Texas Christian University seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Biology beginning as early as January of 2013. Minimum of Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences is required. The successful candidate will be expected to: i) participate in team-taught courses for Biology majors/pre-health students, ii) teach an upper-level physiology course and develop a second upper-level specialty course, iii) conduct advanced cellular and molecular research in an area of physiology, iv) participate on the health professions committee, and v) provide academic advising of pre-health students.

Review of Applications will begin September 24.

Specific application directions, a more complete job description and information about the Department and TCU can be found below.

TCU is an EEO/AA employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. The search committee is chaired by Dr. Matt Chumchal (m.m.chumchal@tcu.edu).

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS

Applications must be submitted electronically through the TCU Human Resources system at https://tcu.igreentree.com/CSS_Faculty. Note: The system is not compatible with the Safari browser. To locate this position click on "Find Openings" and then select "Science and Engineering Positions". To apply submit a letter of application, CV, separate research and teaching statements that describe your interests, objectives and experience, and contact information for three references. Additionally,three confidential letters of recommendation should be sent from the reviewer to Jacqulyn Curry (j.curry@tcu.edu).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE POSITION

A. START DATE: January or August 2013.

B. TENTATIVE TEACHING

The Department and University will provide funds for the development and modification of courses. The Department of Biology’s philosophy is to phase in new faculty teaching loads over a period of 2-3 years, limiting new course preps to one per semester when possible. This approach gives new faculty time to establish their research lab while developing rigorous and stimulating courses. The successful candidate’s teaching schedule is subject to Departmental needs and the candidate’s expertise but an example schedule appears below.

1st year (one upper level course per semester)

An upper-level three- or four-hour course with a laboratory. The course should have a biomedical emphasis, appeal to pre-health students and be developed after consultation with the Departmental Chair. This course would be taught once per academic year.

An upper-level, 3-hour, lecture only animal physiology course. This course will supersede the Mammalian Physiology (Biol. 40403) course currently offered by the Department (see http://catalog.tcu.edu/current_year/undergraduate/ for the undergraduate catalogue that includes the complete biology curriculum). The successful candidate has the option of modifying the current Mammalian Physiology course as desired. This course would be taught once per academic year.

2nd year

The first four semesters of introductory courses in our Department are team taught with 3-5 faculty members participating in each course. Responsibilities to begin the 2nd year could include:

Participation in the team-taught Introductory Biology (Biol. 10504 or 10514) course for Biology Majors. Responsibilities will include giving lectures and developing labs.

Participation in the team-taught Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology (Biol. 30603) course for Biology Majors. Responsibilities will include giving lectures in the candidate’s specialty area.

B. RESEARCH

The successful candidate’s research should fall into a broadly defined area of physiology and ideally also employ cellular/molecular methodologies. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an active research program that results in publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific meetings. Attempts to seek extramural and intramural funding of research projects are expected. Extramural funding is highly desirable but not necessary for tenure. Several competitive intramural programs provide limited funds to support research. A start-up package will be offered to allow the successful applicant to engage in productive research.

C. SERVICE

The successful candidate will serve on the Health Professions Advisory Committee (see www.prehealth.tcu.edu) and engage in the full activities of that committee, including advising pre-health students, conducting mock interviews of medical- and dental-school applicants and participating in the committee deliberations used to formulate letters of evaluation. This activity would begin Fall 2014.

TCU, THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND FORT WORTH

A. About TCU:

TCU is committed to both teaching and research within the personalized atmosphere of a smaller college. Located in the economically stable and expanding Fort Worth/Dallas area and occupying a prominent position in the community, TCU offers the opportunity for participation in enriching personal and professional activities both on and off campus. Construction and refurbishment of facilities into state-of-the-art learning environments, a commitment to relevance and educating students to make a difference in the world, and nationally-ranked athletic programs have created an excitement and vibrancy on campus that led to TCU being named to US News and World Report's Top 20 "Up-and-coming National Universities". TCU is among the universities "making the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty and student life.”

See www.tcu.edu and www.tcu.edu/at-a-glance.asp for comprehensive information about TCU.

B. About the Department of Biology:

We are a student-centered department that is committed to the teacher-scholar model. Teaching is central to our department’s mission; we hire faculty who are passionate about teaching and highly trained in their area of teaching specialty. We train our majors broadly across all areas of biology from the biomedical to the ecological using an evolution-centered curriculum.

Research plays a major role in the professional life of our tenure-track faculty. Our research programs support our teaching mission and allow us to expose students to the process of science when they conduct research in our labs.

Advising and mentoring students is a critical part of our mission. Faculty members have an open-door policy to students, and students feel comfortable meeting with faculty outside of designated office hours.

Our department’s curriculum and all faculty-related policies have been developed via consensus of the faculty. We work together as a team, with the utmost respect and appreciation for all types and ways of contributing to our students and their success. Collegiality and teamwork are a hallmark of our department.

The Biology Department is housed in Winton Scott Hall, which has undergone recent, multi-million dollar renovations such that both research and teaching facilities are state of the art. Our labs are well equipped for a relatively small department, with DNA sequencing, confocal and electron microscopy, real-time PCR and many other capabilities. TCU’s library, including on-line resources and personnel, is considered a strength by the Biology faculty.

C. About Fort Worth (see http://www.fortworth.com/about-fort-worth/ for more details.)

As the nation’s 16th-largest city, Fort Worth combines a small-town feel with the amenities of a large city. Home to a cultural district that includes one of the finest art museums in the southwest (the Kimble Art Museum) and the world-class Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth’s proximity to Dallas presents a plethora of cultural and entertainment opportunities. TCU is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, and the cost of living in Fort Worth is 11% lower than the national average, which is one reason Fort Worth is currently ranked as the fourth best city in the U.S. for relocation (http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/americas_top_relocate_cities.aspx)