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Dear Colleague Letter: The Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Engineering Education Program Director – Employment Opportunities for Program Director
DATE: September 14, 2009
TITLE: The Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Engineering Education Program Director – Employment Opportunities for Program Director - - Dear Colleague Letter
Dear Colleague:
The Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) are in search for a Program Director in the area of Engineering Education. Appointments will be made for one year and may be extended for additional years by mutual agreement.
Formal consideration of interested applicants will begin September 30, 2009, and will continue until a selection is made.
The Engineering Education Program focuses on increasing the effectiveness and productivity of undergraduate and graduate engineering programs, engineering technology and community based pre-engineering programs. Our objective is to improve the quality of engineering education through investments in understanding the pedagogy of how students learn, how faculty can improve their skills and how colleges can innovate to improve the learning environment.
Some of our current topics being supported include: understanding the aims and objectives of engineering education, the content and organization of the curriculum, how students learn problem solving, creativity and design, new methods for assessment and evaluation, emerging topics in sustainability and cyber-learning of how students learn engineering, and research that helps understand how to attract a more talented and diverse student body to all levels of engineering study. In the future, we plan to broaden our efforts to new approaches for web-learning, entrepreneurial studies and innovations related to team-based learning, especially capstone design activities, as well a new focus on understanding barriers in translation of research into practice.
NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency’s overall mission. To discharge this responsibility requires not only knowledge in the appropriate disciplines, but also a commitment to high standards, a considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.
Qualification requirements include a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in the relevant discipline, plus six or more years of successful research, research administration and/or substantial managerial experience in academe, industry, or government. Appointees are expected to have significant and relevant knowledge of research related to Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics discipline. Leadership experience in engineering education (departmental, college, university, societies, journals etc) is required. For this position, we seek senior level candidates (e.g. an applicant from academe should be a tenured Professor in an Engineering or Engineering Science area). In addition, demonstrated success in the classroom and student advising will be an important attribute for the successful applicant. Also desirable are knowledge of the general scientific and engineering community and strong skills in written and oral communication. All appointees are expected to function effectively both within specific programs and as part of a team, contributing to and coordinating with offices throughout the Foundation and with other Federal and state government agencies and private sector organizations. This position may be filled under one of the following appointment options:
Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) Act: Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a Federal agency include employees of State and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. Initial assignments under IPA provisions may be made for a period up to two years, with a possible extension for up to an additional two-year period. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides the negotiated funding toward the assignee’s salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments are made for a one-year period and may be extended by mutual agreement.
Visiting Scientist Appointment: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Visiting Scientists are on non-paid leave status from their home institution and placed on the NSF payroll. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution’s contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for a one-year period and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.
Temporary Excepted Service Appointment: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits (retirement, health benefits, and life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years.
For additional information on NSF’s rotational programs, please see “Programs for Scientists, Engineers, and Educators” on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/.
Individuals interested in applying for this Program Director position should send a current CV and statement of interest to:
Division of Engineering Education and Centers,
Suite 585 National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230 Phone: 703-292-5346
Fax: 703-292-9051/2
Attn: Dr. A. L. Soyster
Email: asoyster@nsf.gov
NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING
A HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION.
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