Open Rank Faculty Position in Life Sciences

Building on a successful multiyear initiative to hire, support, and retain leading research scientists with a strong commitment to promoting the success of underrepresented students, the Division of Life Sciences in the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences announces an open rank faculty position with a tenure-track, Academic Senate appointment in one of the departments of Life Sciences (www.lifesciences.ucla.edu). The departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Integrative Biology and Physiology; Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics; Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology; Institute for Society and Genetics, and Psychology are all partnering in this search, as are many associated research institutes. Candidates must have a PhD in a field relevant to one of the above departments and a history of commitment to the mentorship of students from underrepresented and underserved populations in addition to an outstanding record of scholarly publications and grant funding. The successful candidate will be expected to continue their active research program and their participation in mentoring activities to support our diverse student body, with particular focus on students and trainees from underrepresented groups. Service and teaching expectations will not exceed those of any other tenure track faculty position. Faculty appointment at the level of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor will be appropriate to the applicant’s academic standing. We highly encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with a commitment to mentoring underrepresented groups in the sciences. UCLA offers competitive salaries, research set-up funds, and recruitment allowances as well as a thriving community of scholars committed to mutually supporting one another.

Located in an urban setting, UCLA has been named the number one public university in the nation by US News and World Report for the last four years. UCLA is California's largest university with a diverse student body of 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students, approximately 25% of whom are members of underrepresented minority groups. UCLA is known both for its excellence in research and education and is home to a number of NIH, NSF, and HHMI funded training programs focused on increasing success for underrepresented students in science, medical, and allied health fields, and currently serves as the coordinating center for NIH BUILD grants. The UCLA College of Letters and Science promotes excellence in STEM teaching through the Center for Education Innovation & Learning in the Sciences and is home to many innovative programs that provide research and professional development opportunities for our diverse undergraduate student body such as PEERS (Program for Excellence in Education & Research in Sciences), MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers), the UCLA-HHMI Pathways to Success program, and COMPASS-Life Sciences (Center for Opportunities to Maximize Participation, Access, and Student Success). Additionally, there are numerous programs to support the success of a diverse community of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty. The Life Sciences is one of the fastest growing divisions within the College of Letters and Sciences, with a proportionate growth in student diversity.

Application packages should be submitted online through  https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF05899  and include the following documents: 1) a curriculum vita; 2) a research statement; 3) a statement of contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion with particular attention to formal and informal mentoring activities and detailed plans for continuing such activities in the future; 4) a statement of teaching interests; and 5) a cover letter that includes the names of three referees who can be contacted for letters. Each of the five items should be submitted as a standalone document. Review of applications will begin on November 13, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. Both inquiries about the position and nominations of potential candidates should be sent to search committee chair: Professor Gina Poe (ginapoe@ucla.edu).

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, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy. (http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct).