Department: Biology & Marine Biology - 32310

Brief Summary of Work for this position:

The Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is seeking a nine-month tenure track Assistant Professor in Biological Oceanography beginning August 2021.

The successful applicant will contribute to teaching the undergraduate Marine Biology course, the graduate Biological Oceanography course, and other courses, depending on individual expertise and departmental needs.

The successful applicant will contribute to departmental and university service, and is expected to maintain a rigorous, extramurally funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Biology, Biological Oceanography or related discipline at the time of appointment and must have postdoctoral experience or other professional teaching/research experience at the time of appointment.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience :

An ability to work in our regional coastal system.

Required Certifications or Licensure:

No Required Certifications or Licensure

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The Biology and Marine Biology Department supports both an excellent undergraduate program, with an emphasis on hands-on involvement of undergraduates in research and other activities, as well as nationally recognized Master's Programs. We also have a Ph.D. in Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology that takes advantage of the wide array of local coastal and offshore habitats and the facilities of the Center for Marine Science, located 6 miles from the main university campus. We have an active faculty involved in a variety of research interests including molecular biology and systematics, coastal and estuarine ecology, invertebrate and vertebrate biology, and environmental biology.

Modern Biology increasingly impacts the non-scientific world, facilitating solutions to technological, environmental, ethical, philosophical and political issues that are important to society. The Department of Biology and Marine Biology at UNCW strives to train the next generation of scientists and educators, and prepare all students to make sound judgments based on a solid foundation of biological principles. The department provides an environment in which excellent teaching coupled with diverse research opportunities encourage our faculty to become leaders in their discipline.

Our teaching emphasizes current theories of biological science, knowledge of basic investigative skills, and methods of critical inquiry. Our research programs, in both applied and basic aspects of discovery, value investigations of biological phenomena that impact the quality of life in our region and beyond. We lend our professional expertise to all endeavors that work for the improvement of the human condition and our environment. We believe the importance of modern biological principles must transcend the university classroom and enable our students to contribute as global citizens.

The department has an excellent record of faculty development and mentorship, and is committed to fostering new faculty success. The department is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community (see https://uncw.edu/bio/sand_home.html). Graduate curricula in the department include M.S. programs in Biology and Marine Biology, as well as a Ph.D. program in Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology. Excellent support for research is provided in departmental facilities on campus (http://www.uncw.edu/bio/) and at the CREST Research Park (http://uncw.edu/CREST/), including the Center for Marine Science, Shellfish Research Hatchery, and Marine Biotechnology Center.

College/School Information:

The College of Arts and Sciences is UNCW's largest academic unit, employing 450 full-time and 150 part-time faculty members and awarding approximately two-thirds of the university's academic credits. Ours is a comprehensive arts & sciences college comprising the arts, the humanities, the mathematical and natural sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences.
The College's twenty-five units offer a variety of undergraduate majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Music, and the Bachelor of Science. The College also offers a full complement of minors, including interdisciplinary minors such as Africana studies, Asian studies, Forensic studies, Latin America studies, Middle East & Islamic studies, Native-American studies, and Women's and Gender studies, among others.
Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in the College of Arts and Sciences. Each of the College's departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations. Through applied learning, students in the College gain direct hands-on experience with the skills of their major fields as an essential part of their preparation for life and career.
In addition to its undergraduate major and minor programs, the College is chiefly responsible for the curriculum that comprises the UNCW's University Studies Program, through which all UNCW undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. The College strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, diversity and inclusion, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, College of Arts and Sciences students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives.
Graduate degrees awarded in the College of Arts and Sciences include the Master of Arts, the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy (Marine Biology and Psychology). In addition, the nationally awarded Graduate Liberal Studies program offers a personalized curriculum of interdisciplinary study leading to the Master of Arts. Post-baccalaureate certificates in Applied Statistics, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science, Conflict Management and Resolution, Gender Studies and Hispanic Studies are available. Graduate programs in the College are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

Applicant Instructions:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

The Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Biological Oceanography, beginning August 2021. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute broadly to the Department's teaching mission at both the graduate and undergraduate level, including courses in marine biology and biological oceanography, and to departmental and university service. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a related field; demonstrated success at securing external funding; and have postdoctoral experience or other professional teaching/research experience at the time of appointment. Successful applicants will be expected to maintain a rigorous, extramurally-funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students, with a preference for an ability to work in our regional coastal system.

Graduate curricula in the department include M.S. programs in Biology and Marine Biology, as well as a Ph.D. program in Interative, Comparative and Marine Biology. Preference will be given to candidates able to complement existing disciplinary strengths, develop regional research and leverage departmental facilities (http://www.uncw.edu/bio/). Excellent support for research is provided on campus and at the CREST Research Park (http://uncw.edu/CREST/), including the Center for Marine Science, Shellfish Research Hatchery, and Biotechnology Center.

The department has an excellent record of faculty development and mentorship, and is committed to fostering new faculty success. The department is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to building and sustaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive academic community (see https://uncw.edu/bio/sand_home.html).

To apply, complete the online application available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/
by electronically submitting separately:
(1) Cover Letter – a letter of application
(2) Teaching Philosophy – statement of teaching philosophy
(3) Research Summary – statement of research interests with particular attention to the applicant's fit to this department
(4) Statement on Diversity and Inclusion – a statement that addresses how their cultural, experiential, and/or academic background contributes to building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment
(5) Curriculum Vitae. MS Word or Adobe PDF attachments are required.

Please note that a minimum of three professional references are required for all applications. References will be requested during the screening process.

For questions about the position, contact the Search Chair, Dr. Martin Posey (poseym@uncw.edu). For questions about the online application process, contact Ms. Rachel Gentry (gentryrc@uncw.edu). Posting will close 11:59pm EST March 24, 2021.

UNCW Diversity and Inclusion Statement
In the pursuit of excellence, the University of North Carolina Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Diversity is an educational benefit that enhances the academic experience, and fosters a free exchange of ideas from multiple perspectives.

Diversity includes, but is not limited to race, sex, age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran's status, gender, educational disadvantage, socio-economic circumstances, language, and history of overcoming adversity.

Purpose of the Biology and Marine Biology diversity statement:
In addition to excellence in teaching and research, the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at UNCW is committed to building an educational environment that promotes equity, inclusion, and diversity. We are therefore interested in faculty who share that commitment, and are willing will engage, through teaching, research, mentoring, leadership, community outreach or service, to promoting campus diversity and equity efforts. In completing your diversity statement, you are welcome to provide your own unique perspectives on past experiences and/or, present skills, and in particular, your future aspirations to enhance diversity in this position. This statement is an integral part of your application package and the committee values and welcomes all voices.

Additional information is on The Department's Diversity and Inclusion resources webpage https://uncw.edu/bio/sand_home.html. More about UNCW Diversity and Inclusion efforts can be found here https://uncw.edu/diversity/about.html and the Chancellor's Campus Climate Initiative can be accessed here: https://uncw.edu/campusclimate/ . Resources and events developed by the UNCW Racial Justice Learning Community can be found here: https://uncw.edu/cte/antiracismresources/index.html

AA/EEO Statement:

At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), our culture reflects our values of inclusion, diversity, globalization, ethics and integrity and innovation and we are committed to providing equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs. UNCW believes that embracing the unique contributions of our faculty, staff and students is critical to our success and paramount in being recognized for our global mindset.