IFSA Sessional Instructor: Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations, Fall 2025

Contract Type: Fixed Term/Consultancy Contract

The Institute for Study Abroad is seeking an instructor to teach a course entitled ‘Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations’ for the IFSA Biosciences Career Accelerator (BCA) over the upcoming Fall semester.

The BCA program aims to provide biology, neuroscience, and public health students (majors and minors) with an opportunity to continue progress toward their degree and gain valuable international and practical experience. It also aims to provide these students with structured exposure to the broader biosciences industry while allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of their professional strengths and areas for growth.

Within the BCA, the Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations class seeks to introduce students to the cognitive systems in neuroscience that include attention, pattern recognition, knowledge representation, language, reasoning, and human intelligence. The course will help students understand how these systems enable humans to sense, perceive, act, learn, think, and remember.

Along with teaching, the instructor will be responsible for assessment and marking, and the design of at least two co-curricular activities such as guest speakers, site visits or other appropriate events designed to expose students to new perspectives and help them integrate, apply, and synthesise key learning. The syllabus for the course has been approved by our School of Record, however minor modifications can be made in agreement with the Academic Programs Manager.

This is a great opportunity for faculty, postdocs, and PhD students. The successful candidate will have a minimum of a master’s degree in a related subject and be at least two years into a PhD. The successful candidate will have experience of teaching and assessment in a UK and/or US higher education setting. Prior experience of working with study abroad students is a plus.

IFSA is committed to the professional development of its faculty, and opportunities for professional development will be made available to the successful candidate.

Semester dates: 3^rd September 2025 – 20^th December 2025

While contracts will initially be offered for the Fall term, we fully intend the BCA program to run in both Fall and Spring semesters. Contract renewal will be subject to student demand and instructor performance.

Teaching hours: 3 hours teaching per week over 15 weeks. Total 45 contact hours. The course will be delivered across two sessions: Tuesdays 9.00-10.30 and Thursdays 9.00-10.30 (the timetable is set, so candidates should be available at these times). Instructors also provide one office hour/week where they are available to meet students.

Candidates will need to have the right to work as self-employed in the UK, as this post is not eligible for visa sponsorship or PAYE.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their CV and cover letter via the careers site by clicking on the 'Apply' button above.

For any questions, please contact Dr Kate Gafner, Academic Programs Manager: kgafner@ifsa-butler.org

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience of work towards a PhD in a relevant subject area
• Experience of teaching at university level
• Understanding of teaching principles in a diverse classroom environment
• Commitment to and experience of fostering active learning
• Familiarity with using Virtual Learning Environments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Desirable Criteria

• Recognised teaching qualification, e.g. Fellowship of Advance HE or similar
• Experience delivering teaching to US study abroad students
• Familiarity with US assessment and degree program structures

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