The Cooper Lab (http://micropopbio.org/) in the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine is seeking an Outreach Program Specialist to assist with the scheduling, coordination and classroom implementation of the EvolvingSTEM science education program across middle and high schools in the greater Pittsburgh area. EvolvingSTEM engages students in grades 6-12 in authentic research experiences in their classrooms with two complementary experiments. In one experiment, students observe "evolution-in-action" as bacterial populations adapt to form complex biofilm communities in their experiments. In the other experiment, students measure how different biofilm-adapted mutants are protected from being eaten by predatory amoebae. The Outreach Program Specialist will be responsible for scheduling and communicating with participating schools and teachers, transporting and setting up experimental materials an assisting with classroom activities as needed. The position requires a valid driver's license and a vehicle to move curriculum materials and equipment between schools. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential, as the role involves working with multiple stakeholders with varying schedules. A bachelor's degree is required with basic knowledge of biology, ideally microbiology and interest in science education is highly desirable. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative science outreach and help bring authentic research experiences to students throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Provides training and on-site support to a program or outreach program and coordinates networking and informational meetings for staff. Serves as a liaison between the outreach team and the public to build effective partnerships. Develops and implements special programs, coordinates events and logistics, and contributes to promotional activities and functions. Assists in trainer coordination.

The Outreach Program Specialist will coordinate and schedule classroom visits by team members to regional schools and serve as a liaison between researchers and teachers to ensure smooth implementation of the EvolvingSTEM program. This includes organizing and distributing educational kits and research materials to participating and remote schools, overseeing supply management (including ordering, procurement, tracking and receiving materials), and supervising undergraduate student assistants who prepare and maintain experimental supplies. The Program Specialist will manage team schedules to support partner schools and assist with the implementation of assessment protocols. Additional responsibilities include collecting and organizing simple data, performing basic analyses, and documenting results to support program evaluation and continuous improvement.

The incumbent will be required to drive to schools in the Pittsburgh area, transport, and set up experimental equipment and move about the classroom as needed. This includes loading, unloading and moving equipment in and out of the schools.