7308BR

College of Science

COS Thomas H Gosnell School of Life Sciences

Detailed Job Description

The Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences (GSoLS) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) invites applications for up to two tenure-track Assistant Professors to begin in August of 2023.  GSoLS is home to vibrant programs in Biology (BS), Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience (BS), Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BS and MS), and Environmental Sciences (BS and MS) complemented by excellent, highly collaborative research and scholarship activities.  We seek colleagues with a strong track record of research productivity and a demonstrated commitment to teaching, training and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.  The successful candidates are expected to develop an extramurally funded research program to interface between two or more of our programs through their research and teaching efforts.

We encourage applications from candidates with research and teaching expertise in environmental microbiology, evolutionary biology, host-defense and resistance mechanisms, or microbial ecology.  Exceptional candidates from related fields who bring unique expertise and perspectives will be considered.  The successful candidate will employ modern research techniques and contribute to our ongoing strategic initiatives, including genomics and/or earth & environmental systems.  Our new colleague is expected to direct the research of students at the undergraduate and master’s levels, teach upper and lower-level courses, contribute to curricular improvement, including a future PhD program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and perform school, college, university, and professional service.  Excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels is expected, and those using innovative pedagogical approaches are specifically encouraged to apply.

We are seeking individuals who have the ability and interest to contribute to a community committed to integrity, ethics, scholarship, teaching, respect, diversity, equity, inclusion, pluralism, justice, innovation, collegiality, and collaboration: RIT’s Core Values , Honor Code and Diversity Commitment .  We are strongly committed to improving diversity and inclusivity in the sciences and welcome applications from scientists who are members of underrepresented groups.

Department/College Description

The Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences (GSoLS ) comprises 27 full-time Faculty, 6 full-time staff and approximately 300 full-time students across our undergraduate majors of Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and Environmental Science; and  approximately 50 graduate students in our two Masters programs in Bioinformatics and Environmental Science. GSoLS is known for high-quality education, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and excellent research and expertise in target areas including bioinformatics, computational biology, earth system and environmental science, biotechnology and STEM education. 

The RIT College of Science offers 13 undergraduate programs and 14 graduate programs including 4 PhD and 17 BS/MS programs. The College has established an inclusive community that embraces social justice and equity among our education, research, and the scientific community at large. Our students benefit from the intersection of science and technology at RIT, including access and training with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and facilities starting in their first year at RIT. As one of the top external grant-funded colleges on campus, the College of Science gives students unrivaled opportunities to engage in real-world research with supportive faculty mentors. Our alumni stand out from their peers at Cornell, MIT, Harvard, Regeneron, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the Cleveland Clinic, just to name a few.

RIT is a national leader in professional and career-oriented education. Talented, ambitious, and creative students of all cultures and backgrounds from all 50 states and more than 100 countries have chosen to attend RIT. Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology is a privately endowed, coeducational university with nine colleges emphasizing career education and experiential learning. With approximately 16,700 undergraduates and 3,100 graduate students, RIT is one of the largest private universities in the nation. RIT offers a rich array of degree programs in engineering, science, business, and the arts, and is home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

RIT was recently named one of the top 100 universities in the nation, having jumped 10 places in the “National Universities” category, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings for its 2018 edition. In 2017, RIT moved into the top “National Universities” category due to its rapid increase in research and Ph.D. graduates. In 2018, RIT ranked 97th out of 311 universities in this prestigious category.

RIT has been honored by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the “Great Colleges to Work For” for four years. RIT is a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation site and is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples.

Rochester, situated between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes region, is the 51st largest metro area in the United States and the third largest city New York State. The Greater Rochester region, which is home to nearly 1.1 million people, is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity, with a population comprised of approximately 18% African and Latin Americans and another 3% of international origin. It is also home to one of the largest deaf communities per capita in the U.S. Rochester ranks 4th for “Most Affordable City" by Forbes Magazine, and MSN selected Rochester as the “#1 Most Livable Bargain Market” (for real-estate). Kiplinger named Rochester one of the top five “Best City for Families.” 

Required Minimum Qualifications

• A PhD and postdoctoral training (or equivalent professional experience) in a biological, environmental science, or related field is required; Preference will be given to candidates with a strong track record of publication in high-quality journals, evidence of grant-writing skills and mentoring experience.
• A commitment to the educational and teaching mission of the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences and the College of Science
• A commitment to including graduate and undergraduate students in research
• Strong communication skills
• Strong commitment and plan to DEI efforts at the school, college and institute levels

Required Minimum Education Level

PhD

Faculty Type (Tenure Status)

Tenure-Track

Faculty Discipline

Biology, Environmental Science

Faculty Rank

Assistant Professor

Employment Category

Fulltime

Anticipated Start Date

15-Aug-2023

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, List of References, Research Statement, Statement of Diversity Contribution, Statement of Teaching Philosophy

How To Apply

Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty ; search openings, then Keyword Search 7308BR. Please submit your application; curriculum vitae (including title of dissertation); cover letter addressing the listed qualifications describing your interest in the position and addressing the listed qualification. and upload the following attachments:

• Statement of teaching philosophy 
• The namesand contact information for four references
• Contribution to Diversity Statement The Contribution to Diversity statement should articulate the candidate’s specific goals to contribute to personal and institutional diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their teaching, scholarship, and service. Please see the links for information regarding DEI initiatives within the College of Science , and RIT’s Plan for Race and Ethnicity .
• Research statement (no longer than 5 pages-MAX SIZE 3MB) that includes: 
  • current and future research directions, including a definitive plan for obtaining external funding
  • research methodologies you will implement in research at RIT, including new techniques and technologies you will introduce
  • alignment of research expertise with our programs in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences and
  • description of which populations of students will be most involved in your research at RIT (i.e. BS students in one or more of our programs, MS students in Bioinformatics and Environmental Sciences).

All candidates should submit the application documentation by December 1, 2022. Please contact Dr. Gary Skuse (

), Chair of Search Committee if you have any questions.

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities.RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to your application for employment at RIT, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to Careers@rit.edu.
In compliance with Executive Order 14042, all university employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 on or before December 8, 2021 or your start date (whichever is later), or have an approved medical/disability or religious accommodation.

Commitment To Safety

COVID 19: Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of the RIT Safety Plan . Information on the responsibility for each employee can be found on the RIT Ready website. As per the RIT Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy , all university employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccination exemptions may be granted: (1) to employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or disability; (2) on the basis of an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, or (3) to employees who are fully remote and sign an Employee Attestation stating that they will not be on campus for any reason, nor will they participate in any in-person university-sponsored activities.