Teaching Assistant Professor

Teaching Assistant Professor – Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development & Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota

Institution: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Type: Full-time, 9-month appointment, Non-tenure track

These positions are annually renewable positions that are currently funded for two years, with the possibility of continuation.

Anticipated starting salary: $62,000

Summary of Position:

The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development (GCD) and the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning (BTL) are collaborating on a joint teaching position (75% GCD, 25% BTL).  We are recruiting a promising instructor seeking to start a career in undergraduate biology education.  The primary role of this Teaching Assistant Professor position in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development is to provide high-quality biology instruction in upper-level genetics and cell biology courses delivered in-person or online. For the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, the primary role will be instruction in an introductory biology course for biology majors or non-majors.  The successful candidate will have expertise in undergraduate-level biology with an emphasis on genetics, cell biology or histology.  The Teaching Assistant Professor is expected to have some experience in the use and development of student-centered / inquiry-driven teaching approaches that enhance student learning and further the undergraduate teaching mission of the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) and the University of Minnesota. The position is teaching-intensive but includes expectations and opportunities for scholarship and service including engagement in research related to biology teaching and learning and provision of guidance to colleagues in areas of the Teaching Assistant Professor’s expertise. The College is committed to diversifying our community and supporting students from all backgrounds. Accordingly, successful candidates will have a track record of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strongly encourage applications from those belonging to historically underrepresented groups and marginalized communities.

Essential and Other Functions:

80% Teaching

1. Instructional duties:  Focus on upper-level biology courses with an emphasis on genetics/cell biology/histology (for GCD) or in an introductory biology course for either biology majors or non-majors (for BTL).  Act as instructor of record for assigned courses.  Deliver content (in-person and online based on the nature of the specific course). Develop benchmarks and proficiency measures to assess student achievement. Maintain course grades. 

2. Course design:  Develop course content, learning goals, assessments, and appropriate teaching approaches. Develop lab curricula, and write accompanying lab manuals, for student use that incorporate active and writing-enhanced learning into the course. Develop, pre-run, and trouble-shoot experiments.

3. Course coordination: Interface with administrative staff to schedule lecture, laboratory, and recitation sections as needed. Train and oversee the work of tutors, teaching assistants (graduate and undergraduate), and teaching specialists.  Coordinate online and in-person course content.  Perform other coordinator duties as needed.

4. Laboratory support: Interface with lab support staff to develop and run laboratory modules (online and in-person).

5. Continue personal growth within the profession, keep current with the field, and broaden knowledge and expertise through activities such as reading primary literature, attending workshops/presentations at local and national meetings. It is expected that these efforts will enhance the Teaching Assistant Professor’s own teaching and will also benefit the wider CBS community through interaction between the Teaching Assistant Professor and colleagues.

10% Scholarship

1. Engage in research related to teaching and the instructional process.

2. Disseminate research findings via professional meetings, publications, etc.

3. Cooperate with colleagues to develop grant proposals to advance funding for instruction and scholarship of teaching and learning.

 

10% Service

1. Provide service through participation in governance of CBS and/or the University through membership in committees and leadership in professional organizations.

2. Contribute to the development of the profession through participation in national and/or international associations, publication, and/or other related activities.

3. Provide guidance in instruction and course development to CBS colleagues.

4. Informally advise students regarding both coursework and broader academic or career goals.

Essential Qualifications

- Ph.D. degree in a biological science

- At least one semester of significant teaching experience as an instructor of record or functional equivalent

- Demonstrated experience with active learning approaches to undergraduate instruction

- Track record of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for historically underrepresented groups and marginalized communities in the areas of research, teaching, and service.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

- Sufficient breadth of biology background to teach a variety of biology disciplines.

- Preference will be given to candidates with a background in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology or histology.

- Demonstrated ability to develop clear, appropriately demanding expectations of students, effectively meet teaching responsibilities, and achieve successful student learning outcomes.

- Interest and ability to conduct pedagogical research.

About the Departments The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development spans a broad spectrum of biological disciplines, including the storage and expression of information (genetics), its translation into the workings of individual cells (cell biology), and the assembly of cells into tissues and organ systems (development).  Our department embraces integration of methods and ideas across disciplines, collaborative projects that assemble the people required to achieve that integration, and strategic use of model systems that provide the most powerful experimental access to important biological and medical problems. The University of Minnesota has a national reputation in biology teaching and educational research. To build on existing strengths, the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning was created in July 2014 as a partnership between the College of Biological Sciences and the College of Education and Human Development. The mission of our department is to discover, apply and share research-based strategies that transform biology education.  With strengths in both biological and pedagogical research, the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning strives to be part of a tradition of excellence. Through our ongoing research, our department members contribute to the growing understanding of how students learn; through their teaching and outreach, we model the implementation of evidence-based educational research; and through our mentoring of graduate students and colleagues, we will help build a strong community of teaching scholars of national reputation.

 

Diversity Statement

 

The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development and the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion along all axes of identity (race, gender, orientation, disability, etc.).  We seek colleagues who share this value and can add to our expertise in these areas to join us and the work we are doing.  BTL’s full DEI statement is available at: https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/btl/about-btl/dei and GCD’s full DEI statement is available at https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/gcd/about/dei.

 

About the College of Biological Sciences

 

The mission of the College of Biological Sciences is to deliver cutting-edge, internationally recognized research and teaching at all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems. While preparing today’s students to create the biology of tomorrow, CBS promotes collaborative research within and beyond the University to advance knowledge and find solutions that improve human health and the environment locally, nationally, and globally.

 

Find out what makes Minnesota a great place to work and live:

Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development:

https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/gcd

 

Department of Biology Teaching and Learning:

 

https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/btl

 

College of Biological Sciences: https://cbs.umn.edu/

 

University of Minnesota: https://twin-cities.umn.edu/

 

 

Application Process:

Application review will begin December 12; applications received by December 31 will receive full consideration. Application materials need to be submitted online in PDF format with the applicant’s last name in the PDF title; applications cannot be considered until all of the following materials have been uploaded:

 

• Cover letter highlighting qualifications relevant to teaching, educational background, and research, including an explanation of how the applicant meets the essential (and preferred, if appropriate) qualifications of the position Curriculum vitae Teaching philosophy statement (up to two pages) Diversity statement summarizing how the candidate will foster and support University of Minnesota’s mission to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or outreach (up to two pages)

More information and/or to apply for the position:

https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job

Job number: 352631

Application review will begin December 12; applications received by December 31 will receive full consideration