Assistant Professor, Conservation Biology

Job Summary

As Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology, your primary responsibilities will be those of a ranked faculty to include teaching, research, and service. You will teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels, as applicable; be involved in course and/or curriculum development; conduct research/scholarship; participate on College and University committees and/or initiatives; and perform other duties as assigned.
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. FGCU is also an emerging Hispanic Serving Institute (eHSI) and is putting plans to action that will help students become the best versions of themselves. All faculty are expected to: be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs; be committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning and success; be committed to effective use of technology including distance learning, when applicable; produce peer-reviewed scholarship; and provide service to the College, University and Community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region.
The Department of Biological Sciences and FGCU provide unique opportunities for candidates interested in this position. On an average year, we support 900 undergraduate students and 15 – 25 Master students. Departmental faculty possess various scholarly interests to include molecular, genetic, and organismal pursuits as well as community-engaged research and SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning). Faculty also provide various learning opportunities that run the range of Bloom’s taxonomy (from recall to creation) and, therefore, employ different approaches to include integrated lab-lectures, active-learning, and Course-embedded Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs). Faculty, staff, and students also partner extensively with the community members, which supports the university’s sustainability and service-learning goals.
In addition, half of the campus is set aside as conservation areas, which creates a living laboratory for both teaching and research opportunities for the field and lab. Beyond the campus, Southwest Florida is a natural marvel located between the Greater Everglades and Gulf Coast. The area boasts a various ecosystem that encompasses lush marine environments, intricate estuaries, dense forests, expansive prairies, and sprawling swamps in addition to the urban core between Cape Coral and Naples, FL. This region is a haven for biodiversity, teeming with an array of unique and interconnected species, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and a vital hub for ecological conservation efforts. This is a special place for people who want to connect their teaching, research, and service.
FGCU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and Access Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, genetic predisposition, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, veteran status, and any other protected class(es), as required by applicable state and federal law, as well as University regulations and policies.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Teach 9 credit hours per semester of core and upper-level courses in biology and related subjects.
• Prepare syllabi, instruction materials, coordinates lectures, laboratories, assignments, active-learning activities, tests, and evaluates student performance.
• Engage in reflective self-assessment of teaching styles and methods to ensure consistently effective instructional performance.
• Keep abreast of advances in the field as it pertains to research and teaching.
• Participate in programmatic assessment and use findings to improve student learning, performance, and success.
• Assist with the development of curriculum in collaboration with biology faculty that teach lower-level courses.
• Actively serve on university committees and participates in institutional meetings.
• Continued professional development activity is expected at a level commensurate with rank and the mission of the University. Community, institutional and professional service in furtherance of FGCU’s mission is expected of all faculty.
• Other duties may be assigned by the Chair.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biology, or related area from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent accreditation.
• ABD will be considered if degree is conferred by August 7, 2024. If successful candidate is ABD, appointment will be made at a Lecturer level on a fixed contract.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research and/or teaching experience in conservation biology.
• Peer-reviewed publications in conservation biology.
• Interest in working on conservation issues of local interest, including marine and terrestrial systems.
• Experience with multidisciplinary research and/or teaching and a willingness to cultivate interdisciplinary perspectives.
• Experience or commitment to mentor undergraduate and/or graduate research students.
• Willingness to engage in service opportunities that benefit the professional and university/regional community.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience with and commitment to the use of instructional technologies.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development that improves your teaching, research, and/or service.
• Interest in collaborating both within and outside the University in research, teaching, and service.
• Ability to stay current in the discipline.
• Ability to teach conservation biology, marine biology, and other courses in the discipline.
• Ability to implement impactful teaching that could include active-learning approaches such as Course-embedded Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) or Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL).

Special Instructions to Applicants

The position is a 9-month multi-year appointment that starts August 2024.

Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida’s Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU.

Under Florida’s Public Records law, applications will be available for public review upon request.

Required Application Materials:

• Unofficial Transcripts
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Research
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Five (5) Professional References

The position is listed as “open until filled”, however applications received by October 22, 2023 will receive priority consideration.

Salary commensurate with education and experience.