SPECIAL CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW AND PART-TIME POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
SCi is seeking a graduate teaching fellow and a part-time postdoctoral researcher to design and deliver workshop-style curricula for a series of ethics training modules for genetics researchers. Researchers who study human genetics of diverse groups grapple with significant ethical challenges. These include reckoning with histories of scientific racism, the complexity of conceptualizing human difference across time and place, and the challenge of accurately presenting research findings without falsely recapitulating race as a biological construct. With funding support from the National Institutes of Health, these ethics training modules will be made widely available to provide geneticists with the critical skills and awareness needed to navigate the ethical dimensions of their research. This is an exciting opportunity to help ensure genetic research has a positive impact on society, in particular on groups underrepresented in genetics research.
DESCRIPTION OF POSITIONS
The successful candidates will work closely with SCi’s co-director, Natalie Kofler and a senior pedagogy fellow to create a simulation-based training module. The module will include three simulation scenarios, background reading and lectures, debrief questions, and other associated learning tools. The successful candidates will participate in the trialing and evaluation of the training module and have access to a team of graphic designers, scientists, and education experts.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The ideal candidates will have experience in anti-racism pedagogy and teaching STEM student audiences and/or researchers. The success of this project will require input from diverse perspectives, especially those from demographic groups historically underrepresented in the sciences and academia. Individuals with demonstrated interest in working at the intersection of science and society and addressing issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are highly encouraged to apply.
GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW
The successful teaching fellow will be a graduate student with experience in curriculum design and teaching, a background in either ethics, STS (science, technology and society), history of science, sociology, or equivalent. They will have familiarity with simulation-based learning and simulation design, or a keen desire to learn simulation-based pedagogy. They will demonstrate an eagerness to learn new pedagogy approaches and have the ability to communicate effectively working with multiple supervisors and an interdisciplinary team.
Eligibility: Qualifications include a demonstrable commitment to high-quality college teaching, experience as a Teaching Fellow in one or more courses offered at Harvard University (or experience as a teaching assistant in an ethics course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and a passion for pedagogical innovation. Any student pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Harvard or MIT is eligible, but preference will be given to advanced PhD candidates. Renewal of the fellowship is also sometimes possible.
PART-TIME POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
The successful postdoctoral candidate will have experience in pedagogy and education research. They will have extensive experience designing and leading education research projects with demonstrable proficiency in curriculum evaluation and assessment. They will demonstrate an eagerness to innovate pedagogy approaches and skilled at anti-racist approaches to inclusive classrooms. They will be an interdisciplinary thinker and have the ability to communicate effectively working with multiple supervisors and a diverse team.
Eligibility: PhD in a relevant field of study. Qualifications include a demonstrable commitment to pedagogy innovation and educational research with extensive experience designing and assessing evaluation of curricular interventions. This position is remote-work eligible for residents of California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, or Washington. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
We know there are great candidates who may not check all of these boxes. We also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Harvard is 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.
AWARDS
GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW: The fellowship lasts for the full academic year with a commitment of 10 hours/week for the duration of the fellowship. Pay is commensurate with the Teaching Fellow stipend for one course section per semester, fall and spring (the equivalent to .20 teaching rate). Opportunities for summer projects are also available, pending interest and needs of the program.
PART-TIME POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER: The position lasts for the full academic year with a 50% time commitment. Pay is commensurate with standard post-doctoral fellow rates. Opportunities for summer projects are also available, pending interest and needs of the program.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for either position, please submit a CV and Letter of Interest to SCi’s Program Coordinator: Dr. Chelsea Marcho (Chelsea_Marcho@hms.harvard.edu). Please include “SCi Fellowship Application” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through Friday, December 1, 2023 and reviewed on a rolling basis.