Senior Research Development Officer

About IAS

The Institute for Advanced Study has served as one of the leading independent centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry since its establishment in 1930, advancing the frontiers of knowledge across the sciences and humanities. From founding IAS Faculty Albert Einstein, Erwin Panofsky, and John von Neumann to influential figures Emmy Noether, George Kennan, and J. Robert Oppenheimer to the foremost thinkers of the present, IAS is dedicated to enabling independent inquiry and fundamental discovery.

Each year, the Institute welcomes more than 250 of the world’s most promising post-doctoral researchers and scholars who are selected and mentored by a permanent Faculty, all of whom are preeminent leaders in their fields. Among present and past Faculty and Members, there have been 36 Nobel Laureates, 46 of the 64 Fields Medalists, and 23 of the 27 Abel Prize Laureates, as well as winners of the Turing Award; the Pulitzer Prize in History; the Wolf, Holberg, and Kluge prizes; and many MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows, among other honors.

About the Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Collaborative Research

The Nelson Center for Collaborative Research is designed to facilitate work on projects and topics that are beyond the reach of a single scholar, discipline, or institution. It supports team-based, theme-based, inter-institutional, and interdisciplinary projects led by Institute scholars in collaboration with researchers across and beyond academia. The Nelson Center provides seed funding to develop early-stage research ideas, large-scale funding for multi-year research agendas, and the space, infrastructure, and expertise for collaborative projects with partners across the globe.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Nelson Center, we seek an experienced research development professional who will partner with IAS faculty and staff to provide strategic support in identifying and disseminating funding opportunities and assisting in the development of grant and other funding proposals. In coordination with other team members within the Nelson Center, this role will also help to support an internal program of funding in support of research and other scholarly activities. They will exercise best practice processes, tools, and strategies to support the IAS faculty and serve as an outstanding and trusted colleague in developing the research projects and capacities of the Institute. 

Given the IAS’ areas of expertise, the Research Development Officer will support faculty research projects in one or more of the following fields: historical studies, mathematics, natural sciences (including particle and astro- physics, and systems biology), and the social sciences. 

We seek a highly collaborative and versatile colleague with impeccable writing skills, attention to detail, and a strong service orientation. The ideal candidate should be intellectually curious, creative, and thrive in a uniquely dynamic academic environment.

Essential Job Duties

• Research funding opportunity curation and dissemination: Leverages their knowledge of the government and non-profit research funding landscape to develop and communicate up-to-date information on extramural funding in areas related to faculty expertise. Works with the Nelson Center team and other IAS administrators in developing relationships with representatives of funding organizations.
• Proposal development support: Works directly with faculty, applying knowledge of funding organizations and their priorities to provide grant editing and writing support for external funding.
• Resource creation and maintenance: Contributes to the creation/maintenance of proposal development resources, including templates and a sample proposal library to aid faculty with various components of federal and non-federal funding applications.
• Internal grant program support: Supports the management of the Nelson Center’s research funding program. Works with faculty to develop funding proposals, including assisting in budget development and the navigation of Institute administrative requirements.
• Research evaluation: Embracing a perspective of continuing improvement, assists the Center in developing and carrying out regular evaluations of its activities, outcomes, and institutional impact.
• Support for other strategic research initiatives, as needed. 

Qualifications

• Proven record of developing successful, high-quality research proposals
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in research development or success applying for research funding as an investigator;
• Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a master's degree in a research-related field, plus three years of experience in either research development/research administration. A doctoral-level degree in a field represented at the Institute is preferred
• Extremely strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills with the ability to understand, interpret, and summarize complex information for expert and non-expert audiences
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects and activities, and flexibility to manage the reprioritization of projects and to request and respond to guidance as needed
• Other professional experience related to editing writing, project management, as well active membership with one or more research administration or research development organizations, is beneficial

The Institute for Advanced Study retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position at any time.

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

At the Institute for Advanced Study’s creation in 1930, the founders wrote: “fundamental in our purpose, and our express desire, [is] that in the appointments to the Staff and Faculty as well as in the admission of workers and students, no account shall be taken, directly or indirectly, of race, religion, or sex.”  We recognize these ideals require continual examination of our culture. Today, we strive to create a community in which all people feel welcomed, respected, and valued.  We seek to address the harmful effects of inequity and discrimination on individual Scholars, Faculty, Staff, and scholarship as a whole.  We affirm equality and embrace our differences as we work to transform principles into action and grow new forms of scholarly community.