During fall 2024, we will be conducting a national search for a new tenure-track colleague who specializes in neurobiology. Below is a detailed description of the position and application process.
Position Expectations
Teaching. Our new neurobiologist colleague will demonstrate a potential for excellence in teaching biology at a small liberal-arts college. We consider excellence in teaching to encompass the fostering of inclusive learning environments, where all students can thrive. Yearly teaching responsibilities most likely will include the following: one core first-year “seminar” style course; one cell and molecular biology core course (with lab) in collaboration with other colleagues; one intermediate neurobiology course (with lab); and one additional course or seminar in the candidate’s area of expertise, for an annual four-course teaching load (where courses with one class and one lab section count as one course). Courses with labs are typically capped at 20-24 students per lab, while the lecture size of the course may range from 18-36 students. Seminars (discussion-based courses) are capped at 12-16 students. In their first year, new tenure-track appointments teach a three-course load. A biology department course list is here. Our departmental laboratory manager provides support for laboratory courses and works with faculty to prepare equipment/reagents/etc. prior to lab meeting time; we, Bio faculty, teach our own labs at K.
Research. The successful candidate will develop an active, sustainable, and undergraduate-targeted research program. Active: we desire a colleague with plans for an ongoing and dynamic scholarly research program; this program will generate peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations with undergraduate co-authors. Sustainable: our colleague will plan long-term research that can be done throughout their time at the college, even after start-up funding might be exhausted; as such, familiarity with, and interest in, seeking external sources of funding through grant applications is desirable. Undergraduate-targeted: candidates will be expected to mentor and work alongside students with independent research projects during the academic year and may also do so over the summer. Our new colleague will receive a dedicated research lab space in the shared biology-chemistry building on campus. Start-up funds will be available and will be negotiated with the administration. The building has multiple pieces of shared equipment and infrastructure that our new colleague may choose to take advantage of with their research work.
Service. Service on college-wide committees and academic advising are both formal requirements of all faculty starting with the second year of employment, although service at Kalamazoo College can take many forms. From their second year onward, tenure-track faculty become members of one or more campus-wide and departmental committees — these committees perform vital roles in the administration of the department, the faculty, and the college. As an academic advisor to undergraduates, tenure-track faculty help advisees track their progress towards graduation, select their classes, and maintain manageable workloads. Service to a faculty’s discipline (e.g., as a reviewer, editor, or in a leadership position in an academic society) and/or to entities outside of academia may also be valued as part of each faculty member’s tenure evaluation.
Institutional Context
The Biology Department. Our department is currently composed of five tenured and one tenure-track members, one Coordinator of Biology Laboratories, and one Office Coordinator. We believe we have a healthy, supportive, and well-functioning department.
Neuroscience concentration. The Neuroscience concentration at K College is a multi-disciplinary program centered around courses in biology, psychology, and complex systems. More information can be found here. The expectation is that many of the candidate’s courses would count towards the concentration (e.g., Neurobiology is a required course), and that the candidate would be one of three co-directors of the program. Typically, about 10 students join the concentration each year, and many of its graduates have matriculated to neuroscience graduate programs.
Student demographics. Our students are refreshingly committed to their education, the liberal arts, and their role as engaged citizens. The department graduates ~50 young biologists per year, accounting for ~15% of all college graduates, making us one of the largest majors on campus. Many of our graduates go on to obtain doctorates in the life sciences: we rank in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges and universities (2020 Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium). We also produce a large number of young biologists headed towards health professions.
A noteworthy trend over the last ten years, both at the College and in our department, is an increase in diversity. Concerted efforts to recruit and enroll a more diverse student body has led to more diversity in race/ethnicity, country of origin, family income level, geography, and first-generation status in the Biology department (Diversity at K).
DEI efforts. In 2018, Kalamazoo College was awarded a $1-million, five-year grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to participate in a nationwide quest to find ways to better serve students from demographic groups that are underrepresented in science and mathematics. The funds are being used to revise the curriculum of introductory science and math courses to better integrate career guidance and shared concepts between disciplines; enhance academic support centers; provide professional development for faculty and staff to increase their cultural competencies; and revisit the hiring, tenure and promotion policies to better reward inclusive practices.
The Biology department is undergoing a significant curriculum renewal effort in order to address similar issues. We have begun offering the new curriculum in academic year ‘24-’25, so our new colleague will enter with the new curriculum in place.
Support and Resources
Competitive start-up funds, dedicated lab space, and an office (not in the same space as the lab) are all included in the offer. The department values work-life balance and will try to accommodate our new colleague in as many ways as possible — we want our future colleague to be successful! First-year faculty do not have advising duties, are exempt from committee work, and receive a single-course “release” from teaching duties for the year.
Summer research can be supported through departmental funds awarded to students and through institutional student-faculty research grants. Travel funds for conference attendance/presentation (up to $2,200 [domestic] and $2,500 [international] per year) and/or support for ‘scholarly activities’ (up to $2,000) can be requested through a faculty committee. Numerous internal teaching-and-learning funds (e.g., 1, 2) are also available, as well as civic engagement grants and social justice fellowships (biology faculty have received many of these awards).
To aid in the successful preparation of a tenure packet, a one-term leave is given to fourth-year tenure-track faculty members. After six years of full‐time service to the College, faculty can request a sabbatical leave of one-, two-, or three-terms.
Detailed Application Instructions
Application materials must be submitted here, with the subject line in the format: lastname_firstname. To help you succeed, we have made every effort to be specific about the knowledge, skills, and experience we will assess in the application materials. Candidates should submit materials by 1 October 2024. Each item may be a separate file.
Cover letter (two-page maximum)
Summarize your interests in this position. Please address:
(a) how a position at K aligns with your career goals;
(b) your experience in, and plans to, mentor young biologists;
(c) your teaching experience and any innovative approaches you have used and/or plan to use in your teaching;
(d) your interest in the liberal arts and experiential education;
(e) any multidisciplinary aspects to your research program.
Curriculum vitae (no page limit)
Summarize your education and professional accomplishments, including mentorship experience. Include names and contact information of three references.
Teaching philosophy (two-page maximum)
Describe your approach to and experience with teaching, including descriptions of pedagogical training, practices, assignments, or activities and how they enhance student learning and belonging. Teaching experience is helpful, and we also prioritize potential for excellence in undergraduate education. Thus, you can discuss activities or approaches you have applied, or will apply, in your teaching and research as well as pedagogical training in which you have participated. Descriptions of potential upper-level courses you would like to teach are encouraged.
Statement of research interests/plans (two-page maximum)
Provide an overview of your proposed research program at K College, including focal questions, methodologies, and how they align with the position description. Additionally, please address how your research will operate during the academic year with undergraduate researchers.
Letters of recommendation (no page limit)
Three letters of recommendation are required. Have writers address their letters to the Biology Search Committee and email them in PDF form directly to BiologySearch@kzoo.edu with the subject line in the format: lastname_firstname.
Effective letters of recommendation help paint a fuller picture of each candidate and will be considered at each step of the process. We will be reading every letter carefully and appreciate in advance the effort required to both request them and produce them.
Timeline
After applications are due on 1 October 2024, we will conduct virtual interviews with select candidates in mid-October. A final group of 3-4 candidates will be invited for on-campus visits in early to mid November.
Questions?
We are, of course, more than willing to answer any questions. Feel free to reach out to Jim Langeland, geneticist/developmental biologist and chair of the search, Michael Wollenberg, microbiologist and chair of the department, or Amanda Wollenberg, immunologist.