Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Ecology Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca, New York
The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at Cornell University, invites applicants for a two year full-time Lecturer or a Senior Lecturer position (9 month, academic- year appointment). Rank will depend on experience. The successful applicant will play a key role in supporting our large introductory course “Ecology and the Environment” (BioEE 1610) and its ongoing transition towards an active learning format with increased focus on student participation and group problem solving. Cornell University has a renowned tradition of excellence in the life sciences, including the instructional engagement of an exceptionally talented and intellectually motivated undergraduate student body. The person who fills this Lecturer or Senior Lecturer position will support Cornell’s introductory ecology course, which attracts over 450 students per year as a core introductory course for Biology majors, a required course for majors in Environmental and Sustainability Science, and an attractive science course for students from other majors. This course covers central concepts in ecology and environmental biology (including global biomes, local environmental variation and organism adaptations, population and community interactions and dynamics, and ecosystem processes), the ecological effects of both natural and human-caused environmental change, and ecological feedbacks to global change. As a component of Cornell’s Active Learning Initiative, this course is being restructured to further increase student engagement by adopting a variety of innovative active learning instructional methods. The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will work with a rotating and highly collaborative group of faculty who alternate in leading the course and who contribute subject modules in some semesters. Currently, this E&EB faculty group is experimenting with teaching the course with multiple faculty and modules in some semesters and a single faculty member in other semesters. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Instructional Development: 40% of effort in this position will be concerned with development of active learning activities for the course, including activity plans, handouts, assessment quizzes, and videos. The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will also play a leading role in revising discussion section activities and associated documents so that they best reinforce concepts and approaches presented in lecture. To achieve this, the Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will be encouraged to collaborate with Cornell’s wider community of instructional specialists (including the Center for Teaching Excellence) to stay current on improvements in teaching methods and help translate those innovations to the BioEE 1610 classroom, and assist the other BioEE 1610 faculty in implementing these methods to enhance student participation and learning. The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will provide continuity of leadership among semesters so that incremental improvements are retained and enhanced, and so that course policies and infrastructure are based on consistently applied principles. Assessment and Research: 10% of effort in this position will be focused on assessing the effects of active learning implementation on learning outcomes, and revising and tuning teaching materials and activities accordingly. The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will implement evaluative tools and provide steady constructive feedback to all members of the teaching team. There will also be some flexibility for the Lecturer or Senior Lecturer to take advantage of assessment work to conduct and publish pedagogical research. This research may be performed in collaboration with other faculty involved in Cornell’s campus-wide Active Learning Initiative. Teaching: 40% of effort in this position will be dedicated to implementing weekly discussion section activities of the course and supervising the graduate student Teaching Assistants who lead these sections, including running weekly meetings to prepare the TAs. Also included in this responsibility is helping faculty to modify and improve existing section activities and to develop new activities as desirable. Course Administration: 10% of the effort in this position will involve course administrative duties including populating and maintaining the course’s Blackboard web site, managing the in-class student response system, coordinating the administration and proctoring of exams and quizzes, maintaining the course gradebook system that tracks all student scores, updating and maintaining the course archives of past lecture files, exams, activities, and discussion section materials, and working collaboratively with the other course faculty on additional ad hoc administrative tasks as they arise. The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will also serve as a point of contact for undergraduates who have questions or issues related to the administrative aspects of the course, including scheduling issues. QUALIFICATIONS: The successful applicant will hold a PhD in Ecology, Biology Education, or a related field, and have excellent organizational, interpersonal communication, team building, and collaboration skills. A track record in undergraduate teaching, as well as previous experience developing active learning curricula, assessing learning outcomes is highly desirable, as is experience coaching educators in these activities. SALARY AND TERMS OF APPOINTMENT: This position is a full-time 9-month appointment, paid over 12 months. The initial appointment will be full-time (100% FTE) for two years. There is funding to continue the position at half-time contingent on performance and needs of the department. In addition, we are committed to seeking additional sources to make this a full- time position through at least the third year but ideally longer. The starting salary will be commensurate with training and experience. The anticipated start date for the appointment is July 1, 2016. SUPERVISION: The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will work as part of a team of core faculty leading the BioEE 1610 course, especially the lead instructor in each semester, but will be formally supervised by Professor Alex Flecker. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: The Lecturer or Senior Lecturer will supervise the teaching contributions of 4-6 graduate student Teaching Assistants each semester. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: We will begin reviewing applications April 1, 2016 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. To apply, applicants should submit their CV, a statement of teaching philosophy and experience, a statement of research experience, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can serve as references to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/7127. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer. Diversity and inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We’re an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and individuals with Disabilities.
