Tenure-Track Teaching Faculty Position - Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and College of Creative Studies

POSITION OVERVIEW

Salary range: The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. Please reference Table 1 for the salary range. A reasonable estimate for this position is $90,000 -$140,000. “Offscale salaries”, i.e. a salary that is higher than the published system-wide minimum salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100% (50% CCS and 50% MCDB)

Anticipated start: July 1, 2024

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: December 14, 2023

Next review date: Monday, Jan 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Sunday, Jun 30, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The College of Creative Studies (CCS) and the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of California Santa Barbara jointly invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Teaching Professor, also known as a Lecturer with Potential Security of Employment (LPSOE), with an anticipated appointment start date of July 1, 2024 and course instruction anticipated to start September 28, 2024. Faculty in this title are members of the Academic Senate, with benefits and privileges that parallel the traditional professor track. The successful appointment will be evenly split between CCS and MCDB.

CCS and MCDB are looking for exceptional individuals with expertise in molecular and cellular biology, capable of teaching both lower and upper division undergraduate classes. Mentorship of undergraduate students is also a very significant component of the position. In addition to teaching and teaching related activities and mentorship, additional responsibilities
of teaching faculty will include professional and/or scholarly achievement and creative activity (particularly relating to instruction and pedagogy) and participation in university and public service. Additional duties will include general advising, student admissions and program coordination and assessment. The Teaching Professor will work with faculty colleagues and staff to enhance curriculum, course design, and pedagogy within CCS and MCDB, as well as with faculty in other departments.

The successful candidate will contribute to efforts to update courses through evidence-based pedagogical approaches. They will implement inclusive pedagogical methods and develop new assessment strategies that promote success of students from diverse backgrounds and levels of preparation. They will provide evidence of a strong potential for scholarly impact based on previous engagement in pedagogical professional development, discipline-based education research, and instructional innovation, as well as a commitment to the department’s climate through a record of productive collaborations and positive engagement with CCS and MCDB colleagues and peers.

CCS is a small undergraduate college designed for self-directed students in the sciences and humanities within a world-class research university. It maintains a strong focus on undergraduate research and creative activities, presently hosts nine majors, and offers a BA in Biological Sciences. Further information on CCS can be found at www.ccs.ucsb.edu. MCDB is a large department in the Division of Life, Math and Physical Sciences in the College of Letters and Sciences, and offers undergraduate B.S. degrees in Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Pharmacology, in addition to a more general B.S. or B.A. Biological Sciences major. MCDB also confers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Further information on MCDB can be found at www.mcdb.ucsb.edu.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

CCS and MCDB are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching and service.

UC Santa Barbara values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to hiring faculty who support these values. UC Santa Barbara is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), with a high proportion of first-generation students. The successful candidate will clearly articulate an understanding of the barriers facing individuals from groups that are underrepresented in STEM and higher education and will leverage innovative teaching practices to reduce gaps among students from different educational backgrounds. We seek candidates with experience in equity and diversity in teaching, mentoring, research, life experiences, or service towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment. Activities that promote equity and inclusion at the university will be recognized as an important component of university service during the faculty promotion process.

In 2023-24, a wide array of UC Santa Barbara departments is partnering with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to launch a special faculty recruitment initiative named after Benjamin Banneker, the 18th-century African American mathematician, astronomer, anti-racist, engineer, ecologist, and peace advocate. Funded by an Advancing Faculty Diversity grant from the UC Office of the President, with the goal of diversifying faculty, research, and curriculum in STEM (and related) fields, the Banneker Initiative aims to recruit scholars, scientists, and engineers whose disciplinary and interdisciplinary work would take place within the community of interests exemplified by Banneker’s intellectual, ethical, and social commitments as an African American scientist. Applicants may be eligible to be fellows in the Benjamin Banneker Initiative. The community of Banneker Fellows will receive funding for cohort building and professional development activities, including enrollment in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Faculty Success Program, proposal writing training, and seed grants.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Ph.D. in Molecular or Cellular Biosciences or a closely related field at the time of application.

Preferred qualifications

The successful candidate should be a skilled instructor with experience in teaching, who is familiar with evidence-based pedagogy and learning assessment methodologies and is innovative and entrepreneurial with respect to developing instructional initiatives. A demonstrable commitment to teaching excellence is essential.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter - To facilitate unbiased review of applications, on a single page with reasonable formatting, please concisely introduce us to your research question and highlight your unique qualifications.

• Statement of Teaching and Mentoring Philosophy - (1-2 page maximum) - This document should outline your teaching philosophy and approaches to instruction. How do your past instructional duties or training inform your teaching approaches and use of evidence-based instructional techniques?

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity - (2 page maximum) - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of DEI activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at UC Santa Barbara. Additionally, you can share how your experiences or values might enhance the diversity of CCS and the MCDB department.

• Statement of Research (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Applicants should provide the names and contact information of 3-5 references and must request letters of reference within the system in order to complete application requirements

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02651

Help contact: rosavasquez@ucsb.edu

ABOUT UC SANTA BARBARA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

JOB LOCATION

Santa Barbara, California