Position Overview

The Biology Department at The University of the South seeks a Ph.D-trained biologist with experience in neuroscience to serve as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Biology starting in August 2024. This position will be housed in the Biology Department and will contribute to the biology major and the interdisciplinary neuroscience major. With 1700 undergraduate students, the University of the South (also known as ‘Sewanee’) values small interactive classes and close student-faculty mentoring and research. The Biology Department is a vibrant intellectual environment consisting of 11 research-active faculty with broad interests. We offer a comprehensive biology curriculum with concentrations in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Integrative Biology, and Ecology and Biodiversity. The interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, supported primarily by the Biology and Psychology Departments, is a popular and growing major.

Position Description

The position carries a teaching load of 5 courses per year with both lecture and lab sections counting toward that total. Three of those courses will be in neuroscience and two in biology. The successful applicant will develop a research program that provides opportunities for undergraduate involvement in neurobiology research and will serve the university by advising students, participating in departmental work, and serving on college and university committees. Professional development opportunities include funds for professional travel, eligibility for internal grant funding, access to a broad range of programming in our Center for Teaching and a sponsored research office.

Attributes of a Successful Candidate

A doctoral degree in biology, neuroscience, or an adjacent field is required. Candidates should have a research plan that is conducive to an undergraduate-only college and that has the potential to include undergraduate students. Candidates should be enthusiastic about teaching small interactive classes and mentoring research students. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in teaching and/or mentorship. The successful candidate will be able to teach neurobiology and molecular biology courses, as well as upper-level courses in their area of expertise. We particularly welcome faculty with knowledge, skills, or diverse life experiences that contribute to an inclusive and welcoming environment in our department and the institution. Evidence that the candidate can advance institutional efforts to better meet the needs of students who identify as coming from underrepresented groups is highly valued.

We invite interested candidates to submit a CV and cover letter that addresses the applicant’s teaching philosophy, their research program and how it might fit at an undergraduate-only institution, and how their past or potential contributions in teaching, research, and/or service demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The cover letter should also include contact information for individuals who may be asked by the search committee to provide letters of recommendation. Applicants selected for the second round of consideration will be asked to provide additional materials, including a teaching statement and a research plan, and the review committee may request letters of recommendation.

Review of applications will begin on November 20, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.

Supplemental Information

The University of the South includes a nationally ranked residential College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology. The University is strongly committed to the values of intellectual inquiry, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and living and serving in community. Situated on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is known for its stunning natural beauty while providing easy access to Chattanooga, Nashville, and Huntsville. The University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and seeks to help employees of all backgrounds and identities flourish.

Eligibility for employment is contingent upon successful prescreening.

See here for more information about the position and how to apply as well as resources that are available.

DEI Institutional Statement:

At the University of the South, our commitment to inclusion and belonging is grounded in our core values of community, courage, flourishing, and inquiry. We seek to build a community enriched by our diversity and centered on equity, justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of the South is an equal-opportunity educational institution that is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive campus environment.