Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology

Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology 

Institution: Harvard Medical School 

Location: Boston, MA 

Category: Faculty - Science 

Type: Full Time 

The Harvard Medical School Curriculum Fellows Program (CFP) welcomes applications for a Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology. The CFP is a postdoctoral service and training program focused on curriculum development, teaching, and educational programming in the biological and biomedical sciences. Curriculum Fellows work closely with members of the Harvard faculty and administration to develop, deploy, and evaluate evidence-based graduate training. Fellows also receive mentorship and career advising to support their development as educators and help them succeed in a variety of education-focused careers. More detailed information about the Curriculum Fellows Program, the role of a CF, and outcomes of former CFs can be found on our website. 

The Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology will focus on designing, managing, and evaluating aspects of the graduate microbiology curriculum at Harvard, with a primary focus on the Harvard Graduate Program in Bacteriology (GPiB):https://bacteriology.hms.harvard.edu/

The GPiB is an interdisciplinary graduate training program and close-knit community that brings together students and faculty from across Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. GPiB students participate in bacteriology-focused courses in their first and second years and continue to engage with the program through science, social, and professional/career development activities across all years of their graduate training. The Curriculum Fellow will work closely with the GPiB Faculty Directors and Director of Education, administrative staff, and a student steering committee to plan and implement GPiB curricular and para-curricular programming. 

Specific responsibilities of the Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology include: 

Leading administration, curriculum innovation, and evaluation of the core team-taught GPiB courses, Micro201 (Molecular Biology of the Bacterial Cell), and Micro202 (Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Host Immune Response). Teaching some content in these courses in areas relevant to the fellow’s interest or expertise.  Providing course design input for other GPiB-affiliated courses (for example, graduate microbiome courses).  Identifying instructors and providing course design input or administrative support for new nanocourses and workshops on emerging research tools or topics in bacteriology.  Collaborating with the GPiB student steering committee to design and manage implementation of para-curricular career and professional development initiatives to support growth of GPiB graduate students at all stages. These initiatives include activities like science communication training and group advising discussions/workshops on preparing for key graduate school decisions and milestones.  Collaborating with the GPiB student steering committee to design and manage initiatives to build research and mentoring/advising connections between students, post-doctoral fellows, alumni, and faculty. These initiatives include an annual program retreat and student-faculty or student-alumni dinners.  Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across all aspects of the GPiB program, including curriculum development, recruitment, faculty training, student support, and pipeline programs.  Collecting and analyzing data about GPiB student experiences and academic and career outcomes to inform program improvement, and preparing components of the annual progress reports for the GPiB NIH T32 training grant.  Serving as the primary GPiB liaison and representative for current and prospective GPiB students, GPiB faculty, and Harvard offices/committees focused on supporting graduate education.  Developing new curricular or para-curricular initiatives in areas relevant to the fellow’s interest and expertise.  Qualifications: 

• A Ph.D. in Microbiology or another relevant area of research by the time of appointment. 

Qualified candidates will be evaluated based upon their: 

• Experience or demonstrated interest in teaching, curriculum development, or student career development/mentoring. 

• Scientific background or interest in the GPiB curriculum’s current content areas or future areas for growth (including, but not limited to, the application of quantitative and bioinformatic approaches to bacteriology). 

• Commitment and experience or interest in supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in science. 

• Organizational and written and oral communication skills. 

• Demonstrated capacity for independence, perseverance, innovation, and the ability to work as part of a team and balance competing priorities. 

Fellowships are intended for early-career scientist-educators. The CF appointment is renewable annually for a maximum of three years and is non-tenure-track. Fellows are appointed as Research Fellows and typically earn promotion to the rank of Lecturer during the term of the fellowship. The ideal start date for this Curriculum Fellow is approximately October 1, 2021. The current COVID-19 restrictions in place at Harvard Medical School mean this position may begin remotely, but fellows will be expected to work in person in Boston, MA when this becomes possible. 

To apply:

Applicants should provide an application package that includes a cover letter that describes your interest in and qualifications for this position, a CV, a teaching statement, and the names and contact information of three professional references. The teaching statement is an opportunity to describe your philosophy of teaching in the context of your own experiences. Submissions will be evaluated according to the guidelines found on our website: https://curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu/teaching-statement-guidelines

A discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion is an important component of the teaching statement. Address emails to cfp@hms.harvard.edu, attention Dr. Bradley Coleman, Director of the HMS Curriculum Fellows Program. Review of applications will begin on Monday, August 16 and continue on a rolling basis thereafter. Applications received by Sunday, August 29th will receive full consideration. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.