Instructor for GeoFORCE

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

3d

About The Position

GeoFORCE Instructors serve as geoscience content experts, working collaboratively with an educational coach to teach students in the field, classroom, or virtually for the Virtual Academy. The primary duty is to instruct approximately 40–45 high school students for one week during an assigned GeoFORCE Traveling or Virtual Academy, covering geologic concepts related to the field experience.

GeoFORCE is a youth education outreach program of the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas. It recruits students in Austin, Houston, and Southwest Texas and aims to develop future STEM leaders in areas including energy, minerals, water, the environment, and natural hazards.

The position is scheduled for 15 hours per week and is expected to continue through August 31, 2027. Substantial travel is associated with the role. Selected instructors must participate in virtual training in May. During scheduled academy weeks, paid overtime of 40 or more hours is expected. The position may involve work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures, standard office conditions, climbing stairs, long hikes, and travel by airplane, bus, or automobile. Candidates must follow University of Texas and GeoFORCE youth-protection policies, including child-safety training and a zero-tolerance alcohol policy throughout field experiences. Finalists are subject to a criminal history background check.

Requirements

• Two or more years of post-baccalaureate education.
• Ability to commit to an entire field experience and a potentially active schedule from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Compliance with University of Texas Youth Protection Program, Human Resources, and GeoFORCE Texas policies, including child-safety training and the zero-tolerance alcohol policy during field experiences.
• Finalists must complete a criminal history background check.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in geoscience or a geoscience education field.
• Experience teaching secondary school students.
• Experience managing and delivering science enrichment programs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver short lectures before field visits or while exploring geoscience topics.
• Partner with an educational coach to guide students through geoscience content and provide curricular context for field stops or subject areas described in GeoFORCE guidebooks and schedules.
• Contribute new content and best practices in geoscience field learning to the GeoFORCE Texas instructional database, informed by geoscience education literature.
• Conduct daily debriefs with the instructional team and GeoFORCE coordinators.
• Collaborate with staff and communicate instructional issues to the trip coordinator and appropriate team members.
• Serve as a mentor to student counselors and program participants.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the trip coordinator.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed