Science Research Curriculum Integration Specialist

Position Overview

Riverdale’s Middle and Upper School Science Department seeks a visionary, practicing scientist to serve as the Science Research Curriculum Integration Specialist. This is a newly created leadership role designed for a Ph.D.-level researcher who is passionate about translating professional scientific inquiry into the secondary school learning experience.

The Integration Specialist will support the Director of Science Research and the Science Department Chair to integrate research skills throughout the Grade 6-12 science curriculum, working to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world discovery through a cohesive progression of skills, concepts, and content acquisition. The Integration Specialist will assist in developing a Science curriculum that prepares students to critically evaluate scientific claims encountered in media, civic, and personal contexts, while cultivating transferable inquiry skills such as asking productive questions, interpreting ambiguous information, and revising thinking in response to new evidence.

Riverdale’s Commitment to Science Research

For over 25 years, Riverdale’s Lisman Laboratories Science Research Program has redefined what is possible in secondary science education by placing high school students at the center of authentic, college-level research. Through faculty mentorship and deep, sustained collaborations with university laboratories and professional scientists, students design experiments, generate and analyze large genomic datasets, apply for external research funding, and publish peer-reviewed articles. This innovative model bridges high school education and experiential, place-based learning with meaningful scientific research, cultivating a culture where ingenuity, collaboration, and the creation of new knowledge drive both teaching and learning. The Science Research Curriculum Integration Specialist will extend the model created by Lisman Laboratories to ensure that every student engages with scientific inquiry at each stage of their academic progression.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is a scientist who finds as much joy in a student’s "lightbulb moment" as they do in a published paper. They are capable of looking at a traditional syllabus and seeing hidden opportunities for discovery. They possess the disposition, empathy, and desire to mentor novice learners, and the interpersonal skills to collaborate productively with a large and diverse faculty.

Key Responsibilities

Curricular Innovation & Program Building

• Scaffold Research Integration: In collaboration with the Director of Science Research, audit the existing 6-12 science curriculum to identify and design "entry points" for authentic research, translating complex lab protocols into age-appropriate, modular learning experiences.

• Instruction: Teach one to two sections of science coursework, modeling inquiry-based pedagogy that prioritizes the process of discovery over rote memorization.

• Faculty Collaboration: Partner with teaching faculty to co-design and co-teach research units, providing the technical expertise needed to "level up" standard classroom experiments.

• Summer Research: Lead a signature summer research intensive that allows students to dive deep into longer-term projects.

• Facility Strategy: Facilitate communication to determine short-term equipment needs and long-term facility/space upgrades required to sustain a high-level research culture.

• Resource Curation: Maintain a centralized database of summer research and internship opportunities for the school community.

Strategic Partnerships & Mentorship

• External Network: Leverage professional connections to strengthen and expand student internships and collaborative opportunities with research institutions and consortiums.

• Grant Leadership: Mentor students in the technical art of grant writing, guiding them to apply for external funding.

• Symposium Oversight: Direct the annual Science Research Symposium, transforming it into a premier showcase of student intellectual contributions.

Requirements & Competencies

• Ph.D. in a scientific discipline (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, or related field).

• Demonstrated Research Track Record: Experience in grant-funded research and a history of peer-reviewed publications.

• Scientific Translation: The ability to simplify complex professional workflows without losing scientific integrity.

• Instructional Design: Interest in and aptitude for creating educational content and "scaffolding" technical tasks for non-experts.

• Influence & Diplomacy: Strong "influence-without-authority" skills; the ability to work collegially with faculty to implement change.

• Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage the logistics of a symposium, grant deadlines, and lab budgets.

• Commitment to Youth: A genuine excitement for working with Middle and Upper School students and an enduring belief in their capacity for high-level inquiry.

• Intellectual Agility: Demonstrates the flexibility to thrive in a new and evolving role, the curiosity to continually explore new pedagogical and scientific frontiers, and the inventiveness to meet challenges creatively and contextually.

• DEIB Leadership: A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, ensuring that the path to scientific research is accessible to all students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in mentorship (high school, undergraduate, or graduate level).

• Experience with interdisciplinary teaching/learning (e.g., connecting Environmental Science with Ethics or Data Science).

• Familiarity with lab safety management and research budgeting.

• Experience with molecular ecology, genomics, conservation biology, and field-based research (e.g., sample collection, field instrumentation and sensor deployment, and specimen handling).

Start date flexible with a preference for Spring 2027.

Please note that interested candidates must submit a cover letter with their application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.