Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology

Program: Anthropology

Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track

Title: Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology

Effective Date of Appointment: 8/18/2022
( Subject to Budgetary Approval)

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 mission of the Anthropology program at CSUCI is to foster an inclusive academic environment that stimulates social and intellectual growth by providing critical interdisciplinary perspectives on human social and biological diversity across space and time. We do so by teaching key theoretical concepts that allow for a deep appreciation of the multifaceted nature of human communities and the practical skills necessary for academic and professional success. The program has dedicated Archaeology and Bioanthropology lab classrooms with teaching collections, an oral history and ethnography “lab,” as well as an outdoor workspace. Students also undertake coursework and research at CI Park and the Santa Rosa Island Research Station.

The Bioanthropology laboratory is a working laboratory used as a classroom and workspace for students and faculty. The collection consists of a wide range of human and non-human primate specimens. Non-human primate specimens include a variety of cranial casts and full disarticulated skeletons that illustrate morphological variation between species. Forensic material includes a variety of individuals and comparative casts for age-at-death, sex, stature, and trauma determination. Students work with real human bone as well as high-quality plastic casts. Analytical tools available include microscopes, bone boards, and calipers. This laboratory also contains a comparative faunal collection used for forensic and archaeological research.

About the Position:

We seek a broadly trained biological anthropologist with a focus on biocultural or human biology perspectives. The program has a preference for candidates whose research includes biological consequences related to health, (in)equity, and/or socio-environmental issues, past or present, and who can proficiently teach medical anthropology, osteology, bioarcheology, and/or forensic anthropology. The program also has a preference for faculty whose research has an applied focus and can be tied back to the diverse populations of California, and who has an established track record of working with undergraduate students. The successful candidate will teach courses ranging from introductory to specialty (lab components expected at all levels), will be able to work broadly with all Anthropology students and colleagues across campus, and will work with local Chumash tribal members and the newly formed campus archaeology team.

Minimum Degree Requirements:

Ph.D. in anthropology or closely related field from an accredited university is required at the time of appointment.

Required Qualifications :

• Specialization in bioanthropology with a focus on biocultural or human biological perspectives
• Ability to teach a variety of biological anthropology courses, including introductory, Human Evolution & Diversity, Forensic Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Osteology, plus specialized courses
• Ability to teach in at least one other subfield of Anthropology
• Evidence of successful teaching at the undergraduate level
• Evidence of or potential for including students in research projects
• Demonstrated applied focus in research and teaching
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with academic partners within and outside of Anthropology
• Strong grounding in quantitative methods; experience teaching Quantitative Methods preferred
• 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 :

• Evidence of excellence in university teaching
• Evidence of scholarly accomplishments or potential
• Ability to teach courses in biological anthropology and areas of specialization
• Applicants should demonstrate the commitment to effectively work with and engage a diverse student population and provide evidence of how they would successfully mentor women in STEM and minoritized students with special focus on Latinx, Black/African-American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Native American students.

Responsibilities:

• Teach Bioanthropology courses at all levels
• Maintain an active role as a Teacher-Scholar with an active research agenda with publications
• Actively mentor our diverse Anthropology student population
• Assume an active collegial role in the planning and governance of the institution through service on program, campus-wide, divisional, and Academic Senate committees
• Contribute to the CI Mission by facilitating learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizing experiential and service learning, and provide students with multicultural and international experiences

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:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Names and contact information for three (3) references
4. When providing the mentoring statement and teaching philosophy requested below, please also address "women in STEM" in your responses.
5. 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, an
6. 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:
http://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 .