Assistant Professor in Biology (Environmental Microbiology)

About the University:

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) opened in 2002 as the newest campus in the California State University system. Since that time, the University has grown and developed into one of the premier public universities, not only in the California State University system, but also in the nation. Indeed, U.S. News & World Report listed CSUCI as 20th among “Top Public Schools” in its 2021 edition of Best Colleges Rankings. In 2020, CollegeNET also ranked CSUCI 20th out of over 1,449 schools in its “Social Mobility Index,” and Money Magazine rated CSUCI as the 15th “Most Transformative College” in the nation.

CSUCI is a public comprehensive university that engages students in critical inquiry and is dedicated to educating leaders for a global society. The University is located in Ventura County and is home to more than 6,900 undergraduate and 239 graduate students. Approximately 55% of CSUCI’s students are Pell Grant eligible, and approximately 62% are first-generation college students. CSUCI is also proud to be designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), with 55% of its undergraduate students self-identifying as Latinx, 25% as White, 6% as Asian/Asian American, 4% as multiracial, and 2% as Black/African American. In 2019, CSUCI was awarded Excelencia in Education’s inaugural “Seal of Excelencia” for its facilitation of Latinx student success.

CSUCI is committed to diversifying its faculty in order to address students’ ever-changing needs in the 21st century. The University is also taking steps to confront racism and to advocate for social justice. To this end, CSUCI encourages applicants to apply who are motivated to serve and contribute to the university’s tenure-track body, which self-identifies as 62% White, 21% Latinx, 9% Asian/Asian American, and 2% Black/African American.

 

Diversity Statement:

CSUCI is committed to recruiting individuals who are dedicated to furthering inclusive excellence in our campus community. We seek to enhance our diverse University population by welcoming people from all backgrounds, and by working to sustain an environment where colleagues can not only work and learn, but also create and thrive.

 

CSUCI Mission Statement:

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.

 

CSUCI’s Commitment to You:

CSUCI is committed to helping newly hired faculty develop a sense of belonging in a collaborative and supportive community dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for establishing and sustaining a research agenda and engaging in continuous improvement in equitable teaching and learning.

 

About the Program:

The Biology Program at CSUCI prepares students for the next step in their careers: to educate and train the next generation of biological scientists and medical professionals. The Biology Program promotes the teaching of fundamental and unifying concepts integrated with the practice of analysis and discovery. Faculty-driven original research programs are an essential part of our department’s mission by providing valuable research opportunities for undergraduate students. Biology faculty are expected to maintain an inclusive research program and to remain active in the scientific community. Many Biology faculty conduct research in nearby environmental areas including Santa Rosa Island where CSUCI has a research station.

 

About the Position:

The Biology Program at CSUCI invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Environmental Microbiology at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful applicant should be able to contribute to the department’s core course offerings, teach Medical Microbiology with lab and develop upper level courses in their specialty which may include General Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Physiology and/or Bioremediation. The successful candidate will establish an undergraduate-based research program in Environmental Microbiology. A Ph.D. in Biology or a closely related field and postdoctoral experience are required. All members of the faculty are expected to assume an active collegial role in the planning and governance of the institution through service to the program, serving on campus-wide committees and by promoting a learning environment supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

 

Minimum Degree Requirements:

Ph.D. in Biology or a closely related field.
Post-doctoral experience.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Evidence of the ability to establish an active, undergraduate-based research program in Environmental Microbiology.
• Teaching experience at the college/university level.
• Evidence of on-going scholarly activities.
• Evidence of the ability to teach core courses in Biology, Medical Microbiology, and upper-division courses in Environmental Microbiology at an undergraduate institution.
• Evidence of the ability to assume an active collegial role in service to the Biology Program and the University.
• Postdoctoral experience.
• Applicants should demonstrate the commitment to effectively work with and engage a diverse student population and evidence of how they would successfully mentor minoritized students with special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, American Indian, and Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander students.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching Environmental Microbiology or Medical Microbiology
• A record of effective teaching
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students

 

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the departments core course offerings
• Teach Medical Microbiology with lab
• Develop upper level courses in area of specialty
• Establish an undergraduate-based research program in Environmental Microbiology.
• Assume an active collegial role in the planning and governance of the Biology Program and the University through service on campus-wide committees
• Promote a learning environment supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

 

Application Deadline:

Screening of applications will begin 10/1/2021. Priority will be given to applicants who meet the screening deadline; however, the position will remain open until filled.

 

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• A letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and email addresses of three references
• 3 letters of recommendation (Your referees will be contacted to upload the letters in our system).
• A research statement
• A statement describing your experience mentoring and/or working with minoritized students with a special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander and American Indian students, and
• A teaching philosophy describing how you plan to engage and interact with students, with a special focus on Latinx, Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander, and American Indian students.

 

In later phases of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide verification of terminal degrees, licenses and certificates. 

Submit all required materials to the CSUCI Careers application web address below:

https://jobs.csuci.edu/

 

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule:

Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and experience. The University offers excellent fringe benefits.

 

General Information:

Evidence of degree(s) required at time of hire.

At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States.

The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

CSUCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in CSU Executive Order 1096.  

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Faculty Affairs at academicpersonnel@csuci.edu.