Position Description

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus invites applications for two, three-year Lecturer positions in microbiology and immunology. The Microbiology and Immunology undergraduate programs (mbim.ubc.ca) provide students with a comprehensive education in microbiology, immunology, and virology through lecture courses, advanced discussion courses, and experiential learning laboratory and data science courses including course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs).

The successful candidates will be responsible for teaching undergraduate lecture and experiential learning courses in the Microbiology and Immunology undergraduate programs. Applicants should have expertise in microbiology, immunology, or virology. Expertise in more than one discipline, as well as expertise in data science, would be an asset. A PhD with demonstrated specialization in microbiology, immunology, or a related field is required, and additional professional qualifications and expertise in pedagogy would be considered an asset. For the first of two lecturer positions, the candidate’s teaching responsibilities would be solely in the Microbiology and Immunology Undergraduate program (Position 1: MBIM).

For the second position, up to half of the candidate’s teaching responsibilities will be in the First-Year Seminar in Science (SCIE 113) (Position 2: MBIM/SCIE). SCIE 113 is a small, seminar-style course in which students develop scientific literacy and communication skills, learn about research at UBC, and consider topics in the philosophy of science. Experience teaching first-year students, facilitating student-centered activities in small classes, and providing effective feedback on student writing would be considered assets. SCIE 113 counts towards the UBC BSc Communication Requirement and the Microbiology and Immunology programs place strong emphasis on communication skills. Therefore, successful candidates for both positions will have an interest in teaching oral and written communication skills. In addition, Lecturers are expected to contribute to departmental service activities such as teaching-related committees.

Applicants must have experience teaching undergraduate classes using interactive, inclusive, student-centered approaches, and creating and executing effective learning assessments. Experience coordinating and teaching undergraduate laboratory and/or data science courses, as well as mentoring and managing teaching assistants, are considered assets. The successful candidates will be expected to use evidence-based practices in teaching and learning, promote critical thinking and process of science skills, and foster an inclusive learning environment. We seek individuals with a record of teaching excellence, as well as excellent communication, and organizational skills. The successful candidates will be supported by, and encouraged to contribute to the department’s commitment to innovative evidence-based teaching and learning approaches. In addition, candidates must have a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion to create a welcoming community for all, particularly those who are historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized.

The positions are three-year contracts, subject to demonstration of satisfactory performance by the end of the first year. A Lecturer is a faculty member holding a renewable term appointment. Lecturer appointments are expected to be renewed for successive terms upon demonstration of excellence in teaching. Every six years of full-time consecutive employment at this rank, Lecturers are eligible for a professional development leave of four months with 80% salary.  The starting salary range is $85,000 to $100,000 per year.

Application packages should include:

1.      a cover letter outlining qualifications for the positions (2 pages max). Please include:

a.      your interest and qualifications for one or both Lecturer positions

b.      a summary of teaching and/or research expertise in microbiology, immunology, virology or related life sciences disciplines;

2.      a curriculum vitae;

3.      a brief teaching dossier (3 pages max). Please include:

a.      a statement on teaching philosophy, examples of applications of that philosophy,

b.      evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g. teaching/course evaluations, peer reviews of teaching);

4.      a diversity statement (1 page max) describing your lived background experience (if comfortable), and your past experience and future plans regarding working with a diverse student body, and contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion;

5.      names and contact information of three potential referees (note that these referees will not be contacted until a candidate is short-listed).

The closing date for applications is March 11^th, with the appointments anticipated to begin no earlier than July 1, 2024, and formal course instruction to begin in September 2024. Applications are to be submitted on Academic Jobs Online at  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27148

The Vancouver campus of UBC is situated on traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam). UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. Inclusion is built by individual and institutional responsibility through continuous engagement with diversity to inspire people, ideas, and actions for a better world. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority, and members of historically marginalized groups will be given special consideration.

Also, within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed by contacting Hannah Wong at hannahg.wong@ubc.ca.