Faculty

Job Opening: Office of Undergradute Research, Program Coordinator – IDEA Grants Program (UCP V)

UCONN IDEA Grants Program, Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), Division of Enrichment Programs (Search number 2013566)

The UCONN IDEA Grants Program Coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate Research contributes to the University of Connecticut’s goal of providing undergraduate students with a wide range of opportunities to participate in academic enrichment activities throughout their collegiate careers. UCONN IDEA Grants are available to students through a competitive process. The Program Coordinator will perform advising, administrative, and project-oriented tasks, including relevant research, event, meeting, and communication planning, creation of outreach strategies to undergraduate students, advising of interested undergraduate students, data analysis, along with other program administration and office duties, as required.

Position Duties

This person will work primarily with students and faculty on undergraduate research topics and processes. These duties include:

  1. Providing advising and administrative assistance to students interested in applying for a UCONN IDEA Grant and related opportunities, including supporting them through the application process.
  2. Scheduling and preparing materials for and presenting workshops on the UCONN IDEA Grant program and related opportunities.
  3. Receiving, processing, and reviewing applications ensuring completeness and making referrals to appropriate personnel for review. Maintaining filing system and electronic records.
  4. Managing communications with students and advisors regarding outcomes of proposals.
  5. Assisting in the marketing and communication of UCONN IDEA Grant and related opportunities to students, faculty and administrators.
  6. Managing workflow, drafting online forms, and contributing to quality improvement of forms and application materials.
  7. Processing and maintaining necessary paperwork, records, and files to support grant program, including fiscal records. Enhancing electronic data systems, where appropriate.
  8. Conferring with and assisting supervisor in the performance of program administration and activities.
  9. Evaluating effectiveness of programs and recommending improvements or changes to appropriate manager.
  10. Responsibility for writing and/or editing informational and promotional materials for use in outreach activities, requiring an understanding of the subject matter.
  11. Assisting with assessment efforts, assembling data, drafting and/or editing reports.
  12. Maintain a collection of resource materials and program information.
  13. Limited travel to relevant national conferences, regional events, and UConn regional campuses.
  14. May perform office support functions and projects, as assigned.
  15. Performing related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field.
  2. 3-5 years of office experience in a responsible administrative position that demonstrates knowledge of administrative methods.
  3. Ability to provide higher-level administrative office support.
  4. Demonstrated ability to work independently.
  5. Excellent multi-tasking and interpersonal skills.
  6. Strong writing and communication skills.
  7. Familiarity with computers as a skilled user of word processing programs and electronic data systems such as Word, Excel, Access, FileMaker and database reports.

Preferred Qualifications:

  1. Graduate degree in an appropriate field, including but not limited to higher education counseling or administration, natural or physical sciences, social sciences.
  2. Familiarity with competitive grant and award programs.
  3. Experience working with faculty across disciplines.
  4. Experience in an undergraduate research office or honors program or college.
  5. Experience at a large university.
  6. Experience with Peoplesoft and other database software.
  7. Experience with data analysis, database design, and program evaluation.
  8. Experience in designing or updating web pages, forms, and social media using relevant software (e.g. Dreamweaver, WordPress, wufoo, HootSuite).

Appointment TermsThis is a grant-funded full-time end-dated position; position end-date June 2015.

To Apply

For full consideration upload a letter of application, a resume, and a list of 3 professional references with contact information via Husky Hire (http://www.jobs.uconn.edu/).  Include search number on all correspondence. Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer.

2013 Frontiers Program Now Available

We hope that you’re planning to attend the Frontiers exhibition this Friday afternoon or Saturday!

Here’s a link to the program. We have 218 undergraduate students presenting posters for 175 research projects. STEM fields, social science, humanities, and the arts are all well represented. Many students who are presenting their research have received SURF, SHARE, and other Office of Undergraduate Research awards.

frontiers_2013

The artwork for the Frontiers poster was produced by talented Holster Scholars, Kaitrin Acuna and Julianne Norton. The poster was designed by Mallory Matula. Thank you all!

 

2013 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Awards

SURF is the biggest undergraduate research competition administered by the UConn Office of Undergraduate Research. I am delighted to announce that 70 UConn undergraduates have been offered SURF awards for this summer. Members of the faculty review committee commented on how strong the field of 91 applications was this year. SURF applications require research proposals of high quality.

Congratulations to the SURF awardees! Your academic achievements, creativity, and enterprise were ever so evident in your applications. Have fun with your research this summer!

Thank you to the faculty members who supported SURF applicants: mentors, letter writers, and faculty review committee members! SURF represents a collaborative effort between students and faculty. SURF would not exist without the support and participation of faculty members!

Thank you, too, to SURF supporters in the UConn community. Deans of UConn schools and colleges and the Provost’s Office helped to fund the SURF competition this year. Alumni, parents, and friends of UConn also helped fund SURF awards. Our community quilt of funding ensures that SURF supports a diverse array of UConn undergraduate research!

Once again, congratulations to those students offered 2013 SURF awards.

Margaret Lamb, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research

 

 

 

UCONN IDEA Grants – A New Opportunity for UCONN Undergraduates

The UConn IDEA Grant Program is a new competitive opportunity for undergraduates at the University of Connecticut. UConn students at all campuses and in all majors can apply for a UConn IDEA Grant of up to $4,000 to fund self-designed work on a topic, project, problem, artistic product or performance, or other entrepreneurial or creative idea of choice. The work should be personally meaningful, relevant, and engaging. The work does not need to be tied to a student’s major or minor, but it should be guided by a student’s academic goals and future plans. Students may apply individually or as part of a small group for this new undergraduate opportunity for creativity, innovation, original research, and service.

Read about UConn IDEA Grants in UConn Today and in the Hartford Business Journal!

In the pilot phase of the program, the Office of Undergraduate Research will make 10-15 awards in Spring 2013 and 20-25 awards in Fall 2013. (April 1st: Yippee! We’ve received 24 applications for UConn IDEA Grants! Can’t wait to read the proposals!) The initial UConn IDEA Grant projects will be planned in Summer 2013 with work done in Fall 2013. The second competition for UConn IDEA Grants will take place in Fall 2013. Those who are chosen for awards in Fall 2013 will plan their projects in Spring 2014 and then do their work in Summer 2014.

The UConn IDEA Grant Program has been designed to be flexible enough to support very diverse types of projects. During the pilot phase of the program (spring 2013 and fall 2013) we want program guidelines and best practices to be developed and refined through discussions with students, supervisors and mentors, advisors, and other members of the UConn community. We want UConn IDEA Grants to become a program that is valued by our whole UConn community for the creativity it encourages and the opportunities it provides undergraduates to produce great work. Your participation in making this new program a success will be most welcomed and appreciated.

Have a great idea and develop it as a UConn IDEA!

Margaret Lamb
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
April 2013