Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internship

Department: College of Science

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (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 college’s 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 world-class 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 college’s 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 Inventor's 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 Provost’s strategic plan for increasing research opportunities for undergraduate students at Mason. COS Undergraduate Students would participate in a high-quality 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 Café

• Creates, plans, organizes, conducts, manages, and directs further development of the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) to meet the program’s strategic mission and the Galileo Science Café monthly outreach event for the local community;
• Devises short-term and long-term 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 Café; 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 multi-media curriculum with strong emphasis on hands-on 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:

• Master’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Considerable demonstrated experience directing, planning, and conducting a hands-on 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 fund-raising mechanisms;
• Knowledge of administrative and budgetary principles, concepts/methodology for event and meeting planning and organization, management of scientific meetings including poster sessions;
• Hands-on 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 multi-media 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 Director-level position is strongly preferred (generally five or more years); and
• Successful experience with grant writing and submission; and in publishing peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director of Undergraduate Student Research Initiatives and Internship at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete 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