Adjunct Faculty - Assistant Director of Student Research

University of Houston System; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

The Office of Medical Education and Student Research at the University of Houston System invites applications for a part-time (0.2 FTE) faculty leadership role. Reporting to the Director for Student Research, the Assistant Director will oversee student scholarly activity, coordinate programs, and ensure compliance with IRB and regulatory standards.

We seek a candidate with 3–5 years in academic medicine or higher education, proven mentoring ability, and strong project management, communication,

Qualifications

• PhD, EdD, DrPH, MD, DO, or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Experience advising and mentoring students in academic or research settings.
• Experience coordinating educational programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Advise and mentor medical students regarding scholarly interests and research pathways.
• Identify research opportunities and connect students with mentors and resources.
• Ensure compliance with IRB policies and research regulations.
• Lead development of educational programming and faculty development.
• Collaborate with departments to advance student research culture.
• Support accreditation, reporting, and program improvement efforts.

Skills

Mentoring

Advising students

Program coordination

Data analysis

IRB knowledge

Project management

Communication

Education

Doctoral degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Database management systems

Survey tools

Job description

Department: Health Systems & Population Sciences Salary: Commensurate with experience

Description

The Offices of Medical Education and Student Research in the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston invites applications for a faculty position in the field of undergraduate medical education and student scholarly activity. We are recruiting new faculty who have achieved excellence in education, teaching, and research and are prepared to contribute to our bold vision (http://www.uh.edu/medicine/).

The University of Houston is a comprehensive, Carnegie Tier 1 public research university located on a park-like campus close to the Texas Medical Center and major energy companies, with over 49,000 students distributed across 15 colleges, including Nursing, Pharmacy, Optometry, and Social Work. As a location, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States, and it has first-rate recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and affordable housing. This position will be part time at 0.2 FTE. Reporting to the Director for Student Research, the Assistant Director provides collaborative leadership and strategic oversight for the Office of Student Research. The Assistant Director facilitates programs and operations that support medical student research and scholarly activity, ensuring administrative functions and program initiatives are effectively managed and aligned with the institution’s mission, objectives, and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Advise and mentor medical students individually regarding scholarly interests, research pathways, career development, and academic opportunities.
• Facilitate student participation in research and scholarly activities by identifying research opportunities, recruiting faculty mentors, and connecting students with institutional and external resources.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, university, IRB, and federal policies governing student research and scholarly activities.
• Collaborate with the Medical Student Research Association and other student organizations to expand student engagement in research initiatives and programming.
• Develop and coordinate recurring educational programming, including journal clubs, workshops, seminars, and professional development sessions designed to strengthen student research competencies.
• Lead the development, implementation, and promotion of innovative Office of Student Research (OSR) initiatives, including pipeline programs, scholarly concentrations, micro credentials, networking events, research electives, student research portfolios, Student Research Day, recognition programs, and awards.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to student research participation, outcomes, and program effectiveness to support strategic planning and continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Design and implement assessment and evaluation processes to measure the impact of OSR initiatives and gather stakeholder feedback to inform program enhancements.
• Develop and deliver faculty development programming to strengthen faculty engagement, mentorship capacity, and participation in student scholarly activities.
• Maintain and expand a comprehensive database of faculty expertise, active research projects, mentorship opportunities, and project needs to support student‑faculty matching and collaboration.
• Collaborate with institutional partners and academic departments to advance a culture of research, scholarship, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the medical education environment.
• Support strategic initiatives, accreditation efforts, reporting requirements, and other administrative functions related to student research and scholarly activity programs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in academic medicine, higher education, research administration, student affairs, or a related environment.
• Demonstrated experience advising, mentoring, or supporting students in academic, research, or professional development activities.
• Experience coordinating educational programs, workshops, seminars, or student-focused initiatives.
• Knowledge of research methodology, scholarly dissemination, and the research process in academic or healthcare settings.
• Working knowledge of human subjects research regulations, Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, research ethics, and applicable federal and institutional compliance requirements.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting programmatic or assessment data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, students, administrators, and external partners.
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and database, survey, and data management systems.
• Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DrPH, MD, DO, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in mentoring and supporting faculty members in their professional development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and managing student research programs, scholarly concentrations, pipeline programs, or experiential learning initiatives.
• Record of scholarly activity, including publications, presentations, grant participation, or research program management.
• Experience with accreditation processes and reporting requirements in medical education (e.g., Liaison Committee on Medical Education standards).
• Experience facilitating faculty development and mentorship programs.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software, assessment platforms, or program evaluation methodologies.
• Experience managing budgets, grants, or externally funded educational initiatives.

Required attachments by candidate

• CV
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Applicants must have a PhD, MD or DO, dependent on the position, from an accredited institution. Official transcripts are required for faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidate(s). Physician applicants must possess an unrestricted Texas Medical License and board certification in their specialty. While exceptions may be considered, approval must be obtained from the Vice Dean of Education and/or the Dean of the College of Medicine and the Office of the Provost. All positions within the University of Houston System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Physician applicants are required to provide documentation of current licensure and board certification as part of their application materials.

Employees are expected to have a home address in the state of Texas for the duration of their appointments.

Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.