Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has opened a full-time, in-person, Postdoctoral Scholar position under the direction of Dr. Elisabeth Schussler (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology [EEB]). The position is affiliated with an exciting new College of Arts and Sciences initiative to support a culture of innovative teaching across the unit. This 3-year project will engage with faculty across the College to identify teaching values, pedagogical practices aligned with those values, and mechanisms to assess those practices. The Postdoc will spend 50% of their time working with Dr. Schussler on the research side of the project; the other 50% of time will be apportioned to teaching in either EEB or General Biology. General Biology courses could include (Organismal or Cellular or Genetics); EEB courses could include Ecology and Society or Perspectives in Ecology and Evolution. A 50% teaching assignment typically entails one large or two small lecture classes per semester.

The position is funded by the College, but the Scholar will work in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, joining a lab of three graduate students working with Dr. Schussler on Biology Education research projects. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, sits on the Eastern side of the state, nestled between the Cumberland Mountains and the Smoky Mountains. The Smoky Mountain National Park is less than an hour’s drive from Knoxville. Knoxville is a dynamic mid-sized city that is located three hours from Nashville and Atlanta, with airport service to several hubs. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is one of the premiere EEB departments in the nation, with numerous faculty, graduate students, and postdocs engaged in exciting research and committed to quality teaching.

The position appointment is for one-year initially, with a maximum length of three years. The starting salary is $45,000 with benefits. There are funds for conference travel. The start date will be August 1, 2022.

The ideal candidate for this position will hold a Ph.D or equivalent in the biological sciences or ecology and evolutionary biology, with a specialty in Biology Education research. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be necessary to enact this project, so experience with each is ideal. The candidate should have demonstrated teaching excellence and experience with innovative, high-quality pedagogical practices.

The review of applications will begin on March 31, 2022 and will continue until a candidate is selected. Applicants should submit (as a single pdf file) a cover letter describing their interest in and experience related to the position, CV, a teaching statement, a research statement describing their education research experience, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can serve as references. Questions can be emailed to eschussl@utk.edu.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.