Career Services Specialist - Advanced Professional

Penn State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University in Pennsylvania seeks a Career Services Specialist- Advanced Professional to design, deliver, and evaluate programs that help undergraduates explore research opportunities and experiential learning.

The role involves advising students, developing workshops, and coordinating programs like SURE, with collaboration across departments to promote student success in research careers.

Qualifications

• Experience advising undergraduates in academic settings.
• Ability to design and evaluate educational programs.
• Familiarity with undergraduate research opportunities and pathways.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver undergraduate research programs and workshops (virtual, hybrid, in-person).
• Coordinate experiences like SURE or similar programs and manage logistics.
• Meet with students to discuss interests and opportunities in research.
• Develop materials to help students apply for research positions and summer programs.
• Provide guidance for graduate school preparation and career pathways in research.
• Assess program effectiveness and impact of advising services.

Skills

Undergraduate advising

Mentoring

Educational programming

Research program coordination

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Office of Science Engagement , within the Eberly College of Science , seeks candidates for the position of Career Services Specialist- Advanced Professional, a key contributor to advancing undergraduate student engagement in research opportunities and experiential learning. The Career Services Specialist- (Research) will design, deliver, and evaluate programs that support Eberly College of Science students in exploring, securing, and succeeding in undergraduate research opportunities at Penn State and beyond.

The selected candidate will work closely with students to support the following:

• Encourage participation in undergraduate research experiences across the Eberly College of Science and the broader Penn State community


• Advise students on identifying research opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals


• Guide students through the process of securing research positions, including developing effective application materials and communicating with potential faculty mentors


• Assist students in exploring and applying to summer undergraduate research programs, including Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), institutional summer research programs, and other national opportunities


• Support students as they prepare for the next stages of their research journey, including summer research experiences, presentation opportunities, graduate school exploration, and research-focused career pathways


• Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of research engagement programs, workshops, and advising services

This position works collaboratively with the Office of Science Engagement team, Eberly College of Science academic departments, faculty mentors, Undergraduate Research and Fellowship and Mentoring, and other campus partners to develop and deliver innovative undergraduate research programming that promotes student success and engagement.

Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Design, implement, coordinate, and assess undergraduate research programs and initiatives (virtual, hybrid, and in-person)


• Coordinate the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program, including student recruitment, application management, program logistics, participant support, and program assessment


• Meet individually with undergraduate students to discuss research interests, identify opportunities, and provide guidance on securing research experiences at Penn State and externally


• Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and programming related to undergraduate research engagement, summer research opportunities, research skill development, graduate education preparation, and professional development


• Serve as a guest lecturer in undergraduate courses and student programs on topics related to finding and engaging in undergraduate research


• Teach SC 100: Introduction to Research, including curriculum delivery, student mentoring, and assessment


• Collaborate with faculty, departments, and campus partners to increase awareness of, and access to, undergraduate research opportunities


• Develop resources and initiatives that help students navigate research pathways and take the next step in their academic and professional development


• Coordinate marketing and communication efforts related to undergraduate research opportunities through websites, publications, digital communications, and social media in partnership with the Office of Science Engagement


• Represent the Office of Science Engagement at on-campus and off-campus events, which may occasionally require evening and weekend hours

Required Qualifications

Successful candidates must either have demonstrated a commitment to building an inclusive, equitable, and diverse campus community or describe one or more ways they would contribute to these efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with undergraduate students in academic advising, mentoring, research, or related educational settings


• Experience coordinating or supporting undergraduate research programs


• Knowledge of undergraduate research opportunities, summer research programs, and pathways to graduate education


• Experience developing and delivering educational programming, workshops, or c