Agency

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Location

Brownsville, TX

Job Category

Faculty Appointments

Salary

Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Start Date

09/01/2023

Last Date to Apply

11/30/2022

Website

https://www.utrgv.edu/

Description

Assistant Professor of Biology, UTRGV Brownsville campus https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/36103 We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s diverse student body as an Assistant Professor of Biology beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year (start Sept 1, 2023). The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Biology or a related field, postdoctoral experience, and an excellent track record in research that indicates a strong potential for attracting extramural funding. The position will be located on the Brownsville campus and will be a joint appointment between Biology (home department) and the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences (SEEMS; minority appointment). Applicants may work on any taxonomical system with a focus including, but not limited to: animal behavior or behavioral ecology, ecological physiology, population genetics, or wildlife biology. We encourage applicants who will leverage the unique ecosystems, either terrestrial or aquatic, of the Tamaulipan biotic province encompassing south Texas and northeastern Mexico. Applicants should clearly articulate a vision for building an extramurally funded student-centered research program involving both undergraduates and master’s students, and a commitment to educating a diverse body of students at a Hispanic Serving Institution. We welcome candidates who will contribute to the Biology department’s strategic plan to build a Ph.D. program within the next 3-5 years. The UTRGV Department of Biology and SEEMS are committed to cultivating a culture of inclusion and diversity, and especially welcome applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of the departments. Considered a biodiversity hotspot, Lower Rio Grande Valley and the surrounding region lie at the confluence of the desert, temperate, and tropical biomes, which have undergone significant fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and subsequent urbanization. Multiple understudied environments exist that are ripe for developing a research program that spans coastal, deltaic, riparian, and upland habitats with disturbance statuses ranging from degraded to restored to managed to pristine. The region boasts over half the US bird species, 42% of all U.S. butterfly species, and 45 federal and state threatened or endangered species. Within a 150-mile radius, there are multiple National Wildlife Refuges, State Parks, and private reserves, even as industrialization (e.g., SpaceX, LNG, Port of Brownsville) continues. The region is also projected to become a hotspot for ecological restoration. Work in the region is supported by federal, state and local sources (e.g., TPWD, USFWS, TxDOT, USDA, NOAA, NSF, private foundations). Diversity and inclusion are part of our core values and as such, we encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups in the sciences. It is our commitment to elevate the lives and economic well-being of the Valley community by offering first-rate education in the STEM fields. We value applicants who can understand and have overcome race, gender-based, and ability-based barriers, and who can bring with them the wealth of worldview, perspective, and experience that is critical to an innovative and accessible educational environment. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution with a student population that is over 90% Hispanic, UTRGV is committed to preparing its students to succeed, contribute and excel in an increasingly diverse, global, and interconnected world. Applicants who identify with this mission are strongly encouraged to apply. To apply, please visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/36103. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research plan (2 page maximum), statement of teaching philosophy (2 page maximum), and the names & contact information of at least three professional references. Inquiries regarding the position may be directed to Bradley Christoffersen (bradley.christoffersen@utrgv.edu), search committee chair. Review of applications will begin on Nov 18, 2022. To receive full consideration, applications should be received by Nov 30, 2022. About UTRGV: It is UTRGV’s Vision “To be one of the nation’s leaders in higher education, its premier Hispanic-serving institution, and a highly engaged bilingual university, with exceptional educational, research, and creative opportunities that serve as catalysts for transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.” As such, UTRGV is committed to building a diverse faculty and staff that can contribute to an enriching learning environment that strives for more equitable outcomes for student success. UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. Thanks to a steadfast commitment to safety and success, UTRGV yielded record-breaking outcomes in enrollment and student success in the fall 2021 semester. For additional information, please visit our website. About Biology/SEEMS: The Department of Biology at UTRGV, located on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses, is a highly collegial group of 40 faculty responsible for educating over 100 graduate students and 2300 undergraduate majors. Active research areas include cell and molecular biology, animal behavior, microbiology, vector biology, and ecology providing many opportunities for collaboration. The Department of Biology offers a Master of Science (Biology) degree, a Master of Science (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; jointly with Chemistry) degree, and a Bachelor of Science (Biology). SEEMS comprises a comparable number of faculty with expertise in biogeochemistry, hydrology, modeling, GIS, socioecology, agroecology, and sustainability, and offers MS programs in Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences (AESS) and Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences (OCES), and B.S. programs in Environmental Sciences, Marine Biology, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in Biology or a related field, postdoctoral experience, and an excellent track record in research that indicates a strong potential for attracting extramural funding Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should provide evidence of or strong potential for significant productivity in research. Externally funded research and teaching experience are considered a plus. Successful candidates will demonstrate an articulated plan for developing locally impactful research in the LRGV, the ability to involve both undergraduate and graduate students (MS) in research activities, and a commitment to educate a diverse body of students in a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Contact Person

Brad Christoffersen, bradley.christoffersen@utrgv.edu

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