Assistant Professor position in Plant Biology - REVISED REVIEW DATE

Posting Details

Position Information

Recruitment Number

5405

Working Title

Assistant Professor position in Plant Biology - REVISED REVIEW DATE

Position Type

Faculty/Instructional

Appointment Percentage

100%

Division/College

College of Science and Health

Position Summary

The Department of Biology in the College of Science and Health at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse ( UWL ) invites applications for an academic year, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Plant Biology. Our new colleague will teach undergraduate Organismal Biology, General Biology and/or Ecology courses in our undergraduate core curriculum, and elective courses in Introductory Plant Identification, Plant Taxonomy, Aquatic & Wetland Vascular Plants, or Economic Botany. In addition, developing elective courses that complement our existing curriculum is encouraged. The person selected for this position will also serve as the curator of the UWL Herbarium (Index Herbariorum Code UWL ) containing approximately 50,000 plant specimens. Opportunities for a summer instructional appointment in the Wisconsin Wetland Delineation Workshop series are available in conjunction with UWL Extended Learning. We seek an engaging teacher/scholar with a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and with the potential to develop an externally-funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate (M.S.) students.

Description of College / Department / Program / Division / Unit

The Biology Department at UWL values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. We are seeking a colleague who will be a dedicated teacher, active scholar, and inspirational mentor for students with varied backgrounds, preparation, and career goals. Our department’s achievements in teaching and undergraduate research have been recognized through a UW System Regents Teaching Excellence Award, as well as state and national teaching awards to individuals. Additionally, the faculty members in our department have been successful in obtaining external and internal funding to develop productive research programs that involve both undergraduate and graduate students. We work closely with other campus departments, the UWL River Studies Center, and local and regional organizations including the USGS Upper Mississippi Environmental Sciences Center, Army Corps of Engineers, National Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and WiSys (UW System Technology Transfer). Our highly productive and collegial faculty and staff create a supportive atmosphere for professional and personal achievement. Our new Prairie Springs Science Center facilities provide an excellent setting for collaborative research projects.

Required Qualifications

• Candidates for the appointment should have completed a doctoral degree in Botany, Plant Sciences, or another area of the biological sciences involving significant plant-related work by the start date. Degree must be earned by the first personnel review, no later than May 15, 2023;
• Prior teaching experience and herbarium curation experience are required. Research expertise in plant taxonomy or field botany is strongly preferred. Experience in wetland plant biology is preferred but not required. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. The start date is August 29, 2022.

Preferred Qualifications

See required qualifications.

Physical Demands

May sometimes wear safety attire when exposed to or working with contaminants or hazardous materials or conditions.
May need to lift up to 25 lbs on occasion.
Standing for long periods of time.

Working conditions and environment

Have a high level of social contact with students and other faculty.
Generally indoors and in a classroom or laboratory setting.

Miscellaneous Information

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BENEFITS
Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university.
Highlights include:
• excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
• paid holidays and sick days.
• sick leave may be converted at retirement to pay for health insurance post-work at UWL .
• after 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.
• benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.
Learn more at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl20.pdf
Benefit eligibility is determined at point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

INFORMATION ABOUT UW-LA CROSSE AND THE REGION
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-La Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community.


UW-La Crosse’s diversity and inclusion efforts are guided by our adherence to Inclusive Excellence. We define Inclusive Excellence as “… our active, intentional and ongoing commitment to bridge differences with understanding and respect so all can thrive." The goals of Inclusive Excellence are to increase the retention of diverse faculty, staff and students while encouraging a campus climate that is inviting and welcoming to all. UW-La Crosse strives to promote acceptance of all facets of diversity from racial/ethnic diversity to diversity of thought and experience. UW-La Crosse is a 2014 recipient of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity ( HEED ) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. UW-La Crosse is proud to be one of only 83 recipients of this national honor recognizing our commitment to diversity and inclusion.


UW-La Crosse has appeared prominently on the U.S. News & World Report list of “America’s Best Colleges” for more than a decade and is ranked consistently as one of the top institutions in the Midwest. With a student population of approximately 10,500, the university offers 91 undergraduate programs in at least 30 disciplines and 26 graduate programs in three colleges: Liberal Studies, Science and Health, and Business Administration, including the School of Arts & Communication and the School of Education. There are 502 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 76 percent of whom hold terminal degrees. UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 86 percent, graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates.


The UW-La Crosse campus is nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse (pop. 52,000) located in western Wisconsin. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten “Best Places to Live” in 2009, La Crosse is one of the most scenic places in mid-America. Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of a small town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports, and recreation.


UW-La Crosse is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and we encourage applications from persons with varied backgrounds and perspectives. In support of the Wisconsin Veteran Employment Initiative, we encourage veterans and veterans with disabilities to explore employment opportunities at UW-La Crosse.

As a prospective UW-La Crosse employee, you have a right to obtain a copy of campus safety and security information (Clery Act) for this institution. You may review this information athttp://www.uwlax.edu/Police/Annual-Security-Report/ .

Employment will require a criminal background check. A pending criminal charge or conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, UW-La Crosse does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction records.

Duties/Responsibilities

These are the job duties required for the position.

Posting Detail Information

Posting Detail Information

Special Instructions

A complete application will include 1) a cover letter addressing your particular qualifications and interest in our position, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a statement describing how your classroom experience has shaped your approach to teaching, 4) a statement describing your research interests and how your research program at UWL would include undergraduate and M.S. students, 5) unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and 6) the names and contact information of three references (at least one reference should be able to comment on your teaching qualifications). Letters of recommendation may be requested at a later date. Electronic applications should be received by January 3, 2022, to ensure full consideration, although applications will be reviewed until the job is filled.

Note : Electronic submission of application materials is required. For additional information about this position and to apply, please visithttps://employment.uwlax.edu

Please contact the Search and Screen Chair (Dr. Anita Davelos; adavelos@uwlax.edu) if you have a special need/accommodation to aid your participation in our hiring process.

Posting Date

10/29/2021

Close Date

Continuous Recruitment

Yes

Continuous Recruitment First Review Date

01/03/2022

Position Contact Name

Please contact the Search and Screen Chair (Dr. Anita Davelos; adavelos@uwlax.edu) if you have a special need/accommodation to aid your participation in our hiring process.

Position Contact Email

hrinfo@uwlax.edu
Required Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
3. Teaching Philosophy
4. Statement of Research Interests
5. Unofficial UndergraduateTranscripts
6. Unofficial Graduate Transcripts
7. Reference Contact Information

Optional DocumentsSupplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identities of finalists must be revealed upon request. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).
   • I wish for my name to remain confidential until the university is no longer able to do so.
   • I waive my right to keep my name confidential through the application process.
2. * Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? (UW-L and UW System institutions pay for some or all of the sponsorship costs. Some candidates may require an H1B or another form of employment sponsorship to work in the US. This question is asked so that if you are the successful candidate, Human Resources can work with your work unit to begin the process of obtaining this visa).
   • Yes, I will require sponsorship prior to employment.
   • Yes, I will require sponsorship for continued employment if hired.
   • No, I do not require sponsorship and am eligible to work in the US.
3. * Please provide your most recent employer, supervisor name and contact information, including phone number and email address. (Pursuant to UW System Administrative Policy 1275, UW System requires reference checks related to sexual harassment and sexual violence to be conducted at a minimum with a final candidate’s most recent employer and with all previous UW System institution and State of Wisconsin agency employers from the past seven years. UW-L will notify you prior to contacting your supervisor).
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
4. * Are you currently employed by or have you been employed by a UW System institution or a State of Wisconsin agency during the last seven (7) years? Please answer yes or no. If yes, provide the institution or agency name, your supervisor and contact information, including phone number and email address.
   • Yes
   • No
5. * After you retire from a Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) employer, you may return to work with a WRS employer as a rehired annuitant, provided certain requirements are met. There are no restrictions on what type of position a rehired annuitant can hold. Under the WRS, there is no limit to how much you may earn as a rehired annuitant. (Learn more: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/life-events/empcha/ra/). Are you currently collecting an annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System, (WRS)?
   • Yes
   • No
6. * Are you an alum of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
   • Yes
   • No
7. * Were you ever found to have engaged in any sexual violence or sexual harassment in a previous work assignment? (Required under UW System Administrative Policy 1275)
   • Yes
   • No
8. * Are you currently under investigation or have ever left employment during an active investigation in which you were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment? (Required under UW System Administrative Policy 1275)
   • Yes
   • No
9. * Are you legally eligible to work in the United States?
   • Yes
   • No
10. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
    • Chronicle of Higher Education Web Site
    • Discipline-Specific Publication/Web Site
    • HERC Web Site
    • HigherEdJobs.com Web Site
    • Job Center of Wisconsin Web Site
    • Minority Publication/Web Site
    • University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Social Media (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
    • University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Web Site
    • La Crosse Tribune
    • Personal Referral
    • LinkedIn
    • Indeed
    • WinonaDailyNews.com, LaCrosseTribune.com, ChippewaHerald.com, Journaltimes.com, Kenoshanews.com, Madison.com
    • Department of Workforce Development (WISC)
    • Other