STEM Education Postdoctoral Opportunity at the University of Miami
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to work with our Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Undergraduate Science Education program grant. One of the main goals of our grant is to provide early authentic research experiences for students at Miami Dade College (MDC) and University of Miami (UM) freshmen through an introductory integrated biology and chemistry laboratory course series. This fall our successful HHMI authentic research laboratory course piloted at UM spring 2015 is being exported to MDC. The postdoc will work directly on this introductory lab course series at both UM and MDC.
To learn more about the office and our programs, please visit our website: http://www.miami.edu/index.php/undergraduate_research_and_community_outreach/
University of Miami HHMI Postdoctoral Associate
General Job Description
The postdoc will report directly to the University of Miami (UM) Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) program director. She/he will work with the UM HHMI program director and the management team which includes the co-director, science educator and the dean of the school of science at Miami Dade College (MDC) on all activities related to UM’s HHMI Science Education Grant. She/he will help coordinate and provide administrative support for the new Integrated Biology & Chemistry Authentic Research Labs at MDC and UM. She/he will work closely with the science educator on evaluation of the Authentic Research Labs at both MDC and UM.
The postdoc will work with the management team on the HHMI MDC/UM Undergraduate and Teacher Partnership program. She/he will assist with recruiting teachers from Miami-Dade County High Schools, UM undergraduates, and MDC students and ensure that program requirements are met by the undergraduate and college student participants. The postdoc will handle administrative duties related to this program.
The postdoc will be responsible for leading the HHMI High School Scholars Summer Research Program.
She/he will support HHMI program evaluation and assessment by collecting and tabulating evaluation data regarding participant performance in all grant-funded activities. She/he will take primary responsibility in preparing program reports to HHMI with guidance from the program director.
The postdoc will take initiative in meeting established timelines and deadlines set by the program director without reminders. She/he must be well-organized and able to prioritize competing tasks and must have strong communication (verbal and written) and social skills. Experience working with personnel from diverse backgrounds is desirable. Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends. Duties include:
Program activities administration:
o Provide programmatic support as needed to the management team.
o Use existing mentor database to place High School Scholars in summer research positions based on students’ research interests.
o Assist with coordination and facilitation of the Integrated Biology & Chemistry Authentic Research Labs at MDC.
o Organize meetings.
o Oversee the timely disbursement of participant stipends, reimbursements, etc.
As required by grant project:
o Meet with UM undergraduates and MDC students on a regular basis to ensure the undergraduate teacher partnership program goals are met (check classroom hours, lesson plan development, and mileage reimbursements).
o Arbitrate problems among high school teachers, UM undergraduate, and MDC students.
o Collect and tabulate evaluation data regarding participant performance and other relevant information for annual reports and grant applications; maintain relevant databases and archival files of evaluation instruments.
o Assist with recruitment of teachers from Miami-Dade County High Schools, UM undergraduates, and MDC students for program.
o Assist in the development of programmatic materials for participants.
o Assist the program director with preparation of reports to grant agencies and with grant proposal preparation.
o Development and overall upkeep of program webpages.
o Evaluate the deliverables of the student research programs, which include honors theses, research papers, and PowerPoint presentations, and give feedback to the students.
o Lead professional development meetings (e.g. responsible conduct in research, college/graduate school application process, scientific presentations, publication process) for HHMI high school students and undergraduates participating in UM research programs.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education: PhD in a STEM field (a background in biochemistry or chemistry is preferred) and a strong interest in science education.
She/he must have strong communication (verbal and written) and excellent organizational skills. Able to multi-task, work independently and as a member of a team.
Apply online at http://um.hodesiq.com/job_start.asp
Position P100004877.