Part-Time Project Coordinator

The Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) at Middle Tennessee State University invites applications for a Project Coordinator position. The Project Coordinator will work across several STEM education research projects to direct the planning and management, administration, budgeting and expenses, and communications. The Project Coordinator will work alongside the Research Project Manager, as well as Principal Investigators of the research projects.

This is a 20-25 hour per week part-time position that pays $20 per hour with the opportunity for renewal based on performance and available funding. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Administration and Project Management

• Develop and maintain data storage
• Prepare audio and visual equipment for data collection use in research studies
• Assist PIs in training researchers and assistants in proper technology use
• Upload/store, log, and track collected research data
• Coordinate data processing efforts (e.g. team meeting transcription using Otter.ai, video processing)
• Collect and organize consent forms from research participants
• Develop and track project timelines, milestones, tasks, dependencies, deliverables, and resources needed

Organization & Communication

• Facilitate communication with key research project personnel across organizations
• Organize and lead project meetings with research staff
• Manage communication and scheduling with research study participants, including students, teachers, and school administrators
• Coordinate updates to project and center websites, and news reporting related to research projects
• Assist PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, and editing progress & final reports, etc.

Budgeting and Financial Administration

• Monitor budgets across multiple projects on a quarterly basis, in coordination with the Office for Research and Sponsored Programs and the Research Project Manager
• Coordinate purchase of supplies and equipment for research projects
• Assist with expense reports and vendor paperwork
• Keep track of different policies for using grant funding, such as salary and spending rules in conjunction with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Personnel Management

• Coordinate the hiring process for undergraduate research assistants and interns
• Make recommendations to the PI regarding hiring and other personnel decisions
• Assist in forecasting staffing needs based on research project timelines and deliverables

Required Education

•  Bachelor’s degree in a social science, education, STEM or related field

Required Experience

•  1 year of experience managing multi-year projects with multiple team members

Preferred Experience

• Master’s Degree in a social science, education, or related field
• Experience in education or education administration is strongly preferred
• Ability to balance multiple tasks and projects, meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
• Experience in financial administration and budgeting
• Expertise in grant management and regulations for NSF- and IES-funded grants
• Familiarity with technology to support project management and teamwork
• Skilled in effective communication with multiple teams and stakeholders
• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative social sciences research
• Background in science or mathematics education 

Certificates/ Licenses Preferred

• Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) certification or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Please provide names and contact information for three references. Candidates selected for an interview may be required to share a portfolio or an example of a project they have managed previously. 

Inquiries about the specific position are welcomed, and should be directed to Aspen Malone, Research Project Manager of TSEC at aspen.malone@mtsu.edu or (615) 898-2269.

About TSEC 

The Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) is a research center aimed at improving K-20 STEM education both locally and nationally. The center conducts STEM education research funded by various organizations including NSF and USDA. The center also fosters partnerships among educators, education researchers, STEM researchers, and policymakers through research and outreach projects in STEM education. In addition to full-time center directors and staff, the center supports MTSU faculty as fellows and associate directors, PhD students in the Math and Science Education program, master’s students, and undergraduate research assistants.  

TSEC’s current research portfolio contains qualitative and quantitative research projects, and focuses on a variety of topics including STEM teacher leadership, active learning post-secondary Chemistry courses, the development of online professional development for chemistry teachers, mathematics teacher learning through experience, video-based professional development for STEM teachers, and the role of visuospatial dimensions of STEM learning. A current list of funded research projects can be found on our website: ttps://www.mtsu.edu/tsec/grants.php.

About MTSU

Middle Tennessee State University is a vibrant hub for educating students who are accomplished, civically engaged and globally responsible; an engine for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and a nexus of cultural, social, and artistic expression. MTSU, with approximately 18,000 students, is located about 35 miles southeast of Nashville. The Mathematics and Science Education Program, housed in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, has a strong track record of Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) and houses the PhD program with concentrations in biological, chemical, mathematics, and interdisciplinary science education. 

MTSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility for U.S. employment is required before employment (Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986).

Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU are available at https://police.mtsu.edu/annual-security-report/ or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at (615) 898-2424.

MTSU is a Tobacco- and Drug-Free campus.