Plant Physiology-Assistant Professor

at  California State University

Job no: 541569
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Pomona
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Natural Sciences, On-site (work in-person at business location)

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE CRITERIA:

• Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
• Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
• Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
• Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
• Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
• Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
• Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
• Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
• Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.
  The College of Science: The College’s mission is to educate, mentor, and inspire students through scientific inquiry and hands-on learning. It offers 15 undergraduate degree programs and six Master’s degrees across seven academic departments that include: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics & Astronomy. Our Center for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (CEMaST) supports K-16 education locally and nationally to increase STEM success and participation for all. The College of Science has approximately 150 full-time faculty, 40 staff, and 4,400 active majors. Our commitment to the teacher-scholar model results in our college being the largest recipient of extramural grant funding on campus. We encourage a broad range of applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive campus environment.
  The Department: Our Biological Sciences faculty offers a Master’s program in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor’s program to over 1,000 students in Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Biology. The faculty in this Department follow the teacher-scholar model, have diverse expertise, and are involved in a wide variety of both basic and applied research. Our faculty are funded by numerous external agencies such as the NIH, NSF, and USDA to run student-centered laboratories, and engage in progressive pedagogical techniques to offer a robust learn-by-doing experience for our students who are mostly first-generation students and members of minoritized groups. In addition, our location in Southern California positions our faculty as ideal collaborators with plentiful nearby universities such as California Institute of Technology (Caltech), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); etc. A focus on teamwork and cooperative activities is well developed. For more information, see the Department website: http://www.cpp.edu/~biology/.
  We demonstrate academic quality, relevance, and excellence through teaching, learning, scholarship, and creative activities with student-centered faculty in an evidence-based culture. The department of Biological Sciences, and Cal Poly Pomona as a whole, is committed to being the model for an inclusive polytechnic experience that inspires creativity and innovation, embraces local and global challenges, and drives social mobility.
  The Position: We are seeking one candidate for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Plant Physiology. The area of specialty is open. Possible research areas include but are not limited to hormone and environmental signaling and responses, nutrient relations, photosynthesis, plant-microbe interactions, plant stress responses, secondary metabolites, climate adaptations and resilience, and water relations. The successful candidate will have the potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching and for developing an externally-funded research program that will involve undergraduate and Master’s students. The candidate will be expected to teach Plant Physiology. Other teaching opportunities may include Form and Function in Plants, undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, and introductory biology. The applicant will be expected to assist in curriculum development, advise students, serve on department, college, and university committees, and engage in professional activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:

• Ph.D. in botany, biology, or a related field from an accredited university. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.
• Postdoctoral research experience or equivalent.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and equity. Evidence should be provided in a Student Success Statement that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success”
• Potential to establish an externally funded active research program with undergraduate and/or master’s students.
• Background and experience necessary to perform and teach new/cutting edge techniques in the classroom and in research settings at the undergraduate and master’s levels.

• Demonstrated potential to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, service, and a commitment to working in an inclusive environment.

  Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• University teaching experience

• Experience or familiarity with techniques that promote student engagement and success
• Evidence of conducting scholarly research activities with undergraduate and/or graduate students
• Evidence of securing past external funding
• Experience with contemporary/cutting-edge technologies in one’s field
• Evidence of independence and initiative in research
• Experience or other demonstrated potential to develop courses in one’s field under the plant physiology discipline

Please refer the Job description for details