Tenure Track Faculty – Microbiology

Tenure Track Faculty – Microbiology

The Department of Biology at James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor with specific expertise in microbiology. This is a full-time position with an anticipated, negotiable start date of August 2022. A Ph.D. in microbiology or a related area by the appointment date is required. The successful candidate will join a thriving community of more than 50 biologists with broad subdisciplinary diversity and will preferably further expand this diversity through expertise in archaea, astrobiology, bioremediation, mycology, synthetic biology, virology or other areas within microbiology that are not currently well represented in our department. (Details about existing faculty research expertise are available here: https://www.jmu.edu/biology/graduate/research-opportunities.shtml) They also will be expected to mentor bachelor’s and master’s students in microbiology-related research and to contribute to our large-enrollment introductory microbiology lecture/lab course. Collaborative scholarship with other faculty members within and beyond the department is encouraged, as is involvement in upper-division classroom-based research experiences in the candidate’s area of scholarly expertise. The College of Science and Mathematics offers a minor in data analytics and seeks candidates who could connect the data analytics and microbiology curricula.

The Department currently offers M.S., B.A., and B.S. degrees in Biology and in collaboration with other departments, a B.S. in Biotechnology. Biology majors may elect to enroll in the Microbiology concentration. This concentration includes numerous classroom-based research experiences in microbiology; it provides the structure for a small community of microbiology students and faculty within a large department. In addition to major courses, the department provides microbiology courses to support undergraduate programs in several allied health programs and the university’s general education curriculum.

The Department of Biology is housed in the modern 90,000 ft2 Bioscience building, with numerous facilities to support the scholarly and educational pursuits of faculty and students. These include a state-of-the-art Light Microscopy and Imaging Facility, the Center for Genome and Metagenome Studies (CGEMS), and BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Expectations of the position include establishing and maintaining an externally funded research program that includes mentoring and publishing with student co-authors, as well as involvement in our large-enrollment introductory microbiology course. The successful applicant will have opportunities to develop upper division microbiology courses with an emphasis on classroom-based undergraduate research experiences.

The Department of Biology is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment that will allow us to recruit and retain a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students; the successful candidate will be expected to adopt these principles in their teaching, mentorship, scholarship, and service to the institution. Applicants must address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, and student-centered research statement, as described in the relevant section below.

Qualifications:
Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in microbiology or a related area, potential for scholarly impact/research productivity involving undergraduate students, and potential for and an expressed interest in effective teaching primarily at the undergraduate level. Diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are core principles that shape our curriculum, scholarship, and culture. Applicants must articulate the value they place on these principles and describe any prior experiences that support their ongoing commitment to them.

In addition, preferred applicants will have subdisciplinary expertise that broadens that of the department, a demonstrated commitment to mentorship of students in research, evidence of scholarly impact/research productivity, and evidence of effective teaching.

To learn more and to apply, visit https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/10601 or go to joblink.jmu.edu and reference posting F1753. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Review of applications begins 12/6/2021 and the position will remain open until filled.

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.