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INTRODUCTION

The University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB). The successful candidate will be named to a 5-year term as the inaugural recipient of the rotating Rosalind Endowed Chair in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. We encourage applications from vascular plant evolutionary biologists working in, but not limited to, the following research areas: biodiversity discovery at the genomic and organismal level; systematics; adaptations and speciation; population and/or conservation genetics; historical and ongoing processes underlying plant distributions; or species interactions related to diversity. The successful individual will teach an upper division course related to plant diversity and evolution as well as others meeting departmental needs. The successful individual may serve as Director of the George Safford Torrey Herbarium. This person will have an outstanding record of professional accomplishments commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with the opportunity for tenure at hire.

The successful candidate will (1) develop, sustain and grow an externally funded research program of excellence through interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement in vascular plant evolutionary biology and related fields at UConn; (2) teach effective, innovative courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels that meet the curricular needs of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; (3) broaden participation of under-represented groups in STEM, and contribute to an inclusive culture on campus and in the laboratory; (4) advise and mentor students in research, outreach, and professional development; and (5) provide leadership and offer service to UConn, other academic and scientific communities, and the general public.

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in Plant Evolutionary Biology or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out high-impact, high-quality research, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in vascular plant evolutionary biology commensurate with career stage.
• Strong record of extramural fellowships or grants.
• Minimum of three years of teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
• Commitment to fostering and supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity through academic and research programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Established an independent research program incorporating innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches that complement existing strengths of EEB at UConn.
• Evidence of innovative undergraduate/graduate pedagogy and mentoring.
• Evidence of fostering and supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity in their Department and University.
• Experience in curation or overseeing curation of institutional herbarium collections.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity in academic and research programs via past actions or a detailed plan for future work.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant, tenured Associate, or Full Professor position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2022. The successful candidate’s academic appointment and laboratory space will be at the Storrs campus. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience; a start-up package is available. To be considered for Associate or Full Professor, applicants must meet University requirements for appointments at those ranks, with tenure. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment at the University of Connecticut is contingent upon the successful candidate’s compliance with the University’s Mandatory Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  This Policy states that all workforce members are required to have or obtain a Covid-19 vaccination as a term and condition of employment at UConn, unless an exemption or deferral has been approved. 

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/20289 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter addressing qualifications;
• Curriculum vitae;
• A research and scholarship statement:  3 pages maximum, blinded; a summary of research accomplishments and short-term (next 5 years) and long-term research objectives;
• A teaching statement: 2 pages maximum, blinded; a description of philosophy, pedagogy, experience, and approach to effective teaching and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students;
• Commitment to diversity statement: 2 pages maximum, blinded; this statement might include your overarching philosophy, activities you have engaged in to enhance diversity and broaden participation in science, any approaches you have taken to integrate multicultural experiences in instruction and research, pedagogical techniques you would use to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, planned activities to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at UConn;
• Names and contact information for at least three reference writers.

Important note on the blinded application process: Recognizing the potential influence of implicit bias, we will conduct the initial stages of the search blinded to candidate identity and focused only on the research, teaching, and diversity statements. We ask that you remove your name from these application materials as well as any identifiers to your race, ethnicity, and gender. To avoid other forms of bias, we also request that you remove reference to specific institutions, advisors, and journals in these statements. You do not need to anonymize your cover letter and curriculum vitae. We will view these materials after developing a short list of candidates and at a point when the search will no longer be conducted using blind techniques. We will also contact letter writers at this stage, and they will not need to submit blinded letters. For more information on how to create blind application materials and an example, see https://eeb.uconn.edu/plant-evolutionary-biology-position/ 

Review of applications will begin December 5, 2021. For inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Bernard Goffinet, Chair of the Search Committee (bernard.goffinet@uconn.edu).

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.