Assistant Professor, Evolutionary Biology

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Job Description Summary

The Wake Forest University Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Biology who studies biodiversity and evolution of multicellular organisms in natural systems over long time scales. Areas of research could include phenotypic or genetic character evolution, evolutionary change within a focal lineage, and broader comparative patterns of change among lineages. We hope to enhance our department’s expertise in plant, animal, and fungal systems, and in related tools such as comparative methods, phylogenetic analysis, and digital morphometric analysis.

Job Description:

Wake Forest Biology is a welcoming community committed to fostering diversity and achieving inclusive excellence in teaching and research. We seek colleagues who will share in our commitment. In pursuit of this, we strongly encourage applications from individuals from traditionally underrepresented and historically marginalized populations. The successful candidate will develop a thriving extramural research program that complements existing strengths in the Biology Department and enhances undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training. We seek a teacher-scholar with a strong commitment to engaging students both in the classroom and through research mentorship at the undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. levels. Faculty will teach in the undergraduate core curriculum and will develop a specialized course suitable for advanced undergraduates and/or graduate students. Teaching responsibilities are consistent with our departmental commitment to research.

Faculty in the Department of Biology maintain long-term research programs in evolution and ecology across a range of focal scales, species, and systems, from viral molecular evolution to whole ecosystem change. Our existing departmental strengths in evolution and ecology are expected to be enhanced further in the coming years by several new hires in these disciplines. Outside the department, opportunities exist for collaboration with researchers from Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and the Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability.

The Department of Biology has a strong commitment to training at all levels, including full-stipend support M.S. and Ph.D. programs. The quality of the undergraduate and graduate teaching environments is outstanding, and our faculty combine commitment to that mission with nationally and internationally recognized leadership in research. The Biology Department spans two WFU campuses (Reynolda Campus and Wake Downtown), and offers many shared facilities in support of research, including an herbarium, greenhouse, animal care facilities, and fully staffed microscopy facility. For more information about the department, visit biology.wfu.edu. Wake Forest University is an hour from the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains and a short drive from the Atlantic Ocean and offers excellent opportunities for developing a local field research program. Our colleagues in the Research Triangle and many other research universities are within easy driving distance.

To apply, go to hr.wfu.edu/careers and select Faculty Openings. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with review starting on October 15, 2022. Applications should include (i) a cover letter addressing motivation to join our teacher-scholar community (limit 1 page), (ii) a curriculum vitae (no page limit), (iii) a concise statement of past research activities and future directions (limit 3 pages), (iv) a statement of graduate and undergraduate teaching philosophy (limit 2 pages), and (v) a statement of how the applicant has demonstrated an ability or commitment to foster diversity and inclusion through teaching, research, and/or mentorship (limit 2 pages). We welcome statements that demonstrate integrative and collaborative approaches to science that would complement ongoing research within our scientifically diverse department. Letters of recommendation are not required at the time of submission. Selected applicants will be asked later to provide three letters of recommendation. All documents should be compiled as a single PDF file and submitted via hr.wfu.edu/careers. Inquiries about the application process and document submission should be directed to wakejobs@wfu.edu. Direct questions about the position to the Chair of the Search Committee, James Pease (evobiosearch@wfu.edu).

Additional Job Description

Wake Forest was recently rated the top employer in North Carolina by Forbes Magazine. Wake Forest University welcomes and encourages diversity and inclusivity and seeks applicants with demonstrated success in working with diverse populations. As an AA/EO employer, Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce to maintain the excellence of the University and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for final candidates upon their acceptance of an offer of employment.

Founded in 1834, Wake Forest University (WFU) is a private university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that combines a small (approximately 5,300 undergraduates) liberal arts collegiate university with 3,200 graduate students in schools of arts and science, medicine, law, business, and divinity. Wake Forest typically ranks in the top 30 of all U.S. universities in U.S. News & World Report's Guide to America's Best Colleges and Universities and the top 10 of undergraduate Biology majors by College Factual. We offer undergraduate degrees in Biology (BA and BS) and a newly developed BA degree in Environmental Science. The University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto “Pro Humanitate.” For quick facts about the University, go to https://about.wfu.edu/.

Winston-Salem is part of the beautiful Piedmont Triad metropolitan region of North Carolina, which has a population of more than 1.5 million and is listed among the 35 best places to live in North America by Cities Ranked and Rated. Known as the “City of Arts and Innovation,” Winston-Salem offers a vast array of arts experiences ranging from music venues to galleries to theater and film festivals and active biomedical and environmental research communities. The city is ranked among the top 50 US cities for affordability on national surveys.

Wake Forest University requires proof of full vaccination with an FDA approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine for all positions posted on or after September 13, 2021. Wake Forest University requires that you provide satisfactory proof of full vaccination status to Human Resources within three days of your hire date. You must also maintain full COVID-19 vaccination status, as classified by the CDC, during your employment at Wake Forest University.

Consistent with federal, state and local law, Wake Forest University will consider accommodations for disability- and religious-based reasons unless providing an accommodation would result in an undue hardship to the University.

If you seek an accommodation from the vaccination requirement for disability- or religious-based reasons, you should contact Human Resources.

New employees who are hired into positions posted prior to September 13, 2021, offers of employment made to new employees prior to that date, and employees for positions at Graylyn Conference Center are generally exempt from the vaccination requirement unless the employee’s position is otherwise subject to a vaccination requirement due to the essential components of the position as described in Policy.

Time Type Requirement

Full time

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.