Professor, Department Head, Biology

Professor, Department Head, Biology

Apply now Job no: 502318
Work type: Full-Time
Location: University City - Philadelphia, PA
Categories: College of Arts & Sciences

Job Summary 

Drexel University, a top-ranked Carnegie R1-classified research institution located in Philadelphia, seeks an innovative leader and research scientist for the position of Head, Department of Biology, in the College of Arts and Sciences, starting in September 2024. The Department is made up of 12 tenure-line faculty and 8 teaching faculty, whose research and teaching activities take place alongside a vibrant population of approximately 700 Biology undergraduate majors and over 30 PhD students. Faculty with active research programs and a strong record of extramural funding pursue research in the areas of molecular and cell biology, neurobiology, organismal and evolutionary biology, and STEM education. Biology faculty hold appointments and pursue collaborations with colleagues in the College of Medicine; the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems; and the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, which is tightly integrated with the Academy of Natural Sciences.

The Department of Biology is housed in the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), a state-of-the-art five-story building with naturally-lit open-design laboratories, modern classrooms and conference rooms, and a comprehensive light microscopy core facility with advanced imaging capabilities, including confocal, super resolution, and 2 photon excitation microscopy. Located in University City, PISB is in the heart of a vibrant neighborhood with numerous collaborative opportunities, including a developing gene therapy center with Spark Therapeutics, the University of Pennsylvania, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Wistar Institute. Additional resources are available to Biology faculty as consortium members of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, an NCI-designated Cancer Center.

The Department is also home to state-of-the art teaching initiatives to support undergraduate and graduate student learning and professional development, and Departmental faculty are committed to effective and inclusive teaching. Evidence-based teaching practices that emphasize experiential and student-centered learning are a focus in our programs. Educational practices are fostered through a close collaboration and interaction with the Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence (CASTLE) and funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for promoting inclusive teaching to ensure the success and belongingness of students in STEM disciplines. The Department is also engaged in the nationally renowned, HHMI-supported SEA-PHAGES program.

Essential Functions 

• Interface effectively with, and represent the department to, the college and higher administration.
• Mentor and manage faculty and staff, fostering department community.
• Manage the department's budget and resources fairly and effectively.
• Guide and develop the research, teaching, and service missions undertaken by the faculty.

Required Qualifications 

• Minimum of a PhD or Doctorate in broad discipline of Biological Sciences
• Minimum of 8 years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in the broader discipline of biological sciences, and we invite applicants who qualify for the rank of Full Professor.
• Prior leadership experience in managing academic units or programs is strongly preferred.
• The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader capable of guiding and nurturing the research, teaching, and service missions undertaken by a diverse faculty.
• Candidates are expected to place a value on communication, collaboration, and transparency, to have excellent skills in mentoring faculty and building relationships and a strong community within the Department and beyond.
• Candidates should utilize networking skills and strategies that will bolster the Department’s research programs and strengthen student training.
• In addition to a track record of excellence in research, the successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the enrollment and retention challenges of an undergraduate-serving Department and offer a strategic vision that incorporates research, teaching and service.
• Overall, the successful candidate will be a collaborative colleague and an advocate for the Department’s personnel and priorities.

Physical Demands 

• Typically sitting at a desk/table.
• Typically standing, walking.
• Typically bending, crouching, stooping.

Location 

• University City – Philadelphia, PA  

Additional Information 

This is a full-time Faculty position classified as Exempt. The offered salary is based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.   

For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Full-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet or Part-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet .     

Special Instructions to the Applicant 

To apply, candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter that briefly addresses teaching and research interests/experience, and a separate document explaining their experience and approach to academic leadership including actions and philosophy toward promoting professional diversity, equity and inclusion. Preferences will be given to applications received before January 16, 2024. Inquiries should be addressed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Sean O’Donnell ([email protected]). The Committee aims to select candidates for a first round of remote interviews to take place in February, followed by on-campus interviews in March 2024.

• Name & contact information for four references
• CV
• Cover letter
• Statement of leadership/administrative experience

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified. 

Advertised: Nov 30 2023 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: Feb 29 2024 Eastern Standard Time

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend