Director – Center of Mindfulness & Behavior Studies (Ekāgratā)

Director Center of Mindfulness & Behavior Studies (Ekgrat)

Role Purpose

The Director will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to the Center of Mindfulness & Behavior Studies (Ekgrat). The role is responsible for shaping and advancing the Centers vision across teaching, research, training, and outreach, with a strong emphasis on the integration of mindfulness practices, behavioral sciences, and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

The Director will ensure that all initiatives are evidence-based, ethically grounded, interdisciplinary, and aligned with institutional objectives, contributing to individual well-being, societal impact, and academic excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Centers academic, research, and outreach initiatives.
• Conceptualize and implement interdisciplinary programs integrating mindfulness, behavior studies, and IKS.
• Lead and supervise research projects, publications, funded proposals, and doctoral/post-graduate research.
• Design and oversee academic programs, certification courses, FDPs, workshops, and experiential learning modules.
• Facilitate training programs, retreats, and capacity-building initiatives for students, faculty, professionals, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure ethical conduct, participant well-being, and compliance with research and institutional guidelines.
• Build and sustain national and international collaborations with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, policymakers, and community bodies.
• Support institutional branding, advocacy, and public engagement related to mindfulness and behavioral well-being.
• Manage administrative functions including policy formulation, documentation, reporting, budgeting, and quality assurance.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Vision Building Ability to conceptualize and lead an interdisciplinary center with long-term academic and societal goals.
• Expertise in Mindfulness & Behavioral Sciences Strong grounding in mindfulness, behavior change, psychology, neuroscience, or allied domains.
• Integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Ability to contextualize traditional Indian contemplative practices within contemporary academic and scientific frameworks.
• Research & Scholarly Excellence Proficiency in research design, publications, grant writing, and supervision of interdisciplinary research.
• Curriculum & Program Development Capability to design academic programs, training modules, FDPs, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Training & Facilitation Skills Experience in conducting workshops, retreats, and experiential learning programs.
• Ethical & Reflective Practice Strong grounding in research ethics, well-being safeguards, and responsible application of mindfulness-based interventions.
• Collaboration & Partnership Building Ability to establish academic, clinical, community, and policy-level collaborations.
• Communication & Advocacy Effective written and verbal communication for academic, institutional, and public engagement.
• Administrative & Governance Skills Competence in compliance, reporting, quality assurance, and institutional governance.

Educational Qualifications

Essential

• PhD / Doctoral degree in Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Neuroscience, Social Sciences, Education, Philosophy, Public Health, or allied disciplines
• OR
• PhD in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), Yoga, Consciousness Studies, Indic Studies, with demonstrated interdisciplinary research orientation.

Desirable / Preferred

• Post-doctoral research, advanced certification, or formal training in Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), Meditation, Yoga, Behavioral Therapy, or Well-Being Sciences.
• Recognized academic or professional training bridging traditional contemplative knowledge and modern scientific inquiry.

Experience

Minimum 810 years of academic, research, or professional experience in higher education, research institutions, healthcare, or applied well-being domains, with evidence of leadership in programs, research, or institutional initiatives.

For Application - krisha.raval36516@paruluniversity.ac.in