Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships - UTK

The Assistant Director (AD) for Undergraduate Research in the office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (URF) leads efforts to enhance undergraduate student engagement in research and creative activities across disciplines. This role involves managing wide-ranging programs, including (but not limited to) grants, symposia, workshops, a student research journal, student ambassadors, and professional development initiatives, to provide transformative experiential learning opportunities. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with campus partners–including faculty, departments, and students/student organizations–to promote research opportunities broadly.

The AD also supports the Director and Associate Director in the ongoing assessment and refining of existing programs and the strategic proposal and development of new ones in support of office, division, and institutional goals. Related to this responsibility is the proactive support of faculty and graduate student undergraduate research mentors. In addition, the AD will work with the Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director of Fellowships to explore and develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across URF's functional areas -- with the principal goals of expanding and diversifying the pool of fellowships candidates and more robustly, directly, and strategically supporting diverse undergraduates seeking not only internal, but also external research funding and opportunities. The AD also supports division-wide priorities, including the Vole Edge, Vol Connect, DSS Express, and other student-facing priorities.

Management and Refinement of Existing Undergraduate Research Programs

• Manage semester and summer research assistantship programs, to include liaising with faculty, staff, and students, as well as external partners
• Manage semester and summer undergraduate research enrichment programming
• Manage multiple campus undergraduate research exhibitions, including the Summer Research Symposium, Discovery Day, and EUReCA
• Manage conference travel grants program
• Liaise with the Vol Edge Program to find moments of synergy in student support
• Support the work of the Director and Associate Director by making substantial contributions in the areas of undergraduate research program assessment, annual reporting, identifying budget priorities, and new program proposals and development
• Supervise one 
• URF Coach (full-time employee)

Undergraduate Student Engagement and Outreach to Encourage and Increase Student Participation in Undergraduate Research

• Advise PURSUIT (undergraduate research journal) and the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors (URA) 
• Present on undergraduate research opportunities to classes, departments, offices, and student groups; at campus events and programs; and at URF-led seminars, workshops, and information sessions
• Work with office leadership and division communications staff on communications planning and execution (website, social media, newsletter, promotional materials, etc.)
• Integrate Vol Connect and DSS Express in student engagement initiatives

Professional Development and Engagement with Division and Campus Committees, as well as State, National, and International Organizations Focused on Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

• Active engagement with Undergraduate Research Advisory Council (URAC)
• Active engagement with CUR
• Participation in division's various committee work and initiatives

Cross-Functional Office Collaboration and Process Improvement

• Collaborate with Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director for Fellowships to develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across URF's functional areas -- with the principal goals of expanding the pool of fellowships candidates 
• Support fellowships application review, interview processes, writing support, student advising, and workshops

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree
• Experience: Experience working with diverse undergraduate researchers, faculty undergraduate research mentors, and undergraduate research programs on a university campus; Experience conducting and disseminating independent research; Experience working with faculty, staff, and offices across functional areas of a university
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Advanced knowledge of best practices in undergraduate research programming; Advanced knowledge of the populations on a university campus and the various opportunities and potential needs presented by a large, diverse student population; Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion and work effectively and professionally 1-on-1 and in groups with students