The Harvard Medical School Curriculum Fellows Program (HMS CFP) welcomes applications for a Curriculum Fellow (CF) in Genetics and Genomics. The CFP is a postdoctoral service and training program focused on curriculum development, teaching, and educational programming in the biological and biomedical sciences. Curriculum Fellows are part of a larger cohort and work closely with members of the Harvard faculty and administration to develop, deploy, and evaluate evidence-based graduate training. Fellows also receive mentorship and career advising to support their development as educators and help them succeed in a variety of education-focused careers. More detailed information about the Curriculum Fellows Program and the role of a CF can be found at our website (https://curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu/).
Fellowships are intended for early-career scientist-educators. The CF appointment is renewable annually for a maximum of three years and is non-tenure-track. Fellows are appointed as Research Fellows and typically earn promotion to the rank of Lecturer during the term of the fellowship. The ideal start date for the Curriculum Fellow in Genetics and Genomics is on or before July 1, 2023 at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.
The primary roles of the CF in Genetics and Genomics will be to (1) support Genetics 201, an introductory genetics course taken by ~70 first-year graduate students and (2) lead and support several aspects of the Program in Genetics and Genomics, a graduate track within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences PhD Program at Harvard Medical School.
Specific responsibilities of the Curriculum Fellow in Genetics and Genomics:
Lead the administration of Genetics 201, an introductory genetics course taken by ~70 first-year graduate students, including maintenance of online learning platforms (Canvas), Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow training, and workflow management of problem set writing and grading.
Lead several aspects of the Program in Genetics and Genomics (PGG): (1) plan and execute annual PGG welcome meetings, symposia, student-led talks, relevant workshops and other programming that aligns with the mission of PGG; (2) update and maintain the PGG website (https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/pgg); (3) assist the PGG director in preparation of the training grant renewal; (4) serve as a member of the PGG steering committee.
Participate as a member of the HMS Genetics department committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Organize, oversee and evaluate the success of an intensive, hands-on laboratory-based “boot camp” each January.
Organize, oversee, and evaluate the success of at least two nanocourses, multiple-day courses that teach transferrable skills and update the community on the latest techniques and discoveries, per academic year.
Collaborate with HMS faculty and students to create, manage, and update aspects of the HMS graduate genetics curriculum, including for both new and existing courses.
Qualifications, job skills, and competencies:
A Ph.D. in Genetics or a closely related area by the time of appointment.
Prior experience or demonstrated interest in teaching.
Outstanding writing, organizational and event planning skills.
Demonstrated capacity for independence, perseverance, innovation and teamwork.
Training in quantitative and computational biology is relevant but not required.
Only complete applications submitted by the relevant deadline will receive a full review. The deadline to apply is February 4, 2023.
Required materials:
A cover letter that addresses your interest in and qualifications for the position.
A curriculum vitae.
A teaching statement following our Teaching Statement Guidelines: https://curriculumfellows.hms.harvard.edu/teaching-statement-guidelines. The teaching statement is an opportunity to describe your philosophy of teaching in the context of your own experiences. A discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion is an important component of the teaching statement.
The names and contact information of three professional references.
We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture (https://hr.fas.harvard.edu/inclusive-culture) of faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations. We appreciate and leverage the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals.
We are 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.
General Fellowship Information:
Harvard Medical School (HMS) invites motivated early-career scientists interested in careers in education to apply for a three-year fellowship within the HMS Curriculum Fellows Program. Curriculum Fellows (CFs) have diverse academic roles and professional identities, but our work is united by the core beliefs that effective teaching is evidence-based and all students deserve equal opportunities to learn. CFs work closely with members of the HMS faculty and administration to develop, deploy, support, and evaluate evidence-based graduate biomedical education and training. Fellows have gone on to careers as teaching faculty, directors of education, leaders within centers for teaching and learning, discipline-based educational researchers, and higher education administrators.
As a fellow, the majority of your time is spent serving the curricular and programmatic goals of the specific academic department or graduate training program that hires you (see below for links to current openings). This includes opportunities to create curriculum and para-curricular programming for biomedical graduate students across the HMS Program in Graduate Education and t...o apply and evaluate evidence-based teaching practices. A variety of highly individualized professional development opportunities will help you identify your desired career path and develop the skills and experiences you will need to achieve it. All fellows contribute to the HMS community by attending and presenting in workshops, an education journal club, and pedagogy-focused seminars.
The CFP values a diversity of academic experiences and welcomes applicants from all graduate and postdoctoral institutions. The fellowship is intended for early-career scientist-educators. Applicants should be recent graduates or postdocs with a PhD in a scientific field that prepares you to develop graduate-level curricula specific to the hiring program or department. If you are a current graduate student and expect to receive your degree prior to the start of the fellowship term, you are welcome to apply. A strong interest in scientific teaching and training will be essential for your success, but significant independent teaching experience is not required. We provide a competitive salary, benefits, and relocation funds.
