Graduate Program Specialist Biology

About the Role

This position offers an opportunity to play a central role in the graduate student experience within a large and academically diverse department. The Graduate Program Coordinator will work across multiple graduate programs and collaborate with faculty, students, staff, and university partners on admissions, student support, professional development, events, communications, and alumni engagement. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the position interacts regularly with graduate students, prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, and university partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Graduate Student Affairs (25%)
• Serve as a primary resource for graduate students regarding admissions, graduation, career advising, and program policies.
• Maintain student and alumni records.
• Coordinate professional development opportunities and communications.
• Co-teach the First Year Graduate Seminar in Biology.
• Graduate Financial Aid (10%)
• Coordinate the allocation of departmental graduate student financial aid.
• Identify funding opportunities in collaboration with department leadership, the Biology Grants Specialist, external agencies, other BU departments, and the Office of Sponsored Programs.
• Graduate Admissions and Recruitment (30%)
• Coordinate and oversee the Biology and MCBB graduate admissions process.
• Serve as a primary contact for applicants.
• Maintain admissions databases and statistics.
• Plan and coordinate in-person and virtual recruitment activities, including interviews, presentations, travel, lodging, and other event logistics.
• Academic Administration (10%)
• Support the administration and ongoing development of graduate programs, including reviewing program requirements.
• Meet with students regarding career planning and graduation.
• Coordinate graduate student events such as awards ceremonies, Commencement, Giving Day, and Alumni Weekend.
• Program Outreach and Alumni Relations (15%)
• Promote Biology's graduate programs to prospective students and external audiences.
• Represent the programs at graduate school fairs and recruitment events.
• Provide graduate student statistics for grants and reports.
• Maintain alumni records and communications.
• Support ongoing engagement with Biology graduate alumni.
• Program Website and Communications (10%)
• Maintain and update the Biology and MCBB graduate program websites.
• Publish news and information about graduate students and faculty.
• Maintain information about student awards and accomplishments.
• Collaborate with students and program leadership to keep online content current and useful.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• BA
• 3+ years of relative experience
• Highly organized
• Detail-oriented
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Interdisciplinary Molecular and Cell Biology (MCBB) program support
• University partners
• Graduate program leadership
• Office of Sponsored Programs
• Biology Grants Specialist
• Alumni engagement
• Career advising
• Professional development

Qualifications

• Requires a BA with 3+ years of relative experience.