Job Details

Assistant Professor of Biology - Human Anatomy & Physiology

Position Number: 9778586
Location: Tacoma, United States
Position Type: Science - Biology

The Department of Biology at Pacific Lutheran University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning September 1, 2027. The successful applicant will have an expertise in teaching human anatomy and physiology. The position carries a teaching load of 6 courses per year with both lecture and lab sections counting toward that total. The individual's annual teaching responsibilities will include participation in the human anatomy and physiology sequence, including the use of cadaveric specimens. In addition, the successful candidate will teach small, engaging upper-division courses in anatomy and/or physiology and will have the opportunity to develop courses aligned with their areas of expertise. We also seek a candidate who will maintain an active scholarship program that complements and broadens the department's existing strengths while providing opportunities for undergraduate student participation. Scholarship may include disciplinary research, pedagogical research, or other scholarly activities appropriate to the candidate's area of expertise. Interdisciplinary collaborations with other academic units, including Kinesiology, are welcomed. The biology department is a vibrant, student-centered academic community committed to helping students understand the complexity and diversity of life while developing the skills to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and engage in scientific discovery. Our faculty represent a broad range of biological disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, ecology, and evolution. We emphasizelearning biology by doing biology, with hands-on laboratory and field experiences, undergraduate research, and close faculty-student mentoring woven throughout the curriculum. Our students pursue diverse pathways into health professions, graduate and professional programs, research, environmental science, education, and other careers in the life sciences. We are looking for an individual who identifies first and foremost as an educator and is dedicated to using effective and inclusive teaching methods and practices. Our students come from various backgrounds with different values and beliefs. Many of them are first-generation college students, non-traditional students, students of color, andLGBTQstudents. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who can facilitate discussions across diverse perspectives and who share our commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in their teaching approaches. Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Teach assigned courses at the undergraduate level, which includes upper division courses.
Engage undergraduates in their scholarship.
Hold regular student hours.
Attend regular department meetings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strong background in anatomy and physiology.
Knowledge of effective and inclusive teaching and learning strategies.
Commitment to working effectively with a diverse faculty and student body.
Demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching at the undergraduate level within a liberal arts setting.
Ability to communicate effectively.

Required Qualifications:

Ph.D. in biology or related field.ABDwill be considered, but Ph.D. must be in hand by September 1, 2027.
The applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire dateANDlegally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with cadavers.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should submit the following:

Cover letter;
Curriculum vitae;
Research agenda;
List of three references;
Statement of teaching philosophy in which you describe your goals for student learning, the methods you use to help students achieve them, and how you assess student learning. This statement should explicitly address how you will create an inclusive learning environment that is attuned to diversity and equity.

To apply, go to: https://employment.plu.edu/postings/8889 For questions or more information, please contact Amy Siegesmund atsiegesam@plu.edu Other Information: Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students.PLUeducators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren't afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone.PLUsupports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force. BecausePLUis a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 202425 academic year, 40.6 percent ofPLUundergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 48.0 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Granteligible. Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,700 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions.PLUis located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound. PLUadministration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty-shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions.PLUis an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 orhumr@plu.edu. Clickherefor detailed benefits information.