Assistant Professor - Cell Biologist

Assistant Professor - Cell Biologist

Brief Summary of Work for this Position
The Department of Biology and Marine Biology http://www.uncw.edu/bio/ at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) invites applications for a 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor position in Cell Biology starting August 2023.

The successful applicant is expected to develop and maintain a nationally recognized, extramurally-funded research program that provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, and other research team positions (such as post-doctoral researchers) as appropriate. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the Department’s teaching mission at both the graduate and undergraduate level in core areas of cell Biology, and other courses depending on individual expertise and departmental needs. The successful applicant will also contribute to departmental and university service.

The successful candidate will join a department with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence and will be expected to contribute actively to these efforts. Our department actively fosters a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. 

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Biology or related discipline by August 2023, have postdoctoral experience or other professional research experience at the time of appointment, and strong potential for excellence in teaching.

The department is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their teaching and service, to building and sustaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive academic community.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Research focus areas we are especially interested in include, but are not limited to, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology.

We seek applicants able to complement existing disciplinary strengths, develop regional research, and leverage existing UNCW facilities.

Primary Function of Organizational Unit
The Department of Biology and Marine Biology 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.

In the pursuit of excellence, our department 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.

The department has an excellent record of faculty development and mentorship, and is committed to assisting new faculty to succeed. 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 and at the nearby Myrtle Grove Campus located on the Intracoastal Waterway. Unique advantages at UNCW include the Center for Marine Science, Shellfish Research Hatchery, Richard Dillaman Microscopy Facility, Marine Biotechnology Center, Oriole Burevitch Large Animal Necropsy Facility, and UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program.

College/School Information
The College of Arts and Sciences is UNCW’s largest academic unit and awards approximately two-thirds of the university’s academic credits. Ours is a comprehensive arts and 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.

University Information
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

Please apply online at https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/26136 

Special Notes to Applicants
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.

Applications will be accepted until the posting closing date. Applicants are required to submit the following items in Adobe PDF or MS Word format online at https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/26136:

  1. A cover letter
  2. A teaching philosophy statement (2 pages maximum)
  3. Research summary – A statement of research (2 pages maximum)
  4. Statement of diversity and inclusion – A statement that addresses how their cultural, experiential, or academic background contributes to building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment (2 pages maximum)
  5. A curriculum vitae
  6. Contact information for a minimum of three professional references. References will be requested during the screening process.

If needed, applicants may upload additional materials under the Other category.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Rachel Gentry (gentryrc@uncw.edu), while questions regarding the position can be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Art Frampton (framptona@uncw.edu)

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. 

Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.