Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internship

Department: College of Science

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category:Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type:FullTime

Work Schedule:Fulltime (1.0 FTE 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax VA

Workplace Type:Hybrid Eligible

Salary:Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check:Yes

About the Department:

The College of Science is committed to enhancing the colleges strength in theoretical experimental and computational sciences by promoting excellence in academic and research programs. Our academic programs and pioneering research initiatives at locations throughout Northern Virginia provide worldclass scientific leadership in a wide variety of areas important to modern society. The College promotes diversity and recruits the brightest faculty students and staff to create a vibrant and dynamic environment of learning and inquiry. The College enhances the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the University by responding to the needs of the community and creating spires of excellence.

George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination harassment and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging respect and civility. We believe that varied opinions cultures and perspectives are what provides vibrancy innovation and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics teaching research and global engagement we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position:

The Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internships reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs and in collaboration with the leadership of existing high school and undergraduate research initiatives oversees the administrative direction and implementation of the colleges undergraduate student research high school student research student internships and teacher engagement activities for the entirety of the college. This position plays a key role in attracting highly talented local high school students to enroll in College of Science degree programs through programs such as the nationally known Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). As part of this the position is responsible for overseeing the budget for the ASSIP and the Galileo Cafe with full spending authority. The position collaborates with other faculty and staff in the college on other initiatives to include the Aspiring Inventors Club. This position may be responsible for the supervision of two (2) or more wage employees who will assist with the administrative functions of ASSIP or Galileo Cafe.

Responsibilities:

Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives

• Develops plans organizes and directs new initiatives in support of undergraduate research experiential learning activities. Examples include modeling new programs and initiatives after the existing Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) for undergraduate students. Participation in the ASSIP program is restricted to high school students during the summer semester. This new initiative would specifically target our COS undergraduate student population and it meets the Provosts strategic plan for increasing research opportunities for undergraduate students at Mason. COS Undergraduate Students would participate in a highquality summer research program modeled after ASSIP;
• A second initiative is to create organize and manage research opportunities for COS Undergraduate Students during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year. This position is responsible for creating a workable procedure for linking interested undergraduate students with research faculty and graduate student researchers. Annual analysis of the Undergraduate Research Summer Program and the Undergraduate Research Program during the regular academic year would be expected in order to monitor growth and scientific accomplishments; and
• A third initiative is to work with Academic Affairs to identify teacher engagement activities including professional development and research experiences for teachers.

Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program and Galileo Caf

• Creates plans organizes conducts manages and directs further development of the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) to meet the programs strategic mission and the Galileo Science Caf monthly outreach event for the local community;
• Devises shortterm and longterm goals and develops strategies to accomplish goals;
• Creates local and global awareness;
• Fosters multidisciplinary faculty relationships;
• Inspires students to pursue STEM and encourages retention in STEM fields;
• Projects and manages budget secures funding and markets program;
• Manages and builds ASSIP website;
• Manages student applications interviews and selections;
• Recruits and trains diverse multidisciplinary team of faculty/ staff mentors;
• Provides training support for graduate student mentors;
• Manages administrative operational and scheduling components;
• Develops educational curriculum;
• Networks with outside entities including private sector high schools local universities institutions and foundations to identify student candidates guest speakers and funding opportunities;
• Conducts program assessment and reports results;
• Publishes findings in peer reviewed journals;
• Maintains ASSIP alumni relations and briefs university leadership;
• Seeks identifies contacts and coaches scientific speakers business and career role model individuals and celebrity individuals for the Galileo Science Caf; and
• Organizes the event and works with university and community representatives to promote the event.

Research Program Management

• Provides administrative management of local and international laboratory research courses and student research symposiums;
• Projects and manage budgets and determines tuition fees when applicable;
• Provides curriculum development support;
• Serves as point of contact for students and collaborating institutions;
• Manages administrative operational and scheduling components;
• Assists students with enrollment in research course; coordinates travel and accommodations when needed;
• Incorporates multimedia curriculum with strong emphasis on handson laboratory projects that provide thrill of discovery;
• Creates and develops marketing materials; briefs department chairs and deans;
• Develops and assists in teacher engagement activities; and
• Establishes comprehensive project outlines.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Considerable demonstrated experience directing planning and conducting a handson science laboratory experience for students plus extensive experience with student recruiting and curriculum development (generally five or more years);
• Demonstrated wet lab experience;
• Demonstrated experience developing internship pathways and supporting student research programs;
• Experience at the high school level as well as at the college level.
• Knowledge of: biomedical concepts/methodology and recent advances related to human diseases such as cancer;
• Knowledge of grant and funding mechanisms;
• Knowledge of undergraduate and graduate program requirements;
• Knowledge of international visa requirements for visiting scientists;
• Knowledge of fundraising mechanisms;
• Knowledge of administrative and budgetary principles concepts/methodology for event and meeting planning and organization management of scientific meetings including poster sessions;
• Handson familiarity with laboratory equipment and methods; training students in scientific methods;
• Website editing and development and excellent word processing skills (Word Excel Power Point) and proficient use of software to develop marketing materials create multimedia curriculum and statistically analyze data;
• Ability to exercise substantial independence authority and discretion in areas such as program planning design and allocation of resources;
• Ability to independently create coordinate plan organize and complete multiple and complex programs;
• Ability to manage program budgets; secure funding from foundation corporate individual and granting agencies to support managed programs;
• Manage all programmatic activities to include administrative planning scheduling operations marketing budget and assessment;
• Multitask effectively;
• Ability to manage students faculty and staff participating in programs;
• Ability to present complex concepts to a lay audience;
• Proficient at public speaking; and
• Demonstrates excellent personal interactions and network with students faculty/staff university leadership private sector local officials and community groups.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Considerable demonstrated experience serving in a Directorlevel position is strongly preferred (generally five or more years); and
• Successful experience with grant writing and submission; and in publishing peerreviewed scientific publications.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration applicants must apply forDirector of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internship at and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information and provide a Cover Letter with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date:November 4 2024

For Full Consideration Apply by:November 18 2024

Open Until Filled:Yes