Associate Director of Neuroscience Education

Harvard University • Boston, MA

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Neuroscience Education supports the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of graduate neuroscience education and trainee development programs. Reporting to the Vice Chair, the role collaborates with Department of Neurobiology faculty, Program in Neuroscience (PiN) leadership, PiNBAC leadership, and the Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation and Scholarship.

The position provides strategic and operational leadership for core and elective neuroscience courses, professional development programming, mentorship initiatives, educational assessment, and recruitment activities. It also contributes to educational scholarship focused on neuroscience training and student learning.

The Associate Director serves as Co-Course Director for the core graduate Discipline of Neuroscience course; works with faculty and program leaders to develop and improve courses; applies evidence-based teaching practices; and guides course design, instruction, and assessment. The role oversees core-course administration, including teaching fellow supervision and coordination with instructors, and supports the development and launch of elective courses.

The position develops and implements program evaluation approaches, analyzes findings, recommends improvements, and collaborates on educational scholarship. It also supports PiN and PiNBAC recruitment, and develops and delivers professional development, orientation, career exploration, and other training programs for students and trainees. The position is fully on-site at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, and research personnel in a complex academic environment.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in neuroscience, neurobiology, education, or a related field.
• Experience developing and teaching graduate-level neuroscience or biomedical science courses.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based teaching and learning practices.
• Experience with curriculum design, course administration, and educational assessment.
• Experience developing professional development, mentorship, or career programming for students or trainees.
• Experience conducting or contributing to educational research and scholarship.
• Strength in teaching quantitative approaches to biological questions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Co-Course Director for the core graduate Discipline of Neuroscience course.
• Collaborate with faculty to refine course syllabi, learning objectives, instructional methods, and assessments.
• Incorporate evidence-based pedagogical practices and innovative approaches into graduate neuroscience education.
• Develop and refine elective courses for neuroscience PhD students, and identify, recruit, and support subject-matter experts who lead them.
• Guide course design, instructional strategies, and assessment of student learning.
• Identify opportunities to pilot, evaluate, and scale innovations in neuroscience education.
• Teach in graduate and professional development curricula and serve as a neuroscience resource for students.
• Develop and implement strategies, tools, and processes to evaluate coursework and co-curricular or paracurricular training programs.
• Analyze evaluation findings and recommend improvements to courses and training programs.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean to develop, conduct, and publish educational scholarship related to departmental neuroscience education and trainee development.
• Support continuous improvement through data-informed program planning and assessment.
• Oversee administrative operations of the core graduate Discipline of Neuroscience course.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate teaching fellows.
• Coordinate with instructors to ensure timely, effective, and integrated course delivery.
• Serve as the course's primary contact and facilitate communication among course directors, faculty instructors, teaching fellows, and students.
• Partner with the PiN program administrator to support administrative logistics for developing and launching elective courses.
• Assist with course scheduling, communications, instructional materials, assessments, and other operational needs.
• Support outreach and recruitment activities for PiN and PiNBAC.
• Organize and participate in recruitment events, including the graduate fair at the annual Society for Neuroscience conference and virtual information and recruitment sessions.
• Collaborate with PiN leadership and the Assistant Dean to design and deliver professional development workshops, boot camps, orientation programs, and other training activities.
• Develop practical-skills programming for students, research assistants, and postdoctoral trainees.
• Lecture and facilitate sessions on neuroscience training, academic development, career preparation, and professional effectiveness.
• Create resources to help trainees navigate academic, research, and career pathways.
• Develop and deliver career exploration programming.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director