Assistant Professor of Biology, Cluster Hire at Metropolitan State University of Denver in Denver, CO

Job description

Department Biology About the University Established in 1965, Metropolitan State University ( MSU Denver ) was founded to serve students underrepresented in higher education whose life paths and experiences do not fit the traditional mold. Sixty years later, the University continues to serve over 16,000 of Colorado’s extraordinary and diverse students, providing them with the foundation on which to build their unique aspirations. As the third largest public institution of higher education in Colorado, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. As a university community, we are proud to have earned the federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and to work at the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success. At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff. About the Department of Biology The mission of the Department of Biology is to foster a learning environment where students from diverse backgrounds can build the conceptual framework to examine living organisms from the molecular level to entire ecosystems gaining comprehensive knowledge of biological principles. MSU Denver is a primarily undergraduate serving institution (PUI) and the Biology department supports development of inclusive teaching practices that engage students in active learning and community building in the classroom. As part of our commitment to innovative pedagogy, the Biology Department is a campus leader in engaging students in undergraduate research opportunities in the classroom, through course-based undergraduate research, and in faculty research laboratories and guiding students to build analytical, laboratory and field-based scientific skills necessary to conduct contemporary biological research, pursue graduate studies, or directly enter the workforce. Position Description The Department of Biology at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) seeks outstanding candidates for three tenure-track positions in the fields of microbiology, cell biology, genetics, and/or anatomy & physiology. Candidates will be expected to teach in classroom, laboratory, and/or virtual settings and must be able to use and apply current technologies and evidence-based, inclusive teaching practices. Faculty in these positions should have experience or skills applicable to teaching or developing courses in any combination of the following: introductory courses in general biology, microbiology, and/or anatomy & physiology; and upper division courses such as cell biology, genetics, virology, microbial genetics, comparative vertebrate anatomy, animal physiology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, and/or genomics. Candidates selected through this curricular cluster hire will be given modest start-up funds to support their scholarly work in science and/or science pedagogy while engaging undergraduates in research activities. In addition, tenure-track faculty support student progress to degree completion through academic and career advising, and provide service to the department, school, university, community, and/or profession. This position requires presence in Colorado on MSU Denver's Auraria campus for in person teaching and ot