Professor of Biology Teacher Trainer

Peace Corps Response provides opportunities for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and experienced professionals to undertake challenging, short-term assignments in various program areas around the world. Qualified applicants can put their professional skills and academic training to work as Peace Corps Response Volunteers, where they will gain additional international experience while imparting technical expertise critical for partner organizations and the communities they serve.

A Peace Corps Response Volunteer is needed to serve as an Associate Professor of Biology Teacher Trainer for the Cuttington University of Education. Previous civil war in Liberia claimed the lives of over 200,000 citizens, but after successful peaceful elections in 2005, the government is beginning to restore public confidence to state institutions. Education is central to this post-conflict reconstruction, but 80% of schools were destroyed during the war, and nearly all qualified teachers fled. Education problems are particularly noticeable at the secondary level. Today, there are only 60 public senior high schools outside the capital city for a country of 3.4 million people. Liberia’s universities are working towards producing a sufficient number of qualified high school teachers for subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Skilled teacher trainers are needed to help develop the future of Liberia’s educators.

A PCRV experienced in teaching and the field of biology is needed to help contribute towards improving both content knowledge and teaching pedagogy of future teachers attending Cuttington University. The Volunteer will assess students’ coursework; supervising students during teaching practice and in their research activities. The PCRV will be responsible for teaching a course on content knowledge in biology as well as a course on teaching methodologies. The Associate Professor will also conduct research for the education sector, and participate in syllabus and curriculum reviews. The Associate Professor of Biology Teacher Trainer will be participating in capacity building for the lecturers and assisting in the training of future qualified Liberian Teachers.

Please note these are approximate departure dates and may change

Mandatory Qualifications:

-Master’s degree in Biology or related field

-At least two years of teaching experience

How to apply:

To be eligible for service you must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) or have at least 10 years of professional experience. The projected start dates listed are approximate and will likely change.

The application process begins with a short online application found at www.peacecorps.gov/response. The application itself takes only twenty minutes to complete. If selected, Volunteers typically begin their service within two to four months from the date of application. Applicants undergo an interview, reference checks, and medical and legal clearances.

Unlike the two-year Peace Corps program, applicants to Peace Corps Response may apply to specific positions and countries. Your application should document skills and qualifications relevant to the position you seek. Please note that certain positions are very competitive; in such cases, only the most qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.