Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders.  Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation.  Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program. Its finances are robust, and validated by balanced budget and positive bond ratings.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation’s most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.

Job Title:   Assistant Professor of Natural Science

Classification:  Full-time, benefits eligible, three-year appointment or tenure-track faculty position

Reports To: STEM Division Head

Job Summary/Objective:

Sweet Briar College invites applications from those in natural science fields for an appointment as an Assistant Professor in the STEM Division to start in January 2025. The specific program appointment(s) within the STEM will be determined by the areas of expertise of the successful candidate. The successful candidate will be an engaged scholar-teacher and have a strong commitment to undergraduate education. The incumbent will teach introductory GIS (one course every 1-2 years), in addition to introductory courses in biology and/or chemistry, and other courses that could include ecology, soil science, biodiversity, environmental field methods, environmental chemistry, or botany. The candidate will teach 1-2 courses per year in the Leadership Core Curriculum, our general education curriculum. The candidate will also have the opportunity to guide, direct and supervise undergraduate research projects

The College’s academic calendar, with immersive three-week terms bookending traditional 12-week terms, creates an opportunity for innovative courses to take advantage of close student-faculty interactions, travel courses, and collaboration across disciplines.

This hire is an initial three and a half-year appointment. For those who have completed a Ph.D. and have at least one year of postdoctoral teaching and/or research experience, this hire will be tenure-track, for those who are ABD or do not have that experience, the hire will be an initial three-year appointment with the possibility of long-term renewal or conversion to tenure-track. If the latter is the case, pending a review near the end of year two of the appointment, the faculty member may be reappointed for an additional term; if the outcome of that review is very strong, the faculty member may apply for conversion to a tenure- track position during the third year.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in natural sciences, e.g. environmental science, biology, chemistry, or a related field. Applicants who are ABD will be considered if degree completion is expected by August 2024;
• Ability to teach Geographic Information Systems and mentor undergraduate students who use it in their research
• Demonstrated teaching experience and potential and interest in undergraduate research;
• Demonstrated interest in working across disciplines and engaging in collaborative scholarship, teaching, and service; and
• Excellent communication skills.

How to Apply:

To apply, visit: https://sbc.edu/human-resources/faculty-staff-job-openings/. All applications should include: 1) cover letter; 2) CV; 3) statement on teaching philosophy and research interests; and 4) a statement highlighting contributions to or future plans for promoting diversity and inclusion through work in this position; 5) the names and full contact information for three professional references. The materials should be assembled to a single PDF file and loaded into the job application portal.  Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.