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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Graduate Assistant Professor

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EducationAcademiaResearchTenure-Track Faculty

🎯 Role Definition

As a Graduate Assistant Professor, you will be a foundational member of our faculty, charged with advancing the frontiers of knowledge in your discipline. This tenure-track position is a unique blend of scholarly research, pedagogical innovation, and dedicated mentorship. You will be expected to build and sustain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program, guide the next generation of scholars by teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, and actively participate in the academic life of the department, college, and university. This role requires a collaborative and ambitious individual نتائج to make a significant impact on our students and the broader academic community.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Associate
  • Visiting Assistant Professor
  • Exceptional Ph.D. Candidate with a strong publication record and teaching experience

Advancement To:

  • Associate Professor (with tenure)
  • Full Professor
  • Department Chair or Head

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Research Scientist (Industry or National Lab)
  • Academic Program Director or Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Establish and maintain a vigorous, independent, and externally-funded research program that gains national and international recognition for its scholarly excellence and innovation.
  • Aggressively seek and secure extramural funding from federal, state, or private sources to support your research agenda, including graduate student stipends and laboratory resources.
  • Disseminate research findings壓力 through the publication of peer-reviewed articles in high-impact academic journals墙 and scholarly presses.
  • Present original research and scholarly work at major national and international conferences, symposia, and workshops to build a professional network and enhance a's reputation.
  • Develop and deliver engaging and rigorous graduate and undergraduate courses within your area of expertise, employing modern and effective pedagogical strategies.
  • Mentor a diverse cohort of graduate students (both M.S. and Ph.D. candidates), providing expert guidance on their research projects, dissertations, and theses.
  • Actively recruit high-caliber graduate students to the department's programs, contributing to the growth and vitality of our student body.
  • Serve as a chair or member on dissertation, thesis, and comprehensive examination committees, providing constructive feedback and upholding academic standards.
  • Contribute to the evolution of the curriculum by developing new courses, revising existing ones, and integrating cutting-edge research into classroom instruction.
  • Provide dedicated academic advising and career-focused mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students, helping them navigate their academic journey and prepare for future success.
  • Maintain a consistent and high-quality record of scholarly activity and publication that meets the university's criteria for promotion and tenure.
  • Engage in meaningful service to the department, college, and university by actively participating in faculty meetings and serving on standing and ad-hoc committees.
  • Contribute professional service to the broader discipline by acting as a peer reviewer for academic journals, grant proposals, and conference submissions.
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive learning and research environment that is welcoming to students and colleagues from all backgrounds.
  • Supervise and manage a research lab or group, including the oversight of equipment, budgets, and the professional development of student researchers and technical staff.
  • Pursue interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty members across the university and at other institutions to tackle complex research questions.
  • Engage in public scholarship or community outreach activities that translate academic research for a broader audience and demonstrate the public value of your work.
    WATCH - Hold regular office hours each semester to ensure accessibility to students for academic support, mentorship, and advising.
  • Uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, research ethics, and professional conduct in all teaching, research, and service activities.
  • Participate in the department's faculty governance, contributing to strategic planning, faculty hiring, and policy development.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for departmental-level assessment and strategic planning.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap, particularly in areas инноваций to student success and research output.
  • Collaborate with business units, such as the office of research or the graduate school, to translate data needs into engineering requirements for improved reporting.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team if involved in university-wide data science initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced expertise in a specific scholarly discipline and its associated research methodologies (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods).
  • Proven ability in grant writing and the entire proposal submission lifecycle, from identifying funding opportunities to budget creation.
  • Proficiency with specialized software, equipment, or analytical tools relevant to the field (e.g., MATLAB, R, SPSS, Python, laboratory instruments, archival databases).
    Etiquette - Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and course design for both undergraduate and graduate levels.
  • Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with career stage.
  • Data analysis and statistical interpretation skills.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written and oral communication, including public speaking and the ability to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences.
  • Strong interpersonal mentorship and advising capabilities with a commitment to student success.
  • High degree of self-motivation, independence, and the ability to manage long-term, complex research projects.
  • Collaborative spirit and ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team environment.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills to balance the demands of teaching, research, and service.
  • Leadership potential and a proactive approach to departmental and university service.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A Ph.D. or other terminal degree (e.g., Ed.D., MFA) in a relevant discipline, conferred by the start of the employment period.

Preferred Education:

A Ph.D. or terminal degree plus a minimum of one year of postdoctoral research or university-level teaching experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • [Insert Specific Field, e.g., Computer Science, English Literature, Cellular Biology, etc.]
  • Or a closely related interdisciplinary field.

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-5 years of post-terminal degree experience. This is an entry-level faculty position, and highly qualified ABD (All But Dissertation) candidates near completion may be considered.

Preferred:

Evidence of a promising research agenda, a beginning record of peer-reviewed publications, experience as a primary instructor for at least one university-level course, and demonstrated potential for securing external grant funding.

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