We're Hiring!

Position Title: Board Member/Advisor

Location: US Remote

Type: Volunteer Position

Time Commitment: Approximately 1-2 hours per month (flexible scheduling)

Preferred Duration: Minimum of 1 year

Company Overview

We are a non-profit organization headquartered in North Carolina, committed to inspiring and educating young minds in STEM through the use of innovative products, workshops, and interactive learning tools.

Description

Are you a current graduate student or postdoctoral researcher passionate about making cutting-edge STEM concepts accessible to the next generation?

We are seeking multiple volunteer Board Members to join our team. We are specifically looking for currently enrolled PhD students and active Postdoctoral scholars in STEM fields.

This role offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and K-12 outreach. As a board member, you will play a key role in shaping our educational curriculum, advising on technical initiatives, and translating complex scientific concepts into engaging learning experiences for middle and high school students. This is a highly flexible, low-hour commitment designed to fit seamlessly around your lab hours, writing, and research schedules.

Areas of Contribution

As a STEM Academic Board Member, you can choose to contribute in one or more of the following areas:

• Curriculum & Technical Advising: Guide the scientific and technical direction of our educational resources. Help us review, refine, or design workshops and interactive digital tools (such as educational video games, programming tutorials, and AI modules) to ensure they are innovative, and engaging.
• Manage Specific Initiatives: Take ownership of a particular educational program or special project, such as a student research showcase, STEM podcast series, or technical web application deployment. You will help guide the vision and set short-term execution goals.
• Youth Mentorship: Provide direct technical mentorship to ambitious K-12 students, guiding them through the lifecycle of early scientific inquiry. You will help them structure research projects, navigate the process of publishing in student-centric science journals, and help design creative educational tools or videos that make STEM concepts accessible to their peers.
• University & K-12 Outreach: Leverage your academic network to build bridges between Maker Mindz and university outreach programs, student chapters, or local K-12 schools to expand our community footprint.
• Grant Writing & Sponsorships: Collaborate with us to identify and apply for STEM education grants, foundation funding, or corporate sponsorships, utilizing your academic writing and research skills to build strong proposals.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Current Enrollment: Must be a currently enrolled PhD candidate or active Postdoctoral researcher in a STEM field (e.g., Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, etc.).
• A strong passion for K-12 STEM education, digital learning, and scientific outreach.
• Excellent communication skills, with an interest in translating complex, high-level scientific concepts into accessible content for younger audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote, asynchronous team environment.

Compensation

This is a volunteer opportunity. Current compensation does not include a 401(k), employee pension, health insurance, vacation pay, sick pay, or other fringe benefits. However, this role provides valuable leadership, board-level governance, and non-profit management experience that is highly beneficial for both academic and industry career pathways.

Work Authorization

Ability to work in the US without Visa sponsorship.

Background Check

Successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment background check. This background check may include but is not limited to verification of education, employment history, criminal records, professional licenses, and any other relevant checks deemed necessary for the role. Please note that the offer of appointment is contingent upon satisfactory results of the background check.