Faculty Positions

Two lecturing faculty on each campus are experienced and enthusiastic scientist / educators. They teach the theory and practice associated with the research project, dividing the material according to respective interests. Lecture outlines, homeworks, lab procedures, and other academic resources are provided. The pace is faster than most college courses. Some time is reserved for other topics of special interest to faculty.

The AD is the program lead and is responsible for supervising, mentoring, and evaluating four teaching assistant/residential mentors (TAs), being the point person on programmatic (academic and experimental) decisions, and delegating tasks as needed.  Additionally, the AD is responsible for any pre- and post-programmatic requirements such as laboratory or project setup.  To serve as an AD, at least one year of AAD experience is typically required.

The AD and AADs will work with the four TAs on the academic side of the SSP experience.  SSP will provide lecture slides, lab slides, lab protocols, and the overall program schedule.  The academic directors can and should optimize and customize these documents to match their style and specific campus needs.  The AD and AADs will also attend weekly faculty meetings and contribute to the discussion of each participant’s academic growth/accomplishments.  Outside of the summer requirements, the AD and AADs have a shared responsibility to complete letters of recommendation (when appropriate) for participants’ college applications. The AAD’s primary responsibility is to lead half of the lecture and laboratory sessions, with the AD leading the other half.

Job Duties:

• Teach junior/senior university-level topics relevant to the research project to a group of 36 high-ability high school students in a fast-paced university environment
• Work in a close-knit, flexible, and adaptable team that includes the academic directors, a Site Director, and four university-age TAs, along with adjunct instructors and laboratory assistants
• Live on or near campus for 6.5 weeks, attend lunch and dinner with students most days, and participate in occasional field trips and social activities
• Present background material required for the research projects using lecture outlines, problem sets, laboratory procedures, and other resources provided by SSP as a starting point
• Deliver about half of the lectures/labs and assign appropriate homework
• Ensure the research project is successful
• Consistently operate within, and be measured with respect to, SSP’s mission and values
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Academic Officer
• (for ADs only) Train, supervise, and evaluate TAs.

Requirements:   

• Astrophysics ADs and AADs will supervise students in observing near-Earth asteroids and writing a computer program to calculate the orbital elements of an asteroid given measurements of its position.  A PhD in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, or a closely related field is required for both positions
• Biochemistry ADs and AADs will supervise students as they use we-lab and computer tools to characterize a novel member of an enzyme family implicated in crop infection by fungal pathogens.  A PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, or a closely related field is required for both positions
• Genomics ADs and AADs will supervise students as they use a custom-built chemostat to evolve a BSL1 bacterium and then, via whole-genome sequencing and annotation, identify implicated mutations.  A PhD in microbiology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or a closely related field is required for both positions
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required
• Intermediate computer skills are required
• Experience with a suite of productivity apps (Google or Microsoft Office preferred)
• Experience with a course LMS (such as Canvas or Google Classroom)
• Has worked as an instructor of record for one or more of the following courses:  Astronomy — calculus-based physics, astronomy, programming in Python, celestial mechanics; Biochemistry — biochemistry, molecular modeling, mathematics, bioinformatics; Genomics — microbiology, molecular genetics, bioinformatics
• Supervision of undergraduate research students, especially in the framework of a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) is desirable but not required
• Experience providing supportive and critical feedback on undergraduate “assignments” (of which many are writing-intensive) is desirable but not required
• Experience with AltGrading/Ungrading is desirable but not required.

The Site Director manages residential life (participant behavior, health, housing, dining) and logistics (facilities, field trips, special events), working closely with the other faculty and host campus personnel. Candidates should have 5+ years of experience working with high school students. The position is perfect for a teacher – especially a science or math teacher – seeking a change of pace and a chance to work outside of the classroom with extremely bright and motivated teens. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Live on or near campus for 6.5 weeks, attend lunch and dinner with students most days, and participate in field trips and social activities
• Serve as the program’s primary point of contact for participant families
• Train and supervise TAs on residential life responsibilities
• Develop and maintain relationships with university personnel including residence life staff, facilities staff, and faculty
• Be “on call” to handle medical emergencies, acute behavioral issues, etc.
• Provide guidance and support to participants as, for many, this represents their first long-term departure from life at home
• Create and maintain the non-academic components of the master campus schedule, such as field trips, dorm meetings, guest lectures, birthday parties, etc.
• Manage non-academic pre-arrival tasks such as selecting roommates, briefing nurse on medical issues, preparing participant chore chart, acquiring supplies, etc.
• Maintain control over the program expense card
• Consistently operate within, and be measured with respect to, SSP’s mission and values
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Residence Life

• Four-year degree required, some administrative and/or supervisory experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Site Directors are not teaching faculty, and so do not need experience in the specific research topic
• Prior SSP experience is highly desirable but not required

Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required
• The ability to communicate information so others will understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information among participants, faculty, parents, and SSP staff in rapidly changing situations
• Intermediate computer skills (experience with Microsoft Office suite and Google products) are required
• The ability to drive a vehicle as frequent trips are required to ensure materials are available to participants and other faculty
• Understanding of access and equity issues for historically underrepresented populations in science is desired
• The ability to remain composed during times of participant stress and provide mental and emotional support as needed
• Promote good relationships and create networking opportunities
• An entrepreneurial work ethic with ownership and accountability for your goals

Working Conditions:

The position is temporary full-time in-person with frequent weekend responsibilities and is required to be on on-call during evenings and nights.  The position requires use of a computer and phone to organize residential life events, and to communicate with fellow faculty, participants, and parents.  Director and weekly meetings are often held outside of typical work hours and local travel may be required to reach the meeting location

The working described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Teaching Assistant and Residential Mentors are tutors and instructors, assisting participants in using equipment and software, and with problem sets, under the direction of the Academic Director. Equally important is their simultaneous role as residential advisors and personal mentors, supervising participants and organizing recreational and social activities, under the direction of the Site Director.

Applicants should be rising college seniors, graduating seniors, or graduate students in a STEM field. Many TAs are SSP alumni but we also hire people new to SSP. For the Astrophysics project, programming experience is strongly preferred. For the Biochemistry project, wet lab experience is required.

2023 salary was $8,000 for an undergrad or new graduate in your first summer with us. Returning TAs earn more, as do those already in graduate school or with equivalent work experience.