The Department of Biology Teaching and Learning is starting a search to fill a new Teaching Assistant Professor position in the Department, focusing on candidates who wish to begin a long-term career in teaching and instruction.  Please feel free to disseminate this position to anyone who may be interested and meets our search criteria!

Summary of Position:

The Department of Biology Teaching and Learning has an open position for 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 Biology Teaching and Learning is to provide high-quality biology instruction in introductory biology courses delivered in-person or online. The successful candidate will have expertise in undergraduate-level biology with an emphasis on physiology or an emphasis in ecology, evolution, or population biology.  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.

Essential and Other Functions:

80% Teaching

1. Instructional duties:  Focus on introductory biology courses with an emphasis on physiology or on ecology, evolution, or population biology.  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:  Focus on introductory biology courses with an emphasis on physiology or on ecology, evolution, or population biology.  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. 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 instructor of record or functional equivalent

- Demonstrated experience with active learning approaches to undergraduate instruction

Preferred Qualifications:

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

- Preference will be given to candidates with a background in physiology or in ecology, evolution, or population biology.

- 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 Department

The University of Minnesota has a national reputation in biology teaching and educational research. To build on existing strengths, theDepartment 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 Biology Teaching and Learning values 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.  The Department’s full DEI statement is available at:https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/btl/about-btl/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 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 deadline is June 5, 2022 with Zoom interviews the week of June 13, 2022. 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.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/347611

Job number: 347611

Application deadline is June 5, 2022 with Zoom interviews the week of June 13, 2022.