We are looking for a postdoctoral candidate who is passionate about expanding access of undergraduate research experiences, mentoring undergraduates in bioinformatics-focused biomedical research, and teaching bioinformatics; all under an umbrella of biology education research. The successful candidate will work on a newly funded project that aims to provide undergraduate biology students a) increased access to bioinformatics-driven biomedical research experiences, b) improved transferable skills, c) fundamental bioinformatics skills and knowledge, d) leadership experiences, and e) a boost of strategies for setting and reaching career goals.
To achieve these aims, the project will develop and implement four interventions: 1) Spring Forward!, a workshop for students focused on career development strategies and biomedical career awareness, while providing an experience in biomedical research using bioinformatics, 2) CURIE, a research internship which expands a one semester bioinformatics-based course-based undergraduate research experience focused on infectious disease (ID-CURE) into a two-semester advanced research experience. 3) PRIMERs, a research focused Learning Assistant like program, as peer research mentors in Spring Forward!, ID-CURE, and CURIE. 4) MiC, the Mentoring in the Classroom program that provides professional development for faculty aiming to bring prompt mentoring lessons to the classroom to increase student awareness of careers and how to successfully land them. In parallel, the project will evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
This project is a collaboration between Dr. Jessica Siltberg-Liberles, Dr. Melissa McCartney, and Dr. Rocio Benabentos. The Siltberg-Liberles lab @ Florida International University (FIU), www.siltbergliberleslab.com, is broadly focused on basic research using protein bioinformatics and education research related to skill and experience in bioinformatics & biomedical research, and motivation drivers for a career in these fields. The McCartney lab @ University of Buffalo, melissamccartneyphd.com, focuses on helping undergraduates begin to see themselves as scientists, especially as this relates to identifying a scientific career path and entering the STEM workforce, and become experts in scientific processes and skills. Dr. Rocio Benabentos is the Associate Director of FIU's STEM Transformation Institute.
The responsibilities of this position include contributing to curriculum and content development of the interventions with implementation and evaluation, biology education research, co-mentoring undergraduates and graduate students in the CURIE research internship, and supporting the coordination of project events. This position utilizes a hybrid design that integrates teaching experience with research activities to facilitate implementation of evidence-based practices, thus preparing the candidate for a variety of careers including those in higher education/academia.
The project is housed at Florida International University - a public, urban, Hispanic-serving research institution serving over 55,000 students located in Miami, FL. FIU offers opportunities to interact and collaborate with science education and discipline-based education faculty across multiple STEM fields through the STEM Transformation Institute.
The position requires a PhD in a STEM field or STEM education and knowledge of Bioinformatics. The appointment is for one year with possible renewal for up to four additional years contingent upon satisfactory performance. The position is primarily in person at FIU. Some travel will be required.
Applications for this position should include a:
1. Cover letter emphasizing your interest and qualifications for the position
2. Curriculum Vitae with the names and contact information of 3 references
Please send these materials to Dr. Jessica Siltberg-Liberles at jliberle@fiu.edu with the email subject Postdoc application: [Your name].
Please feel free to send any questions you might have about this position to Dr. Siltberg-Liberles (jliberle@fiu.edu).
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.