Assistant Professor, Department of History, History of Technology (Society, Technology, and Environment Cluster Hire)

Apply now Job no:495016
Position type:FAC - Tenure Track Faculty
Location:Allendale, Michigan
Categories:College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Summary: The Department of History at Grand Valley State University invites applications for full-time Tenure Track appointment for the 2024-2025 academic year in the History of Technology.

• The teaching load of three courses per semester will include surveys in the History of Technology, the Scientific Revolution, and upper division surveys in the History of Medicine and Health, and the opportunity to develop upper division courses in the History of Technology. Region and time period of specialization are open.
• This position is part of a cohort hire of scholars devoted to innovative curricular and multidisciplinary research initiatives. The successful candidate will be a tenure-track faculty member in the History Department. They will be expected to collaborate with humanities teacher-scholars, writers, and artists/designers in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in other parts of GVSU to explore the relationships between human communities and the technologies and environments that influence them.
• Candidates whose research portfolios and teaching interests manifest public-facing or community-engaged scholarship, multidisciplinary collaboration, and/or a demonstrated digital humanities background are especially encouraged to apply.
• The candidate will be expected to support undergraduate research opportunities, museum and industry internship opportunities, and multidisciplinary collaboration across the institution. They would also oversee or support student research projects in a variety of fields including history of technology, medicine, and science; design; engineering; environmental studies; ethics of technology; literature; material culture studies; and visual studies.
• The History Department is especially interested in receiving applications from candidates from underrepresented groups, and from candidates who have interest and/or experience in working with diverse student and community populations. Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action and equal opportunity institution.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• ABD in Ph.D. program, History of Science/Technology/Medicine, or related field. An ABD candidate will be considered for a two-year contract with the provision that the Ph.D. must be completed by December 2025.
• Experience with university-level teaching and research.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. This could include experience using inclusive teaching practices; research relating to minoritized populations or social inequality; community-based outreach to minoritized and underserved communities; and other forms of DEI-infused teaching, scholarship, and/or service.

Preferred Qualifications and Education:

• Ph.D. in History, History of Science/Technology/Medicine, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Experience teaching survey-level courses and upper-division courses.
• Active research agenda in the History of Technology.

Responsibilities:

• Duties each semester include a 9-credit hour teaching load, baseline scholarship and service, and a significant focus (equivalent to 3 credit hours) of additional responsibilities in teaching, scholarship/creative activity, and/or service depending on the candidate's interests and the department’s needs.
• The teaching load of three courses per semester will include surveys in the History of Technology, the Scientific Revolution, and upper division surveys in the History of Medicine and Health, and the opportunity to develop upper-division courses in the History of Technology. Region and time period of specialization are open.
• Courses each term will include one or more sections of the following courses:
  • HSC 202: History of Technology
  • HSC 201: The Scientific Revolution
  • HST 370: History of Medicine and Health
• Designing an upper-division course in the History of Technology
• Advising History majors doing Senior Theses and other interested students writing Honors Theses
• Supporting students completing the History of Science Minor, the Certificate in Medical and Health Humanities, Engineering degrees, and programs in a range of associated disciplines.

Salary/Benefits: The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The university offers an excellent comprehensive package that includes health/vision/dental plans, life insurance, retirement, sick/leave disability, tuition waiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities. Family and child care options on and off-campus are also available. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit Benefits and Wellness - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).

Department/College: The Department of History consists of over thirty faculty committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching, cutting-edge scholarship, and public outreach and engagement. It also oversees a robust program in Social Studies Education, with dedicated faculty experts in this field. The faculty’s subfields of expertise range from US to African, European, East Asian, South Asian, Latin American, and Global History and include the subfields of Public History and the History of Science/Medicine/Technology. The department values a collegial teaching and working environment.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)

is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor's degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

Campus/University: Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources - Human Resources - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). Grand Valley is highly rated for safety,

sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service. More information can be found at Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).

How to Apply: A complete application must include:

A cover letter addressing qualifications and your interest in and potential contribution to the cluster

Curriculum vitae

Teaching philosophy that includes a statement that describes ongoing and anticipated activities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research/creative activity, and service, with particular attention to experiences engaging and supporting a diverse student body

Contact information of three professional references who can provide letters of reference upon request

Graduate transcripts (unofficial issued to students are acceptable to apply).

The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at 616-331-2215. Email questions about the position to: Carolyn Shapiro-Shapin, Ph.D. at [email protected] . 

Application Deadline: The review process will begin on November 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

The University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution, consistent with its obligations as a federal contractor. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory civil rights of persons connected with the University. Members of the University community, including students, employees, faculty, staff, administrators, Board members, consultants, vendors, others engaged to do business with the University, candidates for employment or admissions, and visitors or guests have the right to be free from acts of harassment and discrimination, including sexual misconduct, as defined by this policy. In accordance with applicable federal and state law and this policy, acts of discrimination or harassment by members of the campus community are prohibited if they discriminate or harass on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, veteran or active duty military status or weight. This includes inappropriate limitation of, access to, or participation in educational, employment, athletic, social, cultural, or other university programs and activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Limitations are lawful if they are: directly related to a legitimate university purpose, required by law, or lawfully required by a grant or contract between the university and the state or federal government. For the purposes of this policy, sex-/gender-based harassment includes sexual misconduct, sexual assault, interpersonal or relationship violence, and stalking. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Advertised:05 Oct 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

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