"Instructional Specialist - School of Molecular & Cellular Biology"

Instruction Specialist - School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for an Instruction Specialist in the School of MCB, we seek answers to fundamental questions about how organisms work and the many implications for life. Through a rich culture of collaboration, we drive new discoveries in human health and empower students with the critical and analytical skills needed for successful careers. We educate students at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, and our alumni can be found throughout the world as leading healthcare providers, researchers in industry and academia, educators, and more. Meet the MCB community at mcb.illinois.edu

Job Summary

An instructor of record for their laboratory course and serves as coordinator for the related lecture course. Supervises the graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate laboratory prep staff, and works closely with the undergraduate students enrolled in their courses.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Instructional Implementation: Work with the Senior Instructional Specialist and Coordinators of Instruction to 1) train and evaluate assigned graduate teaching assistants (TAs); 2) train and evaluate preparatory staff for laboratory courses; 3) procure all materials required for assigned laboratory courses; 4) adhere to designated course budgets; 5) reserve classrooms and exam rooms, maintain course laboratory equipment; 6) provide accommodations for students when necessary (i.e., make-up classes, DRES, illness, etc.); 7) deploy evening exams; 8) maintain assessment outcome information
• Instruction (Traditional and Non-Traditional): Work with the Senior Instructional Specialist and Coordinators of Instruction to develop and teach assigned MCB courses in traditional and non-traditional settings; write and evaluate course learning outcomes; write course syllabus, write and execute lesson plans; write assessment instruments; write, edit, and update course laboratory manuals; deliver, reflect, assess and improve courses to align with overall learning outcomes; hold office hours; issue final grades.
• Management/ Leadership: Work with the Senior Instructional Specialist and Coordinators of Instruction to provide training and evaluation of teaching assistants (TAs) and laboratory and preparatory staff of assigned MCB courses. Help manage assigned laboratory facilities belonging to the School of MCB. Prove coordination of the delivery of assigned MCB courses. Help execute MCB events such as conferences, New Student Welcome, Convocation, etc.
• Academic Advising and Mentoring: Work with the Senior Instructional Specialist and Coordinators of Instruction to educate students regarding requirements of the curricula and the varied pathways to meeting requirements of the degree program through individual conferences and group meetings; assist and consult with students about course expectations and performance; support students as they plan their educational path, determine vocational goals, and fashion themselves into the best possible candidate for their next step.
• Student Academic Recruitment: Work with the Senior Instructional Specialist and Coordinators of Instruction to participate in prospective student and admitted student meetings; consult with current students for retention in the major; consult with students for transition to us from other majors; provide support for incoming transfer students at matriculation and beyond; participate in outreach activities; participate in campus events and programming.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, microbiology, or closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of professional experience in higher education.
• Experience with instruction and course delivery.
• Experience with hiring, managing, or evaluating teaching assistants, laboratory staff or hourly personnel.

Successful Candidates Will Have

• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Awareness of, and sensitivity to, cultural and linguistic differences.
• Commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Thorough understanding of the scientific underpinnings of the courses they teach and coordinate.
• Clear ability to articulate and execute student-centered instruction and evidence-based practices in their courses.
• Knowledge of meeting all safety requirements for their lab courses.

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the application deadline. The budgeted salary for this position is $53,000-$58,000.00 a year. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on December 5, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact mcb-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.