DIRECTOR, NEURO-SCIENCE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM

Part Time

Position Summary

The Graduate College and CCOM are recruiting a Director for the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (“Neuroscience Program”). This is an internal search open to current UI Faculty only. The overarching objective of the Neuroscience Program is to train scientists who will function independently as researchers and teachers in the national and global workforce dedicated to brain science, as they complete a PhD degree in Neuroscience.  The Neuroscience Program has more than 110 faculty investigators and approximately 65 current students. The Director is tasked with setting the vision for the Program, supporting the students, building consensus and resolving conflict, leading the educational initiatives in the Program, recruiting faculty leaders and trainers, leading the Program staff, interfacing with campus partners, and maintaining T32 support for the Program. The Director reports to the Dean of the Graduate College and the Executive Dean of CCOM.

Position Responsibilities

Develop and Articulate a Vision for the Future of the Neuroscience Program:

- Work closely with faculty investigators, students, and University of Iowa leaders to develop a vision for the goals and long-term direction of the Program

- Articulate this vision to faculty investigators, students, and the University of Iowa Community

- Manage the strategic planning required to execute the articulated vision

- Foster a culture of student-centric education and training excellence

Foster Student Success and Community Building:

- Maintain and develop programs that foster student success

- Promote a welcoming environment that builds a student community that enhances student belonging

- Collaborate with students to identify resources to achieve academic and career goals

- Promote a culture of student agency vis-à-vis the Program

Recruit Faculty Investigators, Mentors, and Faculty Leaders:

- Promote the Program to potential new neuroscience faculty mentors across campus

- Help Departments and Academic Units recruit faculty investigators who bolster the goals of the Program

- Ensure that faculty investigators are active, engaged scientists and mentors

- Enhance faculty training opportunities to enhance mentoring and leadership skills

- Develop the next generation of faculty leaders in the program

Build Consensus and Manage Conflict:

- Build consensus among students and faculty towards common Program values, goals, and objectives

- Mediate interpersonal conflict; facilitate conflict resolution (e.g., mentor-mentee, faculty-leadership)

- Identify and refer to appropriate institutional resources when local conflict resolution is not successful

Manage the Administrative Staff:

- Recruit and retain outstanding administrative staff needed for the functioning of the Program

- Oversee the day-to-day work of the administrative staff

- Promote career development opportunities for the staff

Liaison with Leaders at the University of Iowa:

- Develop collaborative relationships with key leaders in the Graduate College and Carver College of Medicine, and across the University of Iowa as appropriate

- Advocate for funding and staffing for the program

- Interface with Iowa Neuroscience Institute leadership

- Interface with leadership of the CLAS-supported (PBS, Biology) Neuroscience undergraduate major

Administer and Facilitate Programmatic Educational Initiatives:

- Work with the Executive Committee to set the educational and committee structure of the Program

- Determine the educational requirements for students in the Program

- Keep current the Program Handbook to articulate expectations to students and faculty mentors

- Recruit faculty and students to serve on Program committees

Develop a Strategy for maintaining T32 and Other Funding:

- Develop a strategy that will facilitate maintenance and renewal of the longstanding T32

- Serve as or identify faculty leaders for the T32

- Help facilitate submission of T32 renewal applications

- Explore other sources of outside support for the Program

Compensation:

The position will be supported by a percent salary offset.

Universal Competencies:

Collaboration and Positive Impact: Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collegial manner and utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs.

Service Excellence/Customer Focus: Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner. Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.

Welcoming and Respectful Environment: Ability to foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment while recognizing personal differences. Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner.

Successful candidates will be required to disclose any misconduct history or pending research misconduct investigation including but not limited to sexual misconduct in prior employment and provide a related release and will be subject to a criminal background and credential check.

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Current tenured or tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Iowa.



• Prior experience with training graduate students through completion of their PhD and/or management of graduate programs



• A focus on student success and mentoring



• Strong communication and interpersonal relationship skills

• Existing relationships with faculty and campus leaders



• Administrative experience in managing an academic program



• Understanding of the landscape of neuroscience graduate training on the UI campus and other peer and benchmark institutions



• Knowledge of University of Iowa policies, procedures, and regulations focused on graduate training



• Current NIH R01 or equivalent funding

Curriculum Vitae
Name and Contact Information of References
Letter of Interest

Number of References:3

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