Postdoctoral Scholar, Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability Education

The Ohio State University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to advance scholarship and educational innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability education. This one-year position will support education and curriculum development efforts that explore how AI-related opportunities, challenges, and societal impacts align with Ohio State’s Six Dimensions of Sustainability framework.

The successful candidate will conduct a comprehensive review of the scholarly literature related to AI and sustainability education, identify intersections between AI sustainability impacts and the Six Dimensions of Sustainability, and collaborate with faculty, instructional experts, and the Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning to support the development of teaching modules and instructional resources for integration into undergraduate and graduate courses. AI sustainability impacts often manifest themselves through the build-out of data centers and supporting physical infrastructure. They include, but are not limited to, environmental costs (such as energy, carbon emissions, water and land-use), social disruptions (such as noise and home values) and governance gaps (such as local community input on siting and behind-the-meter power generation).

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to emerging scholarship while developing practical educational tools that help students critically examine the opportunities and challenges of AI in creating a sustainable future.

About the Project

Ohio State’s Six Dimensions of Sustainability framework provides a holistic approach to understanding sustainability through the interconnected dimensions of:

• Planetary and Human Health and Well-Being

• Business, Economy, and Governance

• Society, Culture, and Justice

• Human-Natural Systems

• Earth and Environmental Systems

• Technology, Engineering, and Design

The Postdoctoral Scholar will investigate how AI technologies influence and interact with these dimensions, positively and adversely, and will translate these findings into evidence based educational resources for classroom use across disciplines.

Expected Deliverables

By the conclusion of the appointment, the Postdoctoral Scholar will be expected to

produce:

• A comprehensive literature review of AI and sustainability education.

• A mapped analysis of AI impacts across Ohio State’s Six Dimensions of

Sustainability framework.

• A suite of classroom-ready educational modules and teaching resources.

• Documentation of pilot implementations and assessment findings.

• At least one scholarly manuscript, conference presentation, or comparable

teaching product.

• Recommendations for future research, educational programming, and institutional

engagement.

• Ph.D. awarded by the start date in Sustainability, Education, Environmental Studies,

Learning Sciences, Higher Education, Science Education, Educational Technology,

Public Policy, Sociology, Engineering Education, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated interest in sustainability education and interdisciplinary teaching and

learning.

• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing scholarly research.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate with faculty, instructional designers, and educational partners.

• Knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies and their societal implications.

• Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications,

presentations, or equivalent outputs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, or educational

innovation.

• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks and sustainability assessment

approaches.

• Experience working in higher education, teaching, and learning environments.

• Demonstrated ability to manage collaborative projects and multiple stakeholders.

Desired Characteristics

The ideal candidate will be:

• Curious about the opportunities and challenges AI presents for sustainable futures.

• Passionate about improving student learning and faculty engagement.

• Comfortable working across disciplines and organizational boundaries.

• Committed to advancing inclusive and evidence-based educational practices.