Assistant Professor - Microbial Ecologist/ Environmental Microbiologist, Department of Biology

[C23-016]

Assistant Professor - Microbial Ecologist/ Environmental Microbiologist

Department of Biology

Central Connecticut State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor, Microbial Ecologist/ Environmental Microbiologist in the Department of Biology beginning academic year 2023-24. We are looking for applicants with a Ph.D. and trained in Microbial Ecology or Environmental Microbiology. The candidate may have a focus in prokaryotic or eukaryotic microbiology or in virology. Candidates with specialties in aquatic or soil microbiology are preferred. We are interested in someone with a focus on biogeochemical cycling, biodegradation of legacy or emerging pollutants from an ecological perspective, or ecological interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.

The person will teach an existing BIO 315, Microbial Ecology, course and develop related courses, as well as contribute to our introductory biology courses for both majors and nonmajors. Additionally, this person will support undergraduate research projects and master’s student research theses. The candidate will contribute to the department’s environmental science program.

The are many opportunities for field research near Central Connecticut State University. The campus is located within 7 miles of the Connecticut River and the Farmington River, and 45 miles from Long Island Sound. A variety of wetland habitats are nearby including bogs, tidal saltwater wetlands, and tidal brackish wetlands. Several coastal state-protected areas (i.e., Rocky Neck State Park, Hammonassett Beach State Park, and Barn Island Wildlife Management Area) provide salt marsh access to conduct field research and teaching activities. CCSU coordinates the Center for Research and Education at Outer Island (in Long Island Sound) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and Southern Connecticut State University.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Biology or related discipline. ABD candidates will be considered if they provide evidence of anticipated completion of doctorate by August 28, 2023.
• College-level teaching experience in courses as described above.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching courses in microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, or microbial diversity.
• Teaching experience that includes all aspects of course preparation and full course responsibility for the entire academic term (i.e., experience beyond teaching assistantships and guest lectures).
• College-level teaching experiences in both lower-level and upper-level courses.
• Broadly-trained biologist

The University: The largest of Connecticut’s regional comprehensive universities, Central currently enrolls over 10,000 students. A third of its undergraduates are students of color, the largest group being Hispanic. Ninety-six (96%) percent of the students are from Connecticut. For more information about Central Connecticut State University, please visit www.ccsu.edu.

The Community: Located nine miles southwest of Hartford, New Britain is a city of approximately 72,000. Part of the Greater Hartford area of 1.2 million residents, New Britain is centrally located in the state and is within easy reach of much of Connecticut and several metropolitan areas. Nicknamed “the Hardware City” for its rich industrial heritage, it is home to Stanley Black & Decker. Important cultural institutions include the New Britain Museum of American Art and Walnut Hill Park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead. New Britain’s population is characterized by a high degree of racial and ethnic diversity. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates 70% of the population as White, 13% as Black or African American, 3% as Asian, and 0.2% as American Indian or Alaska Native. Currently 4.6% of New Britain’s population identify themselves in more than one racial category and 43% of New Britain’s population identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Fifty percent (50%) speak a language other than English in the home and 19% were born internationally. Significant portions of its population come from Puerto Rico and Poland or consider themselves to be from the African-American, Italian, or Irish ethnic backgrounds. In addition to all that greater Hartford provides, New Britain is 40 minutes from Springfield, Massachusetts, two hours from Boston, and two hours from New York City. It is also part of the Hartford-Springfield “Knowledge Corridor” and, therefore, within easy driving distance of a host of private and public institutions of higher education and many cultural opportunities.

Application and Appointment: Priority review will be given to applications received by March 30, 2023 . Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

To begin the application process, click on the Apply button and electronically submit the following documents:

• Letter of interest addressing qualifications for the position
• Current curriculum vitae
• Names of three professional references including their title, email address, and telephone numbers.
• For ABD candidates, include a letter from your dissertation advisor stating anticipated date of completion in this document.

Note: Candidates uploading additional materials must combine all documents into one PDF file. For further assistance, please email gabriela.s.flores-erazo@ccsu.edu .



In accordance with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Collective Bargaining Union Contract, compensation for this position is at the rank of Assistant Professor for 2023-2024. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. For more information, please visit 2021-2025 American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Collective Bargaining Union Contract .

The State of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University are proud to offer its employees competitive wages and a wide range of fringe benefits including voluntary and supplemental benefits.

Fringe benefits include personal and sick leave, paid holidays, medical, dental, and prescription plans, group life insurance, a choice of retirement plans, retirement health care, tuition waiver for employee and eligible dependents at any of the Connecticut State Universities (Central, Eastern, Southern or Western) as well as an array of voluntary and supplemental benefits such as Deferred Retirement Compensation plans, Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Flexible spending accounts, long term and short term disability plans.

For more detailed information, please visit CCSU Human Resources

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Emailed and mailed applications will not be accepted. Please redact any personally identifiable information (i.e., Social Security number, date of birth, marital status, country of origin) from any documents submitted. Please ensure your Social Security Number is not listed on any documents submitted.

For more information, contact Dr. Clayton Penniman Search Committee Chair, at penniman@ccsu.edu

As an affirmative action employer, Central Connecticut State University actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.