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**Internal Only** Director of Paleontological Inst & tenured faculty

Employer
The University of Kansas
Location
Lawrence, KS

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Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Position OverviewThe Biodiversity Institute and the Department of Geology at The University of Kansas invites applications for a supplemental administrative position as the Director of the Paleontological Institute. Candidates must hold a current tenured faculty position at the University of Kansas in a relevant discipline or may hold a joint appointment as a tenured faculty member in a relevant discipline and as a curator in the Biodiversity Institute. Appointment is expected to begin by July 1, 2022.

The successful candidate will: (a) serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology including reading and commenting on all proofs to ensure accuracy and consistency of style, (b) liaise with coordinating authors and their teams to ensure the Treatise is published in a timely manner in all its forms, providing assistance as required, (c) invite new coordinating authors for Treatise revisions and new volumes, providing stimulus to new teams as new projects launch, (d) liaise with paleontological and other societies who support the work of the Treatise project, providing them with review of the work of the Paleontological Institute and obtaining feedback from them, (e) promote the Treatise and related Paleontological Institute projects worldwide, especially through meetings, workshops, and electronic media, and (f) consider future directions for the institute including transitioning to a more fully digitized format. This position receives an academic year administrative supplement of $14,000, as well as summer pay totaling $4,000. This position serves at the pleasure of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
Job DescriptionIf currently 0.5 FTE Associate Professor or Professor in an academic department and 0.5 FTE Associate or Senior Curator in the Biodiversity Institute:
  • 0.5 FTE Associate Professor or Professor
    • 20% Teaching
      • Teach courses as expected by academic department.
      • Develop assignments, administer tests, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades.
      • Hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught.
      • Mentor and advise graduate and undergraduate students.
      • Adhere to departmental, College, and University policies.
    • 20% Research: Conduct significant, scholarly research in academic field to be evaluated by:
      • Scholarly publications.
      • Communication of current research at appropriate professional meetings.
      • Extramural support for research activities.
    • 10% Service: Provide service to the department, College, University, and to the profession.
  • 0.5 FTE Associate Curator or Curator
    • 20% Division Administration and Collection Stewardship
      • Supervise the division’s collection manager, ensuring appropriate practices for:
        • Accession, curation, and conservation of specimens
        • Management of loans of specimens, requests for data, and use of specimens by students and visiting scholars
        • Management of collection data
      • Manage the fiscal resources of the division including annual state allocations and Endowments, if any.
      • Liaise with BI administrators to ensure the physical needs of the division are met.
      • Oversee the care and management of the division’s collections and associated data.
      • Direct the strategic growth of the collection.
      • Develop extramural support for collection improvement projects.
    • 15% Research & Student Mentoring: Curators are expected to maintain a highly productive, collections-based research program in their discipline. It is expected that this research program will be extramurally funded and collaborative. Scholarly activities must include:
        • Scholarly publications in peer-reviewed journals.
        • Communication of current research at appropriate professional meetings.
        • Extramural support for research activities.
        • Development of a nationally recognized graduate/postdoctoral mentorship program.
    • 10% Director of the Paleontological Institute: The Paleontological Institute Director is responsible for oversight of the production of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology:
      • Supervise staff who assist with the Treatise production and order fulfillment.
      • Serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology including reading and commenting on all proofs to ensure accuracy and consistency of style.
      • Liaise with coordinating authors and their teams to ensure the Treatise is published in a timely manner in all its forms, providing assistance as required.
      • Invite new coordinating authors for Treatise revisions and new volumes, providing stimulus to new teams as new projects launch.
      • Liaise with paleontological and other societies who support the work of the Treatise project, providing them with review of the work of the Paleontological Institute and obtaining feedback from them.
      • Promote the Treatise and related Paleontological Institute projects worldwide, especially through meetings, workshops, and electronic media.
      • Consider future directions for the institute including transitioning to a more fully digitized format.
    • 5% Professional Service and Public Outreach: Curators are expected to provide service to the university community, the BI, and to the national and international scientific and biocollections communities. Service to the BI includes, but is not limited to, service on BI committees, shared oversight of common laboratory facilities in the BI, and contribution to the Natural History Museum’s public programs as appropriate. Public outreach includes publications for the popular press, lectures to public and school groups, activities with interest groups, media interviews and news releases, and responses to public inquiries about natural history.

If currently holding a 1.0 FTE appointment as an Associate Professor or Professor in a related academic department within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:
  • 0.9 FTE Associate Professor or Professor
    • 40% Teaching
      • Teach courses as expected by academic department.
      • Develop assignments, administer tests, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades.
      • Hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught.
      • Mentor and advise graduate and undergraduate students.
      • Adhere to departmental, College, and University policies.
    • 40% Research: Conduct significant, scholarly research in academic field to be evaluated by:
      • Scholarly publications.
      • Communication of current research at appropriate professional meetings.
      • Extramural support for research activities.
    • 20% Service: Provide service to the department, College, University, and to the profession.
  • 0.1 FTE Biodiversity Institute
    • 100% Director of the Paleontological Institute
      • The Paleontological Institute Director is responsible for oversight of the production of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology:
      • Supervise staff who assist with the Treatise production and order fulfillment.
      • Serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology including reading and commenting on all proofs to ensure accuracy and consistency of style.
      • Liaise with coordinating authors and their teams to ensure the Treatise is published in a timely manner in all its forms, providing assistance as required.
      • Invite new coordinating authors for Treatise revisions and new volumes, providing stimulus to new teams as new projects launch.
      • Liaise with paleontological and other societies who support the work of the Treatise project, providing them with review of the work of the Paleontological Institute and obtaining feedback from them.
      • Promote the Treatise and related Paleontological Institute projects worldwide, especially through meetings, workshops, and electronic media.
      • Consider future directions for the institute including transitioning to a more fully digitized format.
Required Qualifications
  1. Ph.D. in appropriate discipline.
  2. Current tenured faculty appointment at the University of Kansas.
  3. Previous administrative experience leading a unit and/or managing a research group or lab.
  4. National recognition in research, as demonstrated by a record of refereed publications, external funding, professional service, and scientific leadership.
Additional Candidate InstructionsFor complete announcement and application instructions, go to https://employment.ku.edu/academic/21974BR. A complete application will include the following document with your on-line application profile:
  • A letter of application outlining interest in and qualifications for the position
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Contact information for three professional references
In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less.
  • Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Initial review of applications will begin May 23, 2022 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants has been obtained. Contact Information to ApplicantsJaime Keeler
Biodiversity Institute
jrkeeler@ku.edu Application Review Begins23-May-2022 Anticipated Start Date01-Jul-2022

Organization

Working at the University of Kansas 

Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.

The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.  

The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.

KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

The University of Kansas is committed to a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our nation and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands that our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction. KU must be a place where all people feel they belong and have access to resources and support that help them attain their educational and professional goals.

We recognize there are inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences by race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. And we hold ourselves accountable for policies, processes and programs that appreciate these and other differences and create more fair, safe and just learning, working and living environments for KU students, faculty and staff.

Instruction 

KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.

Research 

The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.

Service 

The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.

International Dimension 

KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.

Values 

The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.

Our City and State 

KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.

Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.

Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.

Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.

Making KU Your Home 

Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.

At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.

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