Biology Faculty, Full-time

Calvin University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty member to join the Department of Biology beginning in August 2025 at the rank of assistant professor. Candidates who can fulfill needs in physiological ecology (focused on plant or animal systems) or in anatomy, physiology, and / or behavioral biology are especially encouraged to apply. We will also consider candidates in other areas of biology that connect to our department's mission and programs.

REQUIREMENTS

The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.

Candidates must hold a PhD in Biology or a related field. All candidates should be able to demonstrate teaching skills appropriate for undergraduates. Knowledge of varied pedagogical strategies and instructional technologies that promote learning with diverse student audiences is a plus. Candidates should also be prepared to demonstrate good potential for sustaining research and scholarship involving undergraduate students.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.

The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations). Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.

FACULTY RESOURCES

Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.

ABOUT THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

In the Biology Department at Calvin, we take seriously our calling to investigate the diversity, organization, and functioning of the living world and to provide a Christian model for its study, care, and keeping. We offer undergraduate majors in biology, neuroscience, and environmental health and conservation. We also contribute to graduate, pre-professional, honors, and liberal arts core programs at Calvin. Into nearly every Biology course we integrate hands-on work in the field or laboratory, some of which is connected to faculty research projects involving students, academic collaborators, and community partners. Reflecting our global citizenship values, Calvin Biology faculty regularly offer off-campus courses in Belize, China, Netherlands, and New Zealand. Our graduates are sought after because of the depth and breadth of their learning experiences in biology, and because of their liberal arts approach to problem-solving.

ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ's agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,600 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate level offerings. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to raise a family. For more information, please visit Careers at Calvin | Calvin University .

Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment. Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age. Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion.

TO APPLY

Complete the online application process and attach the following :

• Letter of application that addresses the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including your interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University
• Full curriculum vitae
• A teaching philosophy statement (approximately 200-400 words)
• Copies of your graduate and undergraduate transcripts
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin 21 October 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Contact department chair, David Koetje, at david.koetje@calvin.edu, with questions.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.