Job Details
Posting Number: PG191726PD
Position Number: 00112184
Position Type: Post Doc
FLSA: Exempt
Department: 113001 - Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI)
Job City & State: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties
Overview
The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) at NC State University invites applications for a Research Fellow focused on interdisciplinary Project Coordination and Facilitation. This position offers a unique opportunity for an early career scientist to develop leadership, facilitation, and project management skills, particularly as they relate to team science and assembly of interdisciplinary teams around plant science and agricultural research problems. The term for this position is for 12 months,…
with the potential for renewal based on performance and funding availability.
About the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative
The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) is the global home for plant science innovation. N.C. PSI brings together the brightest minds in academia, government and industry to drive vital research and innovation. Our vision is to be the world’s premier plant sciences enterprise that solves agricultural challenges through interdisciplinary, team-based science.
Position Summary
The N.C. PSI Research Fellow in Interdisciplinary Project Coordination and Facilitation will play a central role in supporting the development, coordination, and execution of large interdisciplinary research projects within the N.C. PSI. Working closely with PSI leadership and faculty teams, the fellow will help assemble and support coordination of multi-investigator proposals, coordinate project milestones and reporting, and facilitate collaboration across colleges, centers, and external partners.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Project Facilitation & Communication (35%)
- Facilitate team formation by identifying complementary expertise across departments and connecting faculty around shared research themes and accelerator technologies.
- Organize and facilitate interdisciplinary workshops, team meetings, and proposal development sessions to foster collaboration and innovation.
- Contribute to annual reports, newsletters, and success stories that showcase PSI’s research enterprise.
Collaborative Research Development (30%)
- Working with the Proposal Development Unit (PDU) to support the planning, coordination, and submission of large-scale, interdisciplinary research proposals (e.g., NSF, USDA, DOE, DARPA, foundations).
- Execute project management responsibilities such as project planning and scoping, team coordination, budget and resource management, schedule and timeline management, and project handoff for high-priority projects.
- Assist with drafting and editing proposal components, including project descriptions, management plans, and broader impacts sections.
Documentation & Metrics Development (20%)
- Oversee progress tracking, milestone documentation, and reporting for ongoing interdisciplinary research projects.
- Research best practices for internal processes and interdisciplinary research team formation and establish SOPs and guidance documents.
- Support data management, compliance tracking, and documentation related to N.C. PSI metrics of success.
Professional & Career Development (15%)
- Engage in training related to high-level meeting facilitation, research administration, project management, research computing, and team science leadership.
- Collaborate with NC State’s Office of Research and Innovation and Proposal Development Unit to gain experience in institutional research strategy and infrastructure planning.
- Engage with a mentorship committee that will ensure that professional development and opportunities align with research fellows’ career goals.
