Lecturer, Introductory Biology

Working Title: Lecturer, Introductory Biology

State Role Title:Instructional Faculty - Full-time

Position Type:Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: College of Science and Mathematics

Department: 100006 - Biology Department

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:10/14/2024

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Biology at James Madison University invites applications for a renewable term appointment faculty member beginning August 25, 2025. This is a 10-month, full-time, fully benefitted, non-tenure track position that is renewed annually, with no limit on the number of terms. Hiring will be at the Lecturer rank, which is eligible for promotion. We seek candidates who value undergraduate teaching and engaging in a collaborative teaching environment.

The Biology Department at James Madison University currently serves over 1,000 undergraduate majors and 19 master's degree students. We offer a wide variety of courses for biology majors, general education, and pre-health profession majors, including a 4-semester lab-intensive core curriculum. The Department of Biology is housed in the modern 90,000 ft2 Bioscience building, with numerous facilities to support the scholarly and educational pursuits of faculty and students.

The department is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment that will allow us to recruit and retain a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students. Our department and university provide mentorship, workshops, learning communities and other activities to aid faculty in these efforts. The successful candidate will be expected to adopt these principles in their teaching, mentorship, scholarship, and service to the institution.

Please visit our web site at http://www.jmu.edu/biology/ for more information about the department and our courses, and https://www.jmu.edu/gened/index.shtml for more information on JMU's General Education program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate for this position will teach existing introductory biology majors' lecture and laboratory courses and develop future lecture and laboratory courses for non-majors in support of the university's General Education program. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the department's continuing efforts to build inclusive excellence in science education and promote the success of all students.

Qualifications:

Required: A master's degree in biology, biology education, or a related field is required at the time of appointment; an ability to teach introductory courses for biology majors and non-science majors, a demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate; experience with student-centered evidence-based teaching practices; and a commitment to inclusive excellence in higher education.

Preferred Qualifications: A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in biology, biology education, or a related field at the time of appointment; potential to develop and/or assess new curricula.

Additional Posting Information:

Use this site to submit the following materials:
• a cover letter that addresses the applicant's qualifications for the position.
• a Curriculum Vitae
• a teaching statement (2 pages maximum, uploaded under "Statement of Teaching Philosophy") that describes a plan or ongoing approach to:
o effectively teach undergraduate biology students at James Madison University.
o promote an equitable climate for students from diverse backgrounds.
• The names and contact information for three professional references that can speak directly to your teaching experience and aptitudes. Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation at the time of application; references will be contacted by phone as candidates move forward in the search process and may be asked to submit letters at a later date.

Review of applications will begin on or about October 14, 2024 . Incomplete applications will not receive any further consideration. For more information, contact either co-chair of the search committee, Dr. Oliver Hyman (hymanoj@jmu.edu) or Dr. Katrina Gobetz (gobetzke@jmu.edu).

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.