Faculty position in Microbiology
What we are looking for: Quest University Canada invites applicants for a full-time continuing faculty position in microbiology. The successful candidate will have exemplary teaching skills, a cross-disciplinary perspective, and a willingness to rethink the principles of higher education. The applicant will contribute to our current Foundation courses, teach theoretically grounded and experiential courses which expand our current range of inquiry, and develop Concentration courses from any of the following or related areas: microbial ecology and diversity, phylogeny, bioinformatics, genomics, or other cutting edge fields addressing microbes. Preference will be given to candidates who share the broader commitment of Quest’s Life Sciences Division to help students develop a cross-disciplinary understanding of the complexities of life on Earth. To complement expertise of existing faculty, consideration will be given to candidates who are microbiologists addressing biochemistry, molecular biology, and/or virology in freshwater, terrestrial, or human systems. For a description of current faculty interests, please view - www.questu.ca/academics/faculty/index.php. In collaboration, all Quest faculty teach four interdisciplinary courses - Cornerstone, Rhetoric, Question, and Keystone courses. Please see the Course Calendar for additional information on these and other course offerings. We will give special consideration to candidates who are skilled communicators to academic and non-academic audiences and who are motivated to teach these skills to students. About Quest: Quest University Canada offers an interdisciplinary liberal arts and science degree to undergraduates in seminar-style classes limited to 20 students. Run on a block schedule, courses are intensive and highly interactive. Our faculty collaborates frequently across disciplines in both curricular development and pedagogical innovation. Further details about Quest and the application procedure can be found here: http://www.questu.ca/employment/faculty_openings/index.php Applicant requirements: A completed PhD or equivalent is required. At the minimum, candidates are expected to have designed and taught at least one university-level course. Candidates without this level of experience are encouraged to apply for a teaching fellowship that will be advertised on our website in March 2015. Although research, especially that involving undergraduates, is encouraged, those seeking a research-focused faculty position should not apply. Hiring for this position is subject to budgetary approval. All applications must include: (1) a cover letter of no more than two pages. Please: (a) address specific aspects of the Quest curriculum that you find particularly exciting and explain how your background prepares you to deliver these pedagogical approaches; (b) specify how you are qualified to teach one (or more) existing Quest Foundation courses; (c) list new courses you can create for our Concentration program; and (d) describe what your Question would be if you were a Quest student. (2) a curriculum vitae emphasizing your experience with teaching, mentoring, collaboration, and innovation. Please include names and contact information for three references. (3) A short description of your PhD research in language appropriate to an educated but non-specialist audience in any medium of your choosing. Examples include: a short audio clip (~2 minutes), video clip (~1 minute), or written document (~200 words). Should you choose to submit a video clip, please upload the video to an online video-sharing service (e.g. Vimeo or YouTube) and send a link rather than submitting the video file. (4) A two-page statement of teaching philosophy providing evidence of effective and innovative teaching practice. In your statement, please also include discussion of at least two of the following questions: a) What do you see as major challenges in higher-level education? b) Describe your best and worst teaching moments, and outline what you learned from these. c) What are some specific examples you could use to help first year undergraduate students to think and reason critically? Applications should be sent to [email protected] by December 15th, 2014. Interviews for finalists will begin in January 2015. The start date for the position will be August 1st, 2015. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Colin Bates, Ph.D. Division of Life Sciences Quest University Canada www.questu.ca office phone: 604-898-8077 [email protected]
