Careers in the Plant Sciences

Assistant Professor in Organismal and Conservation Biology

Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN, USA

Position Title: Assistant Professor in Organismal and Conservation Biology
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Application Review Begins: Tuesday, August 08, 2023
Application Deadline: Monday, September 25, 2023
Institution: Gustavus Adolphus College
Department/Division: Biology and EGE (Environment, Geography and Earth Sciences)
Field (e.g., systematics): Organismal Biology, Conservation Biology/Ecology
City: Saint Peter, MN, USA
General Information: Gustavus will hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor to teach Organismal Biology, Conservation Biology, and electives in the candidate’s area of interest as well as conduct research with undergraduates. The Biology and EGE (Environment, Geography and Earth Sciences) Departments offer diverse academic experiences as part of a strong liberal arts education. Applications are due: Sept. 25, 2023. Please see: https://gustavus.edu/employment/job/2129.
Qualifications/Requirements: Required Qualifications:
Ph.D. in biology, plant biology, ecology, conservation biology, environmental sciences, or a related field; we will consider candidates who have achieved ABD status and who will complete their degree by September 1, 2024.
Professional skills, experience, and/or plans to engage in activities that would enhance campus diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging efforts in research, advising/mentoring and teaching.
Evidence of the ability to teach undergraduate classes and labs in Conservation Biology, Organismal Biology, and elective courses in areas of the candidate’s expertise.
Ability to bring interdisciplinary and non-animal perspectives to Biology and Environmental Studies courses.
Demonstrated capacity to establish an independent research program at Gustavus Adolphus College addressing a question related to organismal biology, ecology and/or environmental studies.

Preferred Qualifications:
Additional experience in teaching, research, and/or non-profit/government agency outside of graduate education.
Evidence of successful mentoring undergraduate students in research.
Responsibilities: Gustavus faculty teach, advise, conduct research, and serve the college and department.
Teach 24 contact hours each academic year. One course with a lab is typically 6 contact hours. Primary teaching responsibilities will include: Organismal Biology, Conservation Biology, and electives within Biology and/or EGE, such as ecology, aquatic biology, or other courses in the candidate’s area of interest. These courses are offered through the Biology Department and support the Biology and Environmental Studies programs. Over time, the Biology and EGE Departments will collaborate on scheduling so that teaching in college-wide programs, such as FTS, Challenge Seminar, and other college initiatives will be possible. In their first year, the successful candidate will receive a reduced teaching assignment of 20 contact hours, plus a fully-compensated release.
Help cultivate a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strive to foster an environment where people can be themselves, build community, learn, and grow. This new faculty member would advise Biology and Environmental Studies majors, and be members of the Biology and EGE Departments, as well as participate in the life of the college. The successful candidate will join College and Departmental efforts to develop equitable pedagogies and inclusive cultures.
Advance your scholarship by establishing a research program with undergraduate collaborators in organismal, ecology, or conservation biology. To support faculty scholarship, Gustavus offers resources and opportunities that include options to: collaborate with undergraduate researchers supported by the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) or other internal mechanisms, join a writing retreat, apply for an internal grant, receive travel funds to present at conferences, get help applying for external grants, and make use of new and renovated research facilities.
Application Instructions (submission methods, etc.): Visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ and complete the online application. The documents that must be uploaded include the following:

Letter of application that addresses the required and preferred position qualifications
Curriculum vitae
A statement (up to 2 pages) on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging addressing the following three prompts:
Describe your plan(s) and/or ongoing efforts to promote an equitable climate for students from diverse backgrounds in both teaching and research
Explain your lived experience and/or what you have learned from your experiences in diversity and inclusion, and how it shapes your behaviors and actions
Describe ways you have or will work toward creating equity in departments, the college, or community.
A teaching statement (up to 2 pages) that describes your planned and/or ongoing approach to effectively teaching:
Undergraduate students
Laboratory, field, and classroom experiences
Conservation Biology and/or other courses with an interdisciplinary approach
A statement of a ~5-year research plan (up to 2 pages) that involves undergraduate collaborators at Gustavus
Transcripts (scanned copies acceptable)
The names and contact information for three professional references (at least one must be able to address teaching experience and teaching effectiveness; please indicate the teaching reference in your letter of application). Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation; the committee will conduct reference checks by phone.
Web Link: https://gustavus.edu/employment/job/2129
Compensation Range:
Contact Name: Dr. Yuta Kawarasaki, ykawaras@gustavus.edu