Assistant Professor (Cell Biology and/or Immunology) @ Gustavus Adolphus College
Description
Position Details: Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology to begin August 15, 2025.
Institution Information: Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges serving 2,000 students, where faculty help equip students to lead purposeful lives and to act on the great challenges of our time. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota, and within a short drive to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Mankato metro areas. Learn more at https://gustavus.edu/provost/newfaculty/.
Department Information: The Biology Department offers diverse academic experiences to undergraduate students as part of a strong liberal arts education. Both the College and the Department are taking evidence-based actions to enhance diversity and support inclusion in classrooms and among our majors and faculty. Each year, about 45 Biology majors graduate, placing us among the largest majors across the College. Our courses are also integral parts of other majors, such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Nursing. Our majors develop breadth through a required four-course core spanning biochemistry to organismal and systems-level processes before taking elective courses in areas of their interests. Both core and elective courses have embedded research opportunities that emphasize quantitative analyses and scientific communication. Our graduates pursue employment, as well as graduate and professional studies in biotechnology, education, environmental, or health-related fields.
Departmental faculty are active teacher-scholars who value collaborations within and between disciplines. Newly-renovated science facilities include teaching and research tissue culture spaces and confocal and scanning electron microscopes. Our courses are part of a college-wide liberal arts curriculum that develops an understanding of human cultures and the natural world by inquiry, analysis, and communication while also promoting civic engagement and ethical actions. As such, many of our courses emphasize how science intersects with issues of social, cultural, philosophical and environmental value. For more information about the department, its faculty, students, and courses, please see the department website at https://gustavus.edu/biology/.
Prerequisites
RequiredQualifications:
- PhD in Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology, or a related field by August 15, 2025; we will consider candidates who have achieved ABD status and will complete their degree by August 15, 2025
- The professional skills, experience and/or plans to engage in activities that would enhance campus diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging efforts in research, advising/mentoring, and teaching
- Evidence of the ability to teach undergraduate classes and labs in courses related to those described under the “Things you will do” section
- Demonstrated capacity to establish an independent research program at Gustavus addressing a question related to cell biology, immunology, or a related field
PreferredQualifications:
- Additional independent cell biology-related research experience as part of a research, teaching, or non-profit/government agency position outside of doctoral education
- Ability to bring interdisciplinary perspectives that address civic, societal, and/or ethical implications in their courses
- Evidence of successful mentoring of undergraduate students in research
Things you will do:
Gustavus faculty teach, advise, conduct research, and serve the college and department.
- Teach 24-contact hours each academic year. One course with a lab is typically 7-contact hours. Primary teaching responsibilities will include: Principles of Biology with Lab, Fundamentals of Microbiology with Lab, and electives within Biology, such as cell biology, immunology, virology, or other courses in the candidate’s area of interest. These courses are offered through the Biology Department and support the Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors. Additionally, both Principles of Biology and Fundamentals of Microbiology are required courses for the Nursing major. Over time, the successful candidate will plan on extending their teaching to contribute to college-wide programs, such as First Term Seminar, Challenge Seminar, or other college initiatives. In their first year, the successful candidate will receive a reduced teaching assignment of 20-contact hours, including a fully-compensated 4-contact hour release.
- Help cultivate a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strive to foster an environment where people can be themselves, build community, learn, and grow. This new faculty member would advise Biology majors, be a supportive member of the Biology Department, and participate in the life of the college. The successful candidate will join College and Departmental efforts to develop equitable pedagogies and an inclusive culture.
- Advance your scholarship by establishing a research program with undergraduate collaborators in cellular biology, immunology, or a related field. To support faculty scholarship, Gustavus offers resources and opportunities that include options to: collaborate with undergraduate researchers supported by the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) or other internal mechanisms, join a writing retreat, apply for an internal grant, receive travel funds to present at conferences, get help applying for external grants, and make use of new and renovated research facilities.
- Improve your teaching by joining a teaching circle, participating in workshops, applying for an internal teaching development grant, and engaging in conversations about teaching with colleagues across campus.
- Develop professional skills by participating in faculty meetings and committees, attending faculty development days, and taking advantage of the College’s membership to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD).