Assistant Professor of Biology
Occidental College
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Open Date
Jul 29, 2024
Salary Range or Pay Grade
$85,000 - $92,000
Deadline
Sep 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
https://apply.interfolio.com/150510
Description
The Department of Biology at Occidental College invites applications for two tenure‐track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor in any area of Cellular and/or Molecular Biology. We seek teacher-scholars who are committed to 1) developing a research program in molecular and/or cellular biology that engages undergraduate students, 2) excellence and innovation in teaching, and 3) promoting inclusivity in both research and teaching.
Occidental faculty are committed teacher-scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, carry out research and creative work, and provide departmental, college-wide, and external service. In this position, your primary responsibilities will include the development and teaching of introductory and core courses in the discipline, including courses in your area(s) of specialization. Specific courses that you will teach include introductory and intermediate cellular and molecular biology courses, with the opportunity to develop upper-division courses in speciality areas. You will also be responsible for producing scholarship commensurate with the requirements for tenure, and will be expected to develop a program of research that engages undergraduate students. You will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader college and disciplinary communities.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in Cellular and/or Molecular Biology or a related science discipline
- Evidence of impactful peer-reviewed scholarly research and publications in the field of Cellular and/or Molecular Biology
- Compelling vision for developing a wet lab research program that integrates undergraduate training and mentoring, with potential to attract extramural funding
- Demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans for effective teaching and mentoring in the undergraduate setting. Please do not include individual teaching evaluations
- Demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans for creating and advancing equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring, especially for students from historically marginalized groups
- Ability to present scientific ideas clearly, in both verbal and written formats, at an appropriate level for the audience
- Commitment to collaborating effectively with colleagues across specialties, departments, or disciplines
Preferred Qualifications
- Postdoctoral research and/or postdoctoral teaching experience
- Ability to leverage College resources (e.g., genomics center, high-performance computer cluster, or natural history collections) or nearby facilities or natural resources in the Southern California area for research and/or broader impacts
- Prior experience teaching and or mentoring undergraduates
- Demonstrated commitment to engaging broader societal impacts of the scholarly research, e.g., local outreach and community engagement
- Experience teaching and utilizing bioinformatics approaches in the classroom and/or research program
- Prior experience collaborating with colleagues across specialties, departments, or disciplines
- Ability to teach and collaboratively work with campus-based colleagues in departments and programs including Biochemistry, Computer Science, Chemistry, Cognitive Science and Public Health
Application Instructions
You must submit a complete application package electronically to be considered by the search committee. An application includes the following:
- Cover letter
- This letter describes your interest in the position, and the education, experience, and skills you possess that demonstrate your ability to meet all required qualifications and if applicable, preferred qualifications.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement of ~2 pages
- This statement provides an overview of your current research program and a vision for a future research program at Occidental, including how you will incorporate undergraduate students into the research program
- Teaching Philosophy Statement of ~2 pages
- This statement provides an overview of your teaching philosophy, preferred pedagogical practices, and prior experiences in teaching and mentoring. Please do not include student evaluations.
- Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Statement of ~1 page
- This statement provides your unique perspective on your past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity in your professional career. This should include your demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring especially for students from marginalized and minoritized groups. You may also speak to how your research and/or service promotes justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. The purpose of this statement is to help the department identify candidates who have professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to engage in activities that could help the College contribute to its mission in these areas.
- List of three references with relevant contact information
- If you advance to the finalist phase, you will be asked to have each of your three references submit a letter of recommendation. Please be prepared to have your referents submit their letters should you move forward to this phase of the search. Do not submit these letters with your initial application.