AP Research Teacher

Academy for Science and Design | Nashua, NH

About Us

The Academy for Science and Design (ASD) is a distinguished STEM-focused public charter school located in Nashua, New Hampshire. We are dedicated to providing an innovative, rigorous education that prepares students for success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Our community values inquiry, critical thinking, and real-world application of knowledge.

Position Overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced educator to teach AP Research as part of the College Board's AP Capstone program. This is an exciting opportunity to guide highly motivated students through independent research projects while fostering critical thinking, academic writing, and presentation skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach AP Research course to junior and senior students (year two of AP Capstone program) following College Board curriculum guidelines and the five Big Ideas framework: Question and Explore, Understand and Analyze, Evaluate Multiple Perspectives, Synthesize Ideas, and Team, Transform, and Transmit

• Guide students through the complete research process: from identifying gaps in existing research to developing focused research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, conducting investigations, and analyzing results

• Mentor students in scholarly academic writing, including the development of 4,000-5,000 word research papers with required components: Introduction, Method/Process/Approach, Results/Findings, Discussion/Analysis/Evaluation, Conclusion and Future Directions, and Bibliography

• Facilitate and maintain regular Work-in-Progress (WIP) interviews and presentations to monitor student progress

• Review and provide feedback on student Process and Reflection Portfolios (PREP) that document inquiry processes and research evolution

• Teach and enforce ethical research practices, including proper citation, the AP Capstone Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information, and IRB requirements when applicable

• Coordinate with expert advisors from various disciplines who mentor students on specialized research topics

• Prepare students for oral presentations and defenses of their research to a panel, including development of presentation skills and ability to field questions

• Facilitate peer collaboration through activities such as peer reviews, Socratic seminars, and collaborative feedback sessions

• Assess student work using AP Research rubrics and provide meaningful feedback throughout the research process

• Teach discipline-specific research methods and appropriate citation styles (MLA, APA, etc.) based on students' fields of inquiry

• Guide students through the Inquiry Proposal Form process and approval by October deadline

• Participate in AP scoring and professional development as required by College Board

• Foster a classroom culture that values intellectual curiosity, academic integrity, and scholarly discourse

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree (Master's degree strongly preferred)

• Previous teaching experience at the high school level or college level

• Strong understanding of research methodologies across multiple disciplines (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods)

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to mentor students through independent, year-long research projects

• Understanding of IRB processes and research ethics

• Ability to work with students across diverse fields of study and coordinate with expert advisors from various disciplines

Preferred:

• Valid New Hampshire teaching certification or eligibility for certification

• Experience teaching AP courses, particularly AP Seminar or AP Research 

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) with thesis or dissertation research experience

• Experience mentoring independent student research projects from inception through completion

• Familiarity with various citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and discipline-specific writing conventions

• Background in STEM fields or experience supporting interdisciplinary research

• Training in rubric-based assessment and formative feedback practices

• Experience facilitating Socratic seminars and collaborative learning environments

• Knowledge of academic research databases and library research skills

Salary starting at: $45,000

Start Date: August 2026

Please send resumes to melissa.merhalski@asdnh.org