Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research

Department

College Undergraduate Research

About the Department

Office of Undergraduate Research

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), the Assistant Director supports OUR’s undergraduate research opportunities, grants, and academic year and summer programming. This role demands competencies in working with students across all disciplines and from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all. In partnership with other OUR staff, the Assistant Director will provide student advising and support for existing undergraduate research initiatives, as well as contribute to the planning and support of new initiatives and programs. This position will liaise with faculty, leadership, and other campus partners to advance existing opportunities and aid in the creation of new opportunities.

The Assistant Director will serve as the OUR lead on a range of workshops, information sessions, and other programs, taking ownership of the program life cycle from ideation through planning, delivery, and assessment. The Assistant Director will enhance OUR’s efforts to promote critical reflection and long-term engagement among undergraduate researchers. The Assistant Director will also provide key support for the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The Assistant Director will actively participate in the broader activities of the CCRF, including serving on national fellowship selection committees and/or mock interview committees for the Fulbright, Goldwater, and other research-related fellowships.

Responsibilities

• Advises undergraduates interested in pursuing faculty-mentored research across the disciplines.
• Organizes and facilitates events and workshops for students to a) increase their awareness of undergraduate research opportunities on and off campus; b) provide guidance on foundational research skills and best practices; c) provide discipline-specific training on tools, systems, and data collection); and d) improve their research, communication, presentation, and reflection skills.
• In partnership with unit leadership, supports new undergraduate research initiatives; liaise with faculty and departments to promote and recruit for existing research opportunities and aids in the development of new opportunities as needed; and works across disciplines to develop funding sources to broaden and diversify student and faculty participation in undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
• Designs and implements effective procedures and tools to manage research programs and initiatives, including evaluation and data tracking.
• Develops written content for reports, stewardship materials, and communications for a variety of audiences.
• Contributes to the planning and execution of the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Actively promotes undergraduate research among internal and external audiences through meetings, presentations, and other events.
• Actively participates as a representative of the University of Chicago in professional development opportunities sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), among others.
• Develops and leads programs and workshops related to various aspects of scholarly development.
• Presents program content.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in an academic discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years full-time experience in undergraduate research.
• Minimum 3 years experience in research mentoring, developmental advising, and instruction.
• Five years of progressively responsible administrative experience.
• Organizing events and facilitating and leading workshops and information sessions.
• Developing undergraduate research best practices and policies.
• Formal teaching experience.
• Substantive experience working within the broader research enterprise and guiding undergraduates in translating their academic interests into viable research experiences.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Mac and PC environments.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, and online organizational tools.
• Familiarity with graphic design/web development environments, database management, social media platforms.

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