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Job Summary

The Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) Division at Caltech seeks a STEM Communication Specialist and Lecturer to support the learning of effective oral communication in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). We seek applicants with academic backgrounds in STEM fields who have advanced knowledge of academic and professional oral communication skills in these fields.

The STEM Communication Specialist and Lecturer will build on an established curriculum to teach undergraduate engineering students how to effectively give oral technical presentations of several types (academic technical presentations, technical presentations to a lay audience, “TED” style talks, media interviews, elevator pitches, etc.). The Lecturer will teach multiple sections of the course, serving about 40-60 students per term over three academic terms (about 120-160 students total).

The Lecturer will hold regular office hours for individual consultation. The Lecturer will also present several oral communication workshops for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

The Lecturer has the opportunity to interact with peers from the Caltech Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach, the Hixon Writing Center, and reports to the EAS Deputy Chair.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop and teach multiple sections per year of a technical oral communication course for engineering undergraduates (SEC10), approximately 40-60 students per term over three terms.
• Consult with undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars working in STEM fields one-to-one and in small groups.
• Develop and lead presentations/workshops for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars on topics related to presenting in STEM fields.
• Develop resources related to academic STEM oral communication in response to student need.
• Help to plan and execute events that foster a culture of effective oral communication on campus.
• Support EAS faculty efforts to improve the teaching and learning of oral presentation techniques in STEM courses.
• Work with peers to support their professional development and program development.
• Assist in administrative tasks related to program records and assessment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and serious interest in STEM fields.
• One year of experience in teaching communication in STEM disciplines and genres.
• Experience working one-on-one with college-level students on academic communication as a teaching assistant (TA), tutor, mentor, or instructor.
• Experience working with multilingual students and students from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. or significant work toward the degree in a STEM field with demonstrated expertise in STEM communication.
• Two years’ experience teaching college students about academic communication in a classroom or large group environment.
• Familiarity with scholarship and evidence-based practices on topics relevant to the position.
• Experience with faculty development.
• Familiarity with best practices in communication pedagogy.

Required Documents

• CV
• Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and relevant experience in working with students.
• List of three professional references.