One-year, Fixed Term, Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology

Company Description

Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds. The trademark of an Augsburg education is its emphasis on direct, personal experience. Guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.

Among the distinctive features of the university are its deep dedication to civic and community engagement, robust undergraduate research programs, and a strong belief in the integration of liberal arts and professional studies across all programs. The University's commitments to our urban context and the world beyond it are enhanced through the work of four signature centers: the Christensen Center for Vocation, the Center for Global Education and Experience, the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. 

As part of Augsburg University's commitment to intentional diversity, 50% of our current student body identifies as Black, Indigenous, and persons of color. The emerging interdisciplinary Department of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies builds on this foundation to further diversify our academic curriculum and co-curricular programs. We do this work out of historical and contemporary obligations rooted in our ethical and intellectual commitments to prepare our diverse student body for a cosmopolitan world.

Augsburg's Statement of Commitment on Equity

We believe that education is the key to healthy, meaningful and productive lives for individuals, as well as to the vibrancy of our democracy. Augsburg University is dedicated to achieving an educational experience free from the barriers of poverty, racism, and discrimination so that students can fully realize their unique gifts. Recognizing that higher education's democratic promise is compromised by systemic and systematic barriers to college access and completion, Augsburg is called to stand for equity in everything we do to fulfill our academic mission, serve our students and engage our fellow citizens.

Job Description

The Biology Department at Augsburg University is hiring for a one-year, fixed-term appointment at the level of Visiting Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will teach a combination of lectures and labs in the introductory sequence and upper-division courses that need to be staffed. The Biology Department at Augsburg University is housed in the modern Hagfors Center where we serve nearly 300 biology, biopsychology and biochemistry majors and minors. We also teach several service courses for non-majors. The Department enrolls a diverse group of engaged students, many of whom seek to enter the healthcare, research, nonprofits, and biotechnology sectors. You will join a group of five full-time faculty, several of whom maintain active research labs with undergraduate researchers, and several adjunct instructors, all of whom are passionate about teaching. 

The teaching load for this appointment is 7/8 units, while scholarship comprises 1/8 units. One 4-credit course is 1 unit and most labs are 0.5 or 0.67 units. A typical load will be composed of a combination of lectures and lab sections to achieve 3.5 teaching units per semester. The Introductory Labs are prepared by our Lab Manager and core lab materials that are already prepared are used by all lab sections. Support for teaching is provided by the Biology Department and the Office of Faculty Development along with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

Qualifications

• PhD or ABD. Doctoral candidates will be considered if the doctorate will be completed by August 2024. Post-doctoral/industrial experience, and/or previous college-level teaching experience preferred.   

• Experience working in an academic community committed to mentoring undergraduates and intentional diversity. Candidates are thus encouraged to highlight skills and experiences that demonstrate intercultural competence.

Additional Information

Application Instructions and Requirements

To apply for this position, please upload the following documents:

• Cover letter –Describe your commitment to teaching biology at the undergraduate level and express your interest in Augsburg University.     

• Teaching Philosophy and evidence of inclusive teaching across the undergraduate curriculum.

• A ~2-page plan to leverage scholarship/skills to provide professional growth to Augsburg’s diverse body of students.

• Complete curriculum vitae

• Copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts

Official transcripts are required at the time of hire.

As part of the online application process, you will be