POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Title: Part-Time, Undergraduate or Graduate student, Hourly Position
Functional Title: Meeting Facilitator
Category Status: Part-Time, Term Appointment, academic year 2012-2013, 
summer 2013
Location: University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and sites in the Mid-
Atlantic Region

Nature and Purpose:
This part-time position for the academic year 2012/2013 offers the 
opportunity for the student to gain experience as part of a scientific 
investigative team. The student will function as the facilitator during 
meetings where members of a community work collaboratively to develop an 
understanding of their flood risk. During these meetings, one of two 
computer-assisted decision support systems will be tested for its 
effectiveness. The main function of the Meeting Facilitator will be similar 
to that of a teaching assistant. The facilitator will introduce the project 
during community meetings, facilitate collaborative learning among the 
meeting participants, wrap-up the meeting, and encourage completion of the 
post-meeting surveys. 

 
Duties and Responsibilities: 
•       Become familiar with the project protocol for both treatments (i.e. 
the two computer-assisted decision support systems). Attend training 
sessions.
•       During the community meetings, introduce the project and facilitate 
collaborative learning among the meeting participants. Wrap-up the meeting 
and encourage completion of the post-meeting surveys.

Qualifications:
Required –
•       Currently enrolled as a University graduate or undergraduate student 
•       Experience teaching: may be professional, volunteer, or a 
combination. Include at least one letter of recommendation from an 
individual familiar with your teaching experience.
•       Speak English well and be able to interact with the general public.
•       Be able to travel within the mid-Atlantic region for up to three 
days per trip for a maximum of seven trips or share this position with other 
applicants and travel a minimum of three trips. (Transportation, meals and 
lodging on the trips will be paid by project funds.)
 
Preferences - The following are not required, but will add value to your 
application:
•       Experience teaching using collaborative learning techniques 
•       ESRI certification in ArcView™ or ArcGIS™. Include a copy of your 
ESRI™ certificate(s) or ESRI™ transcript with your application. 
•       Familiarity with Google Earth™ maps, applications, such as the with 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  DFIRMs in a KMZ file, and 
drawing tools.
•       Experience with FEMA HAZUS-MH and/or other GIS programs/formats. 
•       Experience with spreadsheets, such as MSExcel™; databases such as 
MSAccess™; and statistical programs, such as SAS™.
•       Provide your own laptop capable of running ESRI ArcGIS 10™ and FEMA 
HAZUS-MH (software provided) with cable connection available for 
transmitting to a large screen. (Hardware specifications can be found online 
at http://www.mmrs.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_reqmnts.shtm)

Supervision: The student will work under the supervision of V. Beth K. 
Olsen, doctoral candidate, as directed by Dr. Bahram Momen, P.I. and Dr. 
Kaye Brubaker and Dr. Stacy Langsdale, Co-P.I.s.  

Geographical Assignment: Some training sessions will be on the UMCP campus. 
Other training and data collection sites will be off-campus within the mid-
Atlantic region. (Transportation, meals and lodging on the trips will be 
paid by project funds.)Travel schedule details: Initial training sessions 
and project follow-up meetings are flexible and efforts will be made to 
accommodate the personal schedules of individual participants whenever 
possible. The location, date, and time of the community meetings will be set 
by FEMA and are therefore not flexible. Dates will usually be set about one 
month in advance. We anticipate that most community meetings will occur on 
weekdays, October through December 2012 (No meetings will occur between 
Christmas and the New Year.) Some meetings may be close to College Park and 
require 1-2 days of preparation on or near UMCP followed by a day-trip to 
the meeting.  Meetings may be up to 500 miles away, in which case a 2-3 
night stay may be required.

Salary & Benefits: 
Hiring Range Minimum:  $11.00/hr (undergraduate rate) 
Hiring Range Maximum: $16.65/hr (graduate student rate) 

Applications: 
A complete application packet includes a letter of application, resume, at 
least three professional references, including name, telephone number, and 
E-mail address, and at least one letter of recommendation. Include any 
relevant transcripts and/or certifications with your application.
Specific questions or inquiries can be sent to: Beth Olsen, doctoral 
candidate, UM Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Program: Cell 
Phone: 301-325-6770. E-mail:  [email protected]
Send applications to Beth Olsen, E-mail:  [email protected]
Closing Date: Applications will be accepted until October 8, 2012 or until a 
suitable candidate is selected.

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