Department
 

BSD MST - Medical Scientists Training Program

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) was established in 1967 and is one of the longest running physician-scientist training programs in the country. Our goal is to train the next generation of physician-scientist leaders and to provide all students with rigorous scientific training that prepares them to excel in their field of interest. Our students seek careers in biomedical research and have a desire to apply both clinical and research expertise to solve the most pressing problems in medical science. The program has an illustrious history of training students to assume positions of leadership in academic medicine at major research institutions nationwide.

Job Summary
 

The job leads implementation of a variety of student affairs activities, including orientation and onboarding programs for incoming students. Acts as the primary point of contact for student inquiries. Uses specialized breadth and depth of expertise in student affairs to develop future enrollment strategies using admissions and financial aid data.
The Associate Dean of Students and Executive Director is responsible for managing the administrative, financial, student and academic affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). This is a longstanding and distinguished training program which prepares the next generation of leaders in academic medicine. As such, the success of the MSTP is fundamental to the academic mission of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD). The MSTP is also one of the largest training programs in the BSD with a usual enrollment of 75-80 students and over 100 faculty trainers.

Responsibilities

Student Affairs:

• The MSTP Dean of Students will help students recognize, pursue and focus on their passions and work with the Director to advise and counsel MSTP students on all training issues.

• Challenge students to set realistic academic and life goals to ensure personal success and empower students to think and act scientifically, creatively and independently.

• Students meet annually with the Director and MSTP Dean of Students for a formal review of academic progress.

• Works with Associate Director for Curriculum to develop and maintain relationships with thesis mentors during the graduate phase of training to ensure proper completion of MSTP goals.

• Works with the Director and Associate Director for Curriculum to negotiate curricula for PhD specializations, develop new courses to fill the needs of MSTP students, and oversee the instruction of MSTP-specific courses.

Finances and Accounting:

• Collaborate with financial officials across the BSD, Pritzker School of Medicine, and several individual and central units to assure proper funding of students in all phases of training.

• Administer and manage all grant and endowment funds for the Program.

• Lead and complete annual budget process in addition to ongoing finance/accounting updates and reporting. 

• Assist the Director in fundraising and interacting with University of Chicago Development office to increase the MSTP program endowment.

• Oversight over all program expenditures.

Program Management:

• Supervise two full-time staff (Assistant Director, Admissions and Student Affairs; Grants and Student Affairs Coordinator); and one part-time staff (Business Coordinator). 

• Direct the maintenance of alumni and student databases.

• In coordination with the Department of Medicine, the BSD Office for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, and the MSTP Director, support the assembly and completion of competing and non-competing renewals of NIH MSTP training grant application.

Recruitment and Outreach:

• Work with the MSTP, Pritzker School of Medicine, and BSD Admissions teams to develop new outreach programs to expand and enhance the applicant pool including but not limited to opportunities to reach students who are underrepresented in medicine or science.

• Represent the MSTP at local, regional, and/or national venues (e.g., conferences, grad fairs) to share more information about physician-scientist pathways and UChicago’s MSTP, specifically. 

• Solves complex problems in areas such as academic and administrative policy, student admissions, curriculum research and development, and budget development. Advises various campus-wide and program committees in various aspects of student life.

• Leads and recommends process improvements for programs that relate to critical student-life improvement, including emergency management, accommodations for students with disabilities, and/or the administration of health care services and programs for students.

• Collaborates with academic divisions in educating students on safety issues. Interprets student disciplinary issues and prepares an annual university summary of disciplinary actions. Counsels students, parents, and staff in response to concerns, and handles complex situations including student crises.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Advanced Degree in related field (Business, Administration, Communications, etc.).

Experience:

• Senior-level leadership experience successfully managing people and projects, providing direction, setting priorities, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing major initiatives for change.

• Experience in administering student affairs in a college or university environment working directly with students.

• Higher education recruitment/outreach program management or related experience.

• Strategic planning experience.

• Grant proposal experience.

• Financial management experience.

• Fundraising and development experience.

• Experience working in higher education research institution.

• Knowledge of University of Chicago institutional policies and administrative systems.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong analytical and financial skills and the demonstrated ability to evaluate needs, synthesize findings, and present conclusions clearly.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Knowledge of database management software.

• Demonstrated success in building collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies including research faculty.

• Demonstrated background in change management or process improvement initiatives.

• Ability to navigate the challenges of working within a complex, decentralized environment.

• Ability to successfully manage a workload which balances long-range planning with the unanticipated daily demands of managing a busy operation.

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.

• Excellent staff management skills.

• Strong student advising/student support skills.

• Financial analysis and management skills.

• Decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated teamwork skills to lead and collaborate with a wide range of constituents.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in large groups as well as one-on-one with students, senior management, faculty, alumni and others.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Attention to detail.

• High degree of professionalism.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to resolve complex problems.

• Ability to use independent judgment.

• Ability to handle confidential information with utmost discretion.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

• Exposure to, and an understanding of, an academically rigorous research university environment.

• Knowledge of local and national philanthropic communities and cultural institutions.

Working Con ditions    

• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally (such as for recruitment) and work limited evenings and weekends (such as for student event and/or admissions cycle support).

• Eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.