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Associate Director of Undergraduate Research

Employer
University of Illinois at Chicago
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Not specified
Date posted
May 2, 2022

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is seeking an innovative, experienced, highly organized, student-focused leader committed to empowering students’ intellectual, personal, and professional development to join us the Associate Director of Undergraduate Research for the new Office of Undergraduate Research and External Fellowships (UREF). UREF (a merging of the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of External Fellowships) will be a key resource for all undergraduate students to engage fully in their UIC experience through research and creative pursuits, and to explore options such as competitive external fellowships as they prepare for their own personal and professional success. The UREF team works directly with students, faculty, advisors, staff members, and alumni, as well as academic and administrative partners, to support each student’s educational journey.

As a part of the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Academic Programs and reporting to the UREF Director, the Associate Director is responsible for leading campus-wide efforts to engage undergraduate students in the research mission of the university. The Associate Director collaborates to advance innovative and sustainable models for undergraduate research with a focus on equity and inclusion across multiple dimensions. The position helps to advance the growth, reach, and impact of the office and the role of undergraduate research in students’ educational experience and core competency development. This position helps to build partnerships with faculty campus-wide, with both existing and new initiatives, as we seek to increase student engagement in research and the faculty mentorship that it entails. This position takes the lead in planning and executing the annual Undergraduate Research Forum.

 UIC is one of the most diverse universities in the nation and has been designated a Minority Serving Institution, a Hispanic Serving Institution, and an Asian-American and Native-American Pacific Islander Serving Institution. UIC is the largest research university in Chicago, enjoys the strongest enrollment growth in Illinois with a student body of 34,000 and 3,100 faculty, and is in the top 5% of the most ethnically diverse universities in the United States.

 

Job responsibilities include:

 Undergraduate Research / Process Design and Implementation

  • Develop and implement strategies and programs to raise campus awareness of internal and external research opportunities for undergraduates using a variety of media.
  • Support students in exploring and defining their interests, writing grant proposals, research statements, personal statements, etc.
  • Develop, promote, and deliver relevant educational programming including information sessions, research workshops, writing workshops, etc.
  • Develop inclusive practices and programs aimed at broadening access to high-impact educational opportunities for all disciplines and underserved populations.
  • Build relationships with faculty campus-wide regarding mentoring and research opportunities for undergraduates.
  • Lead planning and execution of campus-wide research initiatives and events, including the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award and the annual Undergraduate Research Forum.
  • Maintain a robust and comprehensive website to promote undergraduate research opportunities across campus, including a list of faculty research profiles.
  • Encourage and assist students in the identification of appropriate venues for dissemination of research findings.
  • Implement effective communications (including social media), e.g. creating promotional materials, coordinating event calendars, and co-programming with strategic partners.

 

Program Development / Assessment

  • Collect, analyze, and report data about student contacts and outcomes to enhance quality assurance and program effectiveness.
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with national research sponsors (e.g. the Council on Undergraduate Research), peer institution colleagues, funding agencies, and other relevant organizations; recommend and implement program modifications to reflect existing national trends and program popularity.
  • Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

 

 Qualifications: Job Knowledge & Skills, Education and Experience

Master’s degree required; Ph.D. preferred;

Minimum three years of related university administrative experience required;

Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, along with the ability to effectively work with a diverse group of administrators, faculty, and students;

Sophisticated analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills;

Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and to work toward competing deadlines;

Ability to work independently and self-motivate, as well as to contribute to the larger goals of the office as part of a team;

Demonstrated familiarity with program development, including project management and implementation;

Creative thinking and independent judgment, and the ability to apply this to the development of dynamic programming and initiatives; Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with undergraduate research, and/or external fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Rhodes, Goldwater, etc.), and/or grant/proposal writing, and/or a record of academic research;

Experience working with faculty in a higher education environment and/or instruction experience in higher education;

Experience advising or teaching students from first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented backgrounds.

 

For fullest consideration, please apply at https://jobs.uic.edu/job-board/job-details?jobID=164460 and include a letter of interest, current resume and the contact information for up to three professional references by May 19, 2022. Questions can be directed to Gerardo Jimenez, Director of Operations, at gjimenez@uic.edu.

 

The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability.

 Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and are made contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of any criminal background checks and other pre-employment assessments that may be required for the position being offered. Additional information regarding such pre-employment checks and assessments may be provided as applicable during the hiring process.

 As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

 The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899

 University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

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