The College of Science at The University of Texas at El Paso currently has an opening for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in STEM Education Research (Biological Sciences or Chemistry/Biochemistry) to begin no later than September 1, 2020. Please find full details regarding the position below.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: The College of Science at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is seeking applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in STEM EDUCATION RESEARCH (Chemistry and/or Biology Education preferred). The successful candidate will be expected to build an excellent science education program at a departmental level through research and curricular development activities, lead the expansion of the program through collaborations with other faculty, and attract external funding at levels needed to build and sustain such a research program.
A commitment to and effectiveness in classroom instruction are expected. Teaching responsibilities will include the very successful Research Foundations Course (RFC), a core course within the Freshmen Year Research Intensive Sequence. There may also be opportunities to contribute to the chemistry/ biology curriculum programs as determined by the department chair based on departmental workload requirements.
The new hire will be expected to synergize with UTEP’s National Institutes of Health-funded BUILDing SCHOLARS Center. The Center is training the next generation of underserved and underrepresented biomedical and socio-behavioral scientists and engineers for careers in health-related research. The Center addresses the needs of undergraduate students in the U.S. Southwest through a multi-institution consortium, which includes Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The center’s institutional development, student training, and research enrichment cores are anchored in undergraduate research and other high-impact, evidence-based educational practices to advance discoveries in seven interdisciplinary research nodes where UTEP faculty in the biomedical and socio-behavioral sciences and engineering have demonstrated strength: Addiction, Cancer, Neurodegenerative & Chronic Diseases, Environmental Health, Health Disparities, Infectious Diseases, and Translational Biomedicine. The center has a 2,000 sq. ft. dedicated collaborative learning environment designed specifically as a SCALE-UP classroom/innovation space. Currently, over 3,100 students are majoring in disciplines within the College of Science, 2,400 of whom are in the Biological Sciences and Chemistry & Biochemistry. Both departments are housed in state-of-the-art, recently-built facilities and offer nationally-recognized doctoral programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: An earned doctorate in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology with an emphasis on higher education research practices in one of these fields is required. Postdoctoral experience is highly preferred. Applicants with published research, potential to attract external funding, and the ability to teach and direct research foundation classes are highly desired.
ABOUT UTEP AND EL PASO: UTEP, a member of the University of Texas System, enrolls more than 25,000 students and is designated an R1 university (very high research activity) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UTEP serves its primary constituency with 74 bachelor’s degree programs, 74 master’s programs, and 22 doctoral programs. With an 80% Hispanic student population, UTEP proudly reflects the demographic composition of the bi-national region from which it draws the vast majority of its students. Eighty-three percent of students are from El Paso County. UTEP is the top university in the continental United States for graduating Hispanic students who go on to earn doctoral degrees in STEM fields. It also is recognized as one of the top universities in the U.S. for the number of Hispanic graduates in biological and biomedical sciences. UTEP employs more than 4,000 people (faculty, staff, and students). The university maintains an operating budget of $450 million. Its rapidly growing research portfolio in the sciences, engineering, health-related fields, and other areas has $91 million in total annual research expenditures. UTEP receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other agencies. For more information about UTEP, please visit our website at www.utep.edu.
El Paso is a highly livable, bicultural community of 800,000 people, which offers affordable homes and attractive neighborhoods. It is repeatedly named one of the safest large cities in the United States. Sheltered by mountains on three sides, El Paso experiences more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and residents enjoy outdoor activities year-round. The city of El Paso is adjacent to both the state of New Mexico and the country of Mexico, making it the nation’s leading area for cultural diversity and border health research. El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas and 19th largest city in the United States.
El Paso’s active arts and culture community features the state’s longest running symphony orchestra, a nationally-recognized chamber music festival, art galleries, museums, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with an award-winning dinner theater, music and dance productions, contemporary and student art galleries, and a natural history museum.
For sports fans, the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues: Sun Bowl Stadium, the Don Haskins Center, Kidd Field, University Field and the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. Southwest University Park, located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso, is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The El Paso Locomotive, a professional soccer team, was founded in 2019.
APPOINTMENT DATE AND SALARY: Anticipated appointment date is September 1, 2020. Salary will be competitive for the rank. The position comes with an attractive start-up package, funded through UTEP’s NIH BUILDing SCHOLARS Center.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must submit the following as separate documents:
- Letter of application
- Curriculum vita
- Statement of teaching philosophy and interests
- Research plan
- Statement about your commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access as it relates to your research, teaching, service, and mentoring
- Complete contact information for three professional references
If you have questions about the position, you may contact Lourdes E. Echegoyen, Search Committee Chair, at lourdes@utep.edu.
To apply, please visit https://www.utep.edu/employment.
Hiring decisions are based on budget approval.
In keeping with its Access and Excellence mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all.
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or the provision of services.