March 29, 2016

Now Accepting Applications for SPA Graduate Assistants

Sponsored Projects Administration is hiring graduate assistants for the 2016-17 academic year, with potential to begin in the summer of 2016 and continue into the summer of 2017.
Currently there are two open positions (more to follow).

Outreach and Education Assistant
Publications Assistant


Position Title: Outreach and Education Assistant

Position Reportage: The graduate assistant reports to the Director of Sponsored Projects
Administration and designee, Research Information Coordinator.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: As Outreach and Education Assistant, responsibilities include:
  • Update information on the SPA website and work with office staff and Strategic Communications to create new content as needed;
  • assist with office desktop publishing needs (writing/graphics/layout);
  • assist with updating and monitoring office social media outlets and the office blog;
  • attend University-related events associated with the office (may include evenings and weekends as needed);
  • act as SPA photographer and recorder/scribe at University and office functions;
  • assist the Publications Assistant with their duties: including writing content for the office Research Magazine, office blog, and other office publications;
  • assist with office video/audio production as needed;
  • assist with SPA events, including the Student Symposium, Research Week, and Benefacta;
  • assist with SPA data and information management, including support for SPA wiki;
  • perform front of office duties: including, but not limited to, answering the phones, greeting guests, and other front of office activities as needed;
  • assist Research Information Coordinator with her duties;
  • other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) is looking for a tech-savvy content producer to assist in the Outreach and Education area of the office. Candidate will produce and update SPA web-site content through the Sitecore content management system (training will be provided). Candidates will assist in some desktop publishing (writing/graphics/layout) and experience in these areas is preferred. Candidate should possess superior communication skills, both verbal and written. Candidate should be familiar with common principles of blogging and social media. SPA uses Blogger to maintain the office blog, but experience with any blogging platform is acceptable. SPA is currently active on Facebook and Twitter, but will be expanding into other social media platforms. Video production and/or photography experience preferred.

Candidates will be expected to interact with members of the campus community in an official capacity;
they should therefore exhibit a level of maturity and professionalism that will allow them to best represent themselves and the Sponsored Projects Administration in these interactions. Candidates must be able to work independently and problem solve, but also follow instructions as given. High levels of organization and time management are required.

Schedule: This position is a full-time assistantship (20 hours/week). May be required to
work evenings and weekends as needed, but regularly scheduled hours will occur
during normal business hours.

Application: To apply, please submit, via email, the following materials in PDF or Word format:
  • Cover letter, including a brief description of how this position fits into your career goals.
  • Résumé/CV, including contact info (email address & telephone number)
  • Three references, including names, titles, and telephone/email addresses
Please send via email to Ms. Jessie Roark in Sponsored Projects Administration
(jaroark@bsu.edu).

Interviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Ball State University operates on an equal opportunity basis in hiring practices.


Position Title: Publications Assistant
Position Reportage: The graduate assistant reports to the Director of Sponsored
Projects Administration and designee, Proposal Manager /Research Editor.
Position Duties and Responsibilities: As Publications Assistant, primary responsibilities
include:
  • Assist Proposal Manager / Research Editor (PM) in the development of the Ball State Research publication. This includes the following:
    • Interviewing for, writing, and editing articles
    • Designing the Ball State Research publication
    • Coordinating with various University entities, such as the Division of Strategic Communications, Photo Services, University Teleplex, and University Printing Services
  • Assist Research Information Coordinator in the development of the SPA Newsletter Blog; includes interviewing for and writing faculty vignette articles as needed.
  • Attend University-related events and symposia associated with the above publications.
  • May include evenings and weekends as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, graphic design, public relations, or related field
  • Must be available to work 20 flexible hours per week, which may include evenings and Saturdays
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Strong technical writing skills and knowledge of writing for the Web preferred, including blogging
  • Extensive working knowledge of social media, Microsoft Office, InDesign, and technical troubleshooting capabilities
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a highly organized, detailed manner
  • Demonstrated time management and problem-solving skills
  • Strong customer service skills
Schedule: Time requirement is 20 hours per week. May be required to work
evenings and weekends as needed.

Application: To apply, please submit, via email, the following materials in PDF or
Word format:
  • Letter of interest, including a description of skills, experience, and how this position fits into your current career goals
  • Résumé/CV, including contact info (email address & telephone number)
  • A writing sample of approximately 1,000 words
  • Three references, including names, titles, and telephone/email addresses
Please send via email to Mr. Keith Chandler in Sponsored Projects
Administration (kachandler@bsu.edu).

Submission Date: No later than April 22, 2016

Interviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Ball State University operates on an equal opportunity basis in hiring practices.

March 03, 2016

Dr. Lee J. Florea Receives Fulbright Award

Dr. Lee Florea, Geological Sciences, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship that combines teaching and research for 9 months in 2016-2017 at Universitatea Babe?-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He will conduct research into the dynamics of carbon transport through the world-class caves in Parcul Natural Apuseni and offer a course in hydrogeology with an experiential-learning module on groundwater in karst environments.

Florea is one of over 1,200 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2016-2017 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership in their fields. The Program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given approximately 360,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Congratulations Dr. Florea as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship! 


More Information on:


Fulbright Press Release:

March 01, 2016

The Star Press: BSU receives grant money for new effort -- DWD: Skill UP Indiana!


BSU receives grant money for new effort

The Star Press    8:37 p.m. EST February 18, 2016


MUNCIE — Ball State University is one of 13 recipients of grant money from the state's Skill UP Indiana! program.