29083BR

Job Title:

Asst Prof/Asst Curator in Bee Biodiversity & Evolution

Department:

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Primary Campus:

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Job Description:

Assistant Professor, EEB (0.5 FTE)

Research (20%):

Conduct impactful scholarly research in the biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution of bees. Faculty members are expected to develop and maintain a productive research program of national and international stature that substantially advances scholarship and knowledge discovery throughout their career, while continuing to advance in depth and importance. Faculty members are also expected to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals and books, to gain extramural support for their research activities, and to present findings at professional scientific conferences.

Teaching and Student Mentoring (20%):

Teach the equivalent of one 3-credit course/academic year in EEB (courses may be cross-listed or cross-referenced with other departments) and strive for excellence in the classroom. As part of this work, they will develop curricular programs such as courses in entomology, biodiversity science, organismal biology, etc. in EEB, and prepare for and attend all class meetings. (In case of absence, faculty members must make arrangements for a substitute to teach class; classes should not be canceled.) They will also: provide instruction throughout the semester, usually three hours/week; develop assignments, administer tests, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades; hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught (while being available for reasonable appointments if a student cannot meet during scheduled office hours); mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students in independent research; adhere to program, College, and University policies.

Service (10%):

Tenure-track faculty members are expected to participate in appropriate professional activities, such as attending EEB meetings, carrying out EEB committee assignments, attending national and international meetings or conferences, serving the College and KU as appropriate, and serving the profession as a reviewer for grant proposals and manuscripts, in an editorial capacity, or as an officer of a professional society.

Assistant Curator, Biodiversity Institute (0.5 FTE)

A curator is charged with responsibilities of collection stewardship and administration, research and student mentoring and training, and service that contributes to the mission of the BI. Specific responsibilities are: (1) administration of staff and resources in the Division of Entomology; (2) stewardship of the division’s collections and associated data; (3) maintenance of productive research programs; (4) training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students; (5) service to the BI, the University and the profession; and (6) participation in the museum’s public program and outreach activities.

Evaluation of curators for merit, promotion, and tenure is based on a weighting of 40% collection stewardship and administration, 40% research and student mentoring, and 20% service to the BI, profession and public programs. The percentages below are adjusted to reflect the scientist’s 50% appointment in the BI. Because the BI is a KU Designated Research Center, acquisition of extramural funding for research is weighted more heavily in annual merit reviews than it might be in other units.

Administration and Collection Stewardship (20%) (i.e., Professional Performance)

Administrative duties of the Curator include supervision of personnel (currently two collection managers in the Division of Entomology) and the physical and fiscal resources of the Curator’s division (including substantial space on KU’s West Campus and extensive endowment funds). The curator will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Division of Entomology such that they are consistent and collaborative with the activities and goals of the BI. The curator will have the primary responsibility for the acquisition, accession, growth, care, management, and use of the division’s collection and associated data for research, education, and public service. The curator will also be charged with directing the strategic growth of the collection, which should be focused on research and tailored to resources and working with the collection managers of the division to identify the physical, curatorial, and data-management needs of the division’s collections. Moreover, they will seek appropriate solutions for necessary improvements, including submission of proposals for extramural support of collection care and improvement of the physical specimens and associated data. The curator will supervise the two collection managers in the maintenance of appropriate practices for: (1) accession, curation, and conservation of specimens; (2) management of loans of specimens, requests for data, and use of specimens by students and visiting scholars; and (3) management of collection data.

Research and Student Mentoring (20%)

The curator is expected to develop and maintain an internationally recognized, productive, impactful, externally funded, specimen-based research program that contributes to the understanding of bee diversity and evolution. The research program at the BI will also be in keeping with the goals and accountabilities of EEB. Such research will include publication (print or electronic) of original research results in peer-reviewed scholarly publications, regular dissemination of research results at professional meetings and via other outlets as appropriate, and acquisition of extramural support for research activities. The curator is further expected to advise, train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students including those whose studies are related to the systematic collections or other resources in the Division of Entomology and the BI. Graduate and undergraduate training and mentoring at the BI will also be in keeping with the goals and accountabilities of EEB.

Professional Service, Public Programs and Outreach Activities (10%)

The curator is expected to provide service to the University community, the BI, and the national and international scientific and biocollections communities including through membership on committees, the review of papers and grant proposals, and participation in editorial activities. The curator is also expected to contribute to the public education and exhibits programs of the Natural History Museum. Public outreach additionally includes authoring publications for popular audiences, providing lectures and tours to public and school groups, activities with interest groups, participation in media interviews and news releases, and responses to public inquiries about natural history.

Faculty Code

All faculty/curators are expected to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, currently viewable at:

https://policy.ku.edu/FacultyCodeKULawrence/faculty-code-of-rights

Req ID (Ex: 10567BR) :

29083BR

Disclaimer:

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.

Contact Information to Applicants:

For more information visit https://eeb.ku.edu/ or https://biodiversity.ku.edu/ or contact the search committee chair Dr. Bruce S. Lieberman ( blieber@ku.edu ).

Position Number:

00001627

Required Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in Entomology, Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology or related field is expected by the start date of appointment.

2. Evidence of a strong, collections-based research program in the biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution of bees; and demonstrated plan to obtain extramural grants to support research and collections.

3. Demonstrated effort and a plan to contribute to the service activities and stewardship of the entomological research collection and associated data for research, education, and service.

4. Commitment to excellence and innovation in the teaching and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students.

5. Demonstrated commitment to teaching courses in areas such as entomology, organismal biodiversity and evolution, general biology, and/or other courses in areas of expertise.

Using these requirements, applicants will be reviewed on their: (1) record of research, teaching, and curatorial experience; (2) graduate and/or postdoctoral experience; (3) record of research accomplishments, publications, productivity, and extramural funding; (4) statements of a) teaching philosophy, experience, and interests, b) research interests and future directions, and c) curatorial and data-management philosophy, experience, and interests; (5) professional references; and (6) research focus/expertise in bee biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution as they relate to the existing strengths of KU’s collection and the mission of the Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.

Employee Class:

F-Faculty

Advertised Salary Range:

Commensurate with experience

FTE:

1.0

Position Overview:

The University of Kansas (KU) invites applications for the Charles D. Michener Assistant Professor and Assistant Curator in Bee Biodiversity and Evolution. This position is a full-time, tenure-track academic year joint appointment in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB, 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent) and the Division of Entomology of the Biodiversity Institute (BI, 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent), a KU Designated Research Center. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an externally funded, internationally recognized, collections-based research program in bee biodiversity and evolution and have a demonstrated commitment to excellence in research, collections, teaching, mentoring and service. They will: conduct collection-based research addressing critical questions in the biodiversity, systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution of bees leading to publications in appropriate outlets; procure external funding to support their research program; teach courses and engage in mentorship contributing to the education of undergraduate and graduate students; contribute to the stewardship of the Biodiversity Institute’s extensive entomological collection; and engage in unit, College, University, and national service. A Ph.D. is expected by the start date of the appointment, and the successful candidate for the position must be eligible to work in the U.S. prior to starting the position.

About Participating Units

Founded in 1865, the University of Kansas (KU) is the state’s flagship university and a Carnegie doctoral/research-intensive R1 university with a $2.8 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. The institution is one of only 34 public members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), enrolls more than 28,000 students (19,000 undergraduates), and is located in Lawrence, a vibrant college town of 95,000 that boasts a lively downtown and is 40 minutes from the Kansas City metropolitan area and 30 minutes from the state capital, Topeka. The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is one of the largest and most productive departments in its field and at KU and offers teaching and research expertise from genes to paleobiology and taxa to ecosystems. The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute (BI), on the Lawrence campus, is a University Designated Research Center and one of the premier research and education institutes in the U.S. in archaeology, biodiversity science and informatics, biogeography, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, and phylogenetics, with a public facing Natural History Museum that offers numerous programs. The Snow Entomological Collection within the Biodiversity Institute is one of the largest university-based insect collections. Founded in 1870, it contains several historic and current taxonomic strengths, including a world-class bee collection.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Reg/Temp:

Regular

Application Review Begins:

01-Nov-2024

Anticipated Start Date:

18-Aug-2025

Additional Candidate Instruction:

A complete online application contains: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) statement of research interests and future directions (up to three pages); (3) statement of teaching philosophy, experience, and interests (up to three pages); (4) statement of curatorial and data-management philosophy, experience, and interests (up to three pages); (5) PDF copies of three selected publications/manuscripts; and (6) the names and contact information for three references.

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2024.