Smith Postdoc-to-Tenure-Track Fellow in Ecology/Evolution/Biodiversity

Smith Postdoc-to-Tenure-Track Fellow in Ecology/Evolution/Biodiversity

Job No: 497428
Position Type: full-time
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Categories: Biology

The Department of Biology at Bucknell University invites applications for the Richard E. and Yvonne Smith Postdoc-to-Tenure-Track (Smith PTT) Fellow Position in Ecology, Evolution, or Biodiversity to start in August 2024.

The Smith PTT Fellowship promotes pedagogical and institutional excellence through the diversification of faculty and curricula at the university. Richard and Yvonne Smith were people of great intellectual curiosity and humility, with uplifting and encouraging spirits and a generous hospitality that was a foundation for promoting inclusion and belonging at Bucknell. They reached out to and engaged with students and colleagues in ways that left a profound and positive impact on the institution. In that spirit, we are seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds who have an active intellectual life that they wish to share with the Bucknell community. Candidates from communities underrepresented among higher education faculty are strongly encouraged to apply.

For this position, we seek individuals with teaching and scholarly interests linked to the use of large datasets to answer questions in the areas of ecology, evolution, biodiversity, or organismal biology and who wish to cultivate and develop these interests with support and additional mentoring from a welcoming academic community. Subject areas may include (but are not limited to) organismal/ecosystem response to climate change, evolutionary processes, bioinformatics, ecoinformatics, conservation biology, and systematics. A Ph.D. is required; candidates in the final stages of their dissertation will be considered but would have to complete the degree to continue employment after the first year. Candidates are asked to convey in their application materials an enthusiasm for undergraduate teaching, a commitment to inclusive teaching practices in the classroom and laboratory, and an interest in establishing a productive and student-inclusive research program. We are seeking an individual with teaching interests to support the Biology curriculum (including our new introductory core sequence), as well as scholarly interests that complement our current capabilities. This position is ideal for candidates who are excited about working to enhance established strengths of the University, examples of which may include research involving undergraduates, collaboration within and across disciplines, and community engagement.

The successful candidate will spend two years as a Smith PTT Fellow at Bucknell, bringing new perspectives and contemporary knowledge and participating in campus life. The Fellow will receive mentoring; a reduced teaching load (3 course-equivalents instead of 5); financial resources for scholarship, travel, and professional development; and other support that will help them a) better understand the nature of a career as a teacher-scholar at our predominantly undergraduate institution; b) develop and strengthen their pedagogical skills and experience; and c) establish and enhance their research trajectory. The Fellow will have the opportunity to engage in innovative teaching and scholarship within our excellent facilities, including the University's Teaching and Learning Center. At the end of the two-year fellowship period, and with positive evaluations, the Fellow will transition into a tenure-track faculty position at Bucknell.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach one course in our recently-established Biology core sequence that consists of a first-year seminar-style course (BIOL 201), a first-year Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) offering (BIOL 202), and two semester-long second-year Integrative and Comparative Biology classes. Other teaching responsibilities will include an upper-level course in the individual's area of expertise or other courses that meet the general education goals of the University.

Bucknell University is a private, highly selective, and unique national university where liberal arts and strong professional programs complement each other; and Bucknell's College of Arts and Sciences is a nationally recognized leader in undergraduate education. The Biology Department provides an undergraduate education in a liberal arts context that features close interactions with a small student body. The department is committed to student-centered inclusive pedagogical approaches, high-impact activities that foster scientific development of students, and a community that supports diversity.

Bucknell University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The university believes that students learn best in a diverse, inclusive community and is therefore committed to academic excellence through diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. Bucknell is committed to creating a climate that fosters inclusion, growth, and development for a diverse student body, and seeks candidates who are also committed to these goals. Bucknell supports the teacher-scholar model of faculty development and the standard tenure-track teaching load is five course-equivalents per year. With a university-wide student-faculty ratio of about 9:1, small class sizes are a hallmark of the Bucknell educational experience. The university sponsors a range of activities to support the development of its faculty, including a Teaching-Learning Center, excellent research facilities, and generous research support and leave policies.

Application materials must include the following five documents: 1) a cover letter that clearly summarizes the candidate's interest in Bucknell and in this position; 2) a current curriculum vitae; 3) a teaching statement that conveys the candidate's interest in undergraduate teaching, describes the candidate's ideas or philosophy for equitable and inclusive teaching, and identifies Biology courses to which the candidate could contribute (3 pages maximum); 4) a research statement addressing the candidate's plans for scholarly work at Bucknell and how that work may include undergraduates (2 pages maximum); and 5) contact information for at least three potential references (letters may be requested by the search committee). Applications will only be accepted online through Bucknell's career site (careers.bucknell.edu). Review of applications begins on September 1 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested individuals may contact the Chair of the search committee, Dr. Emily Stowe (estoweva@bucknell.edu), with any questions you may have or to convey your interest in the position and intent to apply.

Work Type:
This position is a full-time, benefits-eligible, faculty exempt position.

Benefits:

Eligible full- and part-time employees are compensated beyond base salary through our total rewards package that includes (but is not limited to):
- medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options
- an outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan (no contribution requirement for non-exempt positions)
- generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays (including two full weeks off for Winter Break!)
- full-time and part-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for themselves. Additionally, full-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for their spouse/spousal equivalent and are eligible for various tuition programs for their children. Credit for full-time benefits eligible employment at other institutions of higher education will be applied to waiting periods.
- a comprehensive employee wellness program including program incentives
- a myriad of other benefits, including parental leave, an employee assistance program, fitness center membership, and the power of your Bucknell ID card

To learn more about Bucknell's benefits, click here! (*Eligibility criteria and waiting periods may apply.)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
Bucknell is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports the growth and development of a diverse campus community. We endeavor to enhance our capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. We encourage all individuals to apply and do not discriminate in admissions, employment, educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.



To apply, visit https://careers.bucknell.edu/en-us/job/497428/smith-postdoctotenuretrack-fellow-in-ecologyevolutionbiodiversity







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