Program Director

Come join the groundbreaking team at the Dunn Lab as our Program Director! Please use the following link to apply through the Purdue Careers site: https://bit.ly/3RWBNvo

Purdue University is ranked among top 10 public universities, with more than 105,000 students and a commitment to high-quality, affordable education. Long known for achievements in Science, Technology and Engineering—Purdue is continuing its history of small steps towards giant leaps in innovation with the addition of the Dunn Lab (www.thedunnlab.com) to Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Erin C Dunn and her team recently joined Purdue (from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital)—to expand its groundbreaking work on the social and biological determinants of mental illness, make new giant leaps in scientific discovery in these areas, and build a new University-wide Center focused on the emerging field of sociogenomics.

The Dunn Lab is now hiring for a critically important role: Program Director. As the Dunn Lab Program Director, you will be responsible for all administrative and operations tasks related to running the lab’s wet and dry lab enterprise. You will work closely alongside Dr. Dunn to facilitate all day-to-day operations of the lab. You will provide “scientific process” guidance to all members of the research team, including building strategies for working more efficiently and effectively; identifying best-practices for collaboration and team science; and coaching to build life skills as a scientist and employee (e.g., organization; time management; delegating; managing change). You will work with Purdue's pre-award team as the administrative liaison between the Dunn Lab and Central grant support. You will also coordinate with the Research Account Specialist to achieve lab goals, both pre- and post-award, within an identified budget. 

Ideal candidates will be results-focused, team-oriented, and creative leaders who can excel in a very fast-paced and multidisciplinary research environment. Candidates must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and exhibit strong problem-solving skills. In addition, the successful candidate should be a clear and effective communicator, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills to enable collaboration with domestic and international project teams, peers, and management in identifying and achieving research goals.

The Dunn Lab is based in the Department of Sociology within the College of Liberal Arts. The College of Liberal Arts prepares graduates for meaningful careers and inspired leadership. Positioned at the intersection of liberal arts and STEM, the College leverages Purdue’s STEM strengths to propel graduates toward new advances in our disciplines and enhances Purdue’s renowned STEM education by pushing all Purdue students intellectually and challenging them to be independent thinkers who drive decision making as bold, visionary leaders.

The Dunn Lab believes good science (and good scientists) are born from a diverse and inclusive workforce. We value diversity of backgrounds, thoughts, and approaches. The College of Liberal Arts is an emerging leader in innovative Liberal Arts education and scholarship. It is home to the nationally-recognized Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program, Degree , and launched the campus Degree in 3 initiative. Purdue University and the College of Liberal Arts are committed to free and open inquiry in all matters. All staff are expected to contribute to a climate that values free inquiry.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Developing long-term plans and goals for the laboratory program in alignment with the organization's overall objectives. Overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Budget Management in collaboration with the Research Account Specialist. Overseeing the budget for the laboratory program, including allocating funds, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial sustainability both for current grants and for prospective grants.
• Hiring, training, and providing administrative supervision for staff. Co-mentoring and coaching members of the research team in areas including organization, time management, delegation and change management.
• Preparing regular reports on the activities, progress, and outcomes of the laboratory program for internal stakeholders, external partners, and funding agencies. Responsible for Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs), and IRB Submissions. 
• Implementing and maintaining quality assurance procedures to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of laboratory testing and research activities. Ensuring that the laboratory program complies with all relevant regulations and standards, including those set by government agencies and accrediting bodies. Identifying and mitigating potential risks to the laboratory program, including safety hazards, financial challenges, and legal liabilities.
• Building and maintaining relationships with external partners, including other research institutions, industry collaborators, and funding agencies. Promoting the work of the laboratory program through presentations, publications, and other outreach activities, and advocating for its importance within the organization and the broader community.

Required: 

• BA/BS Required.
• 6 - 7 years of experience doing research as well as extensive experience in all administrative and operational tasks related to running a wet and dry lab.
• Education beyond BA/BS can be considered in lieu of some of the experience requirement, for example 3-5 years of experience required with master’s or PhD.

Note: Cover letter required for consideration. Cover letter should include the following:

• Relevant experience and skills that make you uniquely qualified for this role.
• What interests you about being part of the Dunn Lab team and why you are excited about the opportunity to be part of this team.
• How your experiences, skills and interests align with the culture of the College of Liberal Arts and Purdue.

Expertise in the following areas:

• Hiring and staffing the lab.
• Co-mentoring staff (with a matched scientific partner).
• IRB submissions.
• MTAs and DTAs.
• Can effectively coordinate with the research account specialist to achieve the goals of the science within an identified budget.
• Developing and improving processes for how the lab does its science.
• Problem solving.
• High attention to detail.
• Change management.
• Able to see the big picture and execute steps to achieve the vision.
• Emotional intelligence.

Preferred: 

• MA/MPH/MS or PhD preferred

Additional Information:

•  Purdue will not sponsor an employment related visa for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Waiting Period
• Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply

Benefits of a Purdue Career:

• Competitive benefits package including generous paid sick time and vacation 
• Tuition remission (Purdue and Purdue Global)