Assistant Professor: The Department of Biology at Denison University invites applications from broadly- trained organismal biologists for a tenure-track position beginning fall 2019. A PhD in biology or related field is required (by the first day of appointment); a strong potential for excellence in teaching and for a productive research program is essential. The Biology Department values the engagement of undergraduate students in research. Upon hiring, the successful candidate for review and promotion displays excellent teaching, maintains a productive, ongoing research program, and actively contributes to activities outside of the classroom and laboratory at the level of the department, institution, and/or larger communities of interest. The candidate for this position is expected to teach the introductory course Multicellular Life (BIOL 220). While it is an infrequent occurrence, biology faculty should also be capable of teaching one of the other two introductory courses, which are Molecular Biology & Unicellular Life (BIOL 210) and Ecology & Evolution (BIOL 230). With respect to upper-level electives, the candidate is expected to regularly teach a course that fulfills the “Biological Diversity” requirement in our curriculum; that is, a course that emphasizes the holistic study of organisms, including their taxonomy and evolutionary history, their structure and function, and their role in their environment. Current “Biological Diversity” offerings include Plant Systematics, Plant Evolution and Reproduction, Diversity of Microorganisms, Invertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Zoology, and Herpetology. Preference will be given to a candidate who can offer a “Biological Diversity” course, such as Biology of Insects, Biology of Fungi, or any other course that complements our current offerings listed above. The candidate is also expected to develop and offer an additional upper-level elective course within organismal biology. Current related course offerings include Evolutionary Biology, Developmental Biology, General Microbiology, Comparative Physiology, Population and Community Ecology, and Conservation Biology. Preference will be given to a candidate who can offer a course that complements these current offerings. The particular focus of such a course is open and could include Animal Behavior, Plant Ecology, Plant Physiology, or something else. The teaching load is three lecture + lab courses per year (2 courses one semester and 1 course the other semester), typically capped at 24 students per course. There are departmental and college-wide programs for mentoring and enhancing teaching. In their application materials, applicants should address their capacity to contribute to these course offerings, including an indication of their proposed upper-level elective courses. Information about our program can be found at http://denison.edu/academics/biology/degree-essentials, and details about our curriculum are posted at http://denison.edu/academics/biology/courses. In addition to teaching, the candidate will develop their own productive research program. We offer competitive start-up funds, annual faculty development funding, a generous sabbatical leave program, and a junior faculty leave following a successful third year review. During the summer, Denison and several other funding agencies provide research and housing stipends for the support of undergraduate students as well as faculty stipends ($2,500 for working with one student, an additional $1,500 for working with a second student, and an additional $500 for each additional student after that) to encourage collaborative research with students. Research with students during the academic year is also possible with funding for supplies available from several sources. In their application materials, applicants should address their plans for research at Denison, an institution that values the engagement and mentorship of undergraduates in research. The successful candidate will integrate field-based research as a component of their scholarship, and preference will be given to applicants whose research area complements and expands the research of current faculty. Note that the Department of Biology at Denison does not have facilities for housing birds or mammals.
Denison University is a selective and nationally ranked, residential liberal arts college located in Granville, OH, 25 miles east of the Columbus metropolitan area (population 1.8 mil, home of The Ohio State University). The Department of Biology currently has 14 faculty members who represent a wide range of specialty areas, with involvement in several interdisciplinary programs including Neuroscience, Environmental Studies, Data Analytics, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Queer Studies. Department resources in Samson Talbot Hall include individual faculty offices and research labs, classrooms equipped for multi-media instruction, teaching labs, and greenhouses. We also have a 350-acre Biological Reserve and the Polly Anderson Field Station, which are available for teaching and research purposes. In addition, there are several other natural areas in the vicinity that may be suitable for teaching and/or field research. We graduate approximately 60 majors each year. Many of these students attain positions in graduate or professional schools; others enter the job market in a wide variety of biology-related fields. To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster an academically and culturally diverse campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, color, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, family configuration, disability, socioeconomic status, religion, national origin, age, or military status. For additional information and resources about diversity at Denison please see our Diversity Guide at http://denison.edu/forms/diversity-guide. Denison University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants should submit electronic application materials on-line at employment.denison.edu including: a cover letter addressing the candidate’s motivation and potential that will enable them to successfully contribute to the high standards of teaching, scholarship, and service that are expected of Denison faculty; separate statements addressing the candidate’s: 1) teaching philosophy including ability to contribute to our curriculum, 2) research interests and plans for research at Denison, and 3) potential to foster and support diversity among our students (inside and outside of the classroom), faculty, and community; curriculum vitae; copies of transcripts (graduate and undergraduate); and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Review of applications will begin Oct 1, 2018 and continue until the position is filled.
