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Academic Coordinator for Chemistry Laboratories
Position overview
Position title: Academic Coordinator I for Chemistry Laboratories (FY)Application Window
Open date: March 5, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Apr 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Friday, Mar 5, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Department Chair Jin Zhang in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the position of Academic Coordinator for Chemistry Laboratories.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) offers a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum serving a large and diverse student population, including a high-enrollment General Chemistry sequence that supports students across multiple majors. The department is committed to delivering high-quality laboratory instruction that supports student learning, consistency across sections, and alignment with lecture courses. The Academic Coordinator for Chemistry Laboratories plays a central role in supporting and coordinating the department’s lower-division chemistry laboratory sections.
Under the direction of the department chair and in collaboration with chemistry faculty and instructional and technical staff, the position provides academic program coordination, instructional support, and continuity across multiple laboratory sections and course offerings.
The core responsibilities include coordinating multi-section, chemistry-laboratory courses; supporting the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of laboratory curriculum and instructional materials; and ensuring alignment between laboratory and discussion activities and the associated lecture courses.
The position contributes to instructional consistency, effective communication, and smooth day-to-day operation of large-enrollment laboratory courses, which will require the academic coordinator to train and support teaching assistants and other instructional staff; coordinate grading workflows and instructional logistics; and serve as a liaison among faculty instructors, teaching assistants, laboratory technical staff, and departmental leadership. This is an on-campus position, requiring the academic coordinator to be physically present to support laboratory operations, instructional staff, and faculty coordination; remote or fully remote work arrangements are not available for this role.
This position is an academic, non-Senate appointment focused on program coordination and instructional support. The academic coordinator is not the instructor of record and does not deliver lecture instruction but instead supports faculty instructors and departmental instructional goals through sustained academic leadership and coordination.
Applicants with any of the following areas of experience or expertise are strongly encouraged to apply: experience supporting undergraduate laboratory programs with high-enrollments; experience using learning management systems and instructional technologies; demonstrated ability to contribute to inclusive, student-centered learning environments; experience collaborating with laboratory technical staff and faculty; experience supporting instructional redesign or curricular improvement efforts; and/or a PhD (or equivalent foreign degree) in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field.
The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry: https://chemistry.ucsc.edu/
Qualifications
- M.A./M.S. (or equivalent degree) in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experience supporting general chemistry laboratory courses or other undergraduate laboratory instruction.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Please describe your experience supporting or coordinating undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses, including your work with teaching assistants or instructional staff. Applicants are encouraged to highlight experience with multi-section courses, instructional coordination, curriculum support, and collaboration with faculty and laboratory staff.
- 3-5 letters of reference required
Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation*. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.
*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement.
Help contact: kcramton@ucsc.edu
About UC Santa Cruz
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.
Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.
UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.
The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
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