transition to faculty positions in the college
Mentoring Establish quality mentoring relationships that advance the careers of scholars
Mentoring
Establish quality mentoring relationships that advance the careers of scholars
Research Enhance the research, teaching and service portfolios of scholars
Research
Enhance the research, teaching and service portfolios of scholars
Community Build and enhance scholarly communities in their fields, the college and the university
Community
Build and enhance scholarly communities in their fields, the college and the university
Freeform Text
Message from our Dean
Vertical Spacer
Disciplinary Focus
2023-2024 LEGACY Disciplinary Focus
The LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholar will hold a primary appointment in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering. Two postdoctoral positions are anticipated, with primary mentors in one of the aforementioned departments. Given disciplinary and research interests, joint appointments and funding may be explored.
Current cohort of LEGACY Scholars
Scholars will be expected to:
Establish an independent line of research, focusing on addressing bias and inequity in engineering design, as manifested in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, human-centric computing, robotics, RF systems, additively manufactured electronic components and systems, circuits, electronic devices, feedback control and technology for social justice. Of particular interest is the co-design of hardware and software. Candidates should demonstrate the potential for achievement in these areas, including plans for further growth.
Participate actively in professional development seminars on a variety of topics, including fiscal and grant management, leadership, research, teaching and academic publishing.
Form research, teaching and personal networks to inform their holistic success as a scholar.
Engage in department, college, university and disciplinary communities that promote scholars’ professional and personal advancement.
Engage in one-on-one and group sessions with primary, secondary and intersectional mentors who will guide and critique scholars’ progress.
Reflect and respond to formative and summative feedback of scholarly progress to advance their career trajectory.
Vertical Spacer
Accordions
LEGACY Scholar Tatiana Cuellar-Gaviria, PhD
Co-developed, personalized postdoc mentoring plan with targeted goals
Inclusion in daily aspects of engineering department cultures
Training in grants creation and management, research program development and career mapping
Internal and external networking opportunities to advance scholarship and professional brand
One-on-one coaching throughout experience
Formative feedback and updates in biweekly meetings
Annual mentor team evaluations
Each scholar should identify 2-4 potential Ohio State mentors in the following categories:
Primary: research area
Secondary: teaching or service area
Intersectional: aligned with your identity(ies)
Suggestions for Contacting Faculty
Co-creating an effective and inclusive mentoring program begins with establishing quality mentoring relationships from the beginning. To identify potential mentors, scholars should email 2-4 Ohio State faculty and express your interest in the LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholar Program. Be sure to submit your CV and at least one sample publication. View the Informal Faculty Advising & Mentoring Directory (IFAM) guide for some helpful insights on intersectional mentoring in the college.
When a faculty mentor contacts you, schedule a phone call, in-person meeting or Zoom meeting to engage in a conversation about mentor/mentee alignment. If there is not a match, ask for a recommendation for another faculty mentor at Ohio State who might not have been on your initial list. Remember, as part of the application process, you must list primary, secondary and intersectional mentors. Please contact Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lisa Barclay if your web search does not lead you to a mentor with whom you visibly identify.
Salary: $65,000 + benefits
Stipends: $4,000 for research; $500 for professional development
Moving expenses: reimbursement up to $2,500
Required Documents:
Cover letter addressing your research interests and qualifications;
Current curriculum vita;
Two professional references (contact information only);
2-4 names of possible primary, secondary and intersectional Ohio State mentors.
A copy of one publication (published or in press)
Qualifications
PhD in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or a closely related field that prepares the scholar to conduct high-quality independent research at Ohio State; Good verbal and written communication skills; Ability to learn from and engage with a diverse group of mentors, colleagues and students with differing perspectives and backgrounds; Ability to work with others in a collaborative, positive, congenial and professional team environment; Ability to build scholarly communities inside and outside Ohio State; Experience working with diverse populations and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; Interest working in a college in which cultural transformation, race and equity are top priorities; Willingness to receive and act on formative and summative feedback.
Desired Experience
Dissemination of findings at national conferences and within peer-reviewed scholarly journals; Openness to out of the box thinking and the application of nontraditional thinking to one’s discipline.
The first round of application screenings will begin immediately and continue until both LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholars are selected. The preferred deadline for applicants is January 30, 2022. LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholars for the 2023-2024 academic year cohort are expected to join Ohio State in fall 2023, but no later than January 2024.
Please direct questions about the LEGACY program to Monica Cox, PhD, director of the LEGACY Postdoctoral Scholar Program, with the subject line, “LEGACY Postdoctoral Application.”
The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other bases under the law.
