Department: Biology
Rank: Professor
Annual Basis: 9 Month

Application Deadline

February 12, 2024; position open until filled.

Required Application Materials

With your online application, please upload:

1. Cover letter (up to 2 pages).
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Research statement that discusses: (i) the impact of previous research, (ii) future research goals (including plans for obtaining funding), and (iii) how the research plan complements and enhances the research mission within the Department of Biology and the University of Oregon (up to 3 pages).
4. Leadership statement that covers: (i) leadership experience, broadly defined, including but not limited to department administration, interdisciplinary multi-investigator grants, graduate training grants, and other complex oversight roles, (ii) the candidate’s approach to addressing challenges, considering various perspectives and outcomes, and finding practical solutions, and (iii) the vision in working collaboratively with the diverse faculty, staff, and students of the Biology Department (up to 3 pages).
5. Teaching philosophy and vision statement that includes: (i) previous experience with modernizing curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse student body, (ii) experience with mentoring and training within and beyond the lab, and (iii) vision for working collaboratively to elevate the undergraduate and graduate educational mission, including expanding student interest, retention, and diversity within the Department (up to 2 pages).
6. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement that highlights: (i) knowledge of, experience with, and interest in dimensions of DEI; (ii) a track record of engagement in activities that advance DEI; and (iii) vision for engaging with departmental, university, and other interest groups to advance DEI in the Department of Biology (up to 2 pages).

Reference information will be requested later in the review process, upon advancement to the short list of candidates.

Position Announcement

The University of Oregon invites applications for the position of Head of Department of Biology. The joint administrative and academic position is based at the University of Oregon’s main campus in Eugene, Oregon, and will be appointed as a tenured full professor in the Department of Biology. A successful Department Head will bring an ambitious and compelling vision for the role of Head of the Department of Biology at the University of Oregon. The ideal candidate will have a broad interest in the life sciences and enthusiasm to engage with colleagues across diverse subdisciplines of biology. They will show a strong commitment to the educational mission of a public university. They will demonstrate a robust record of advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will bring an internationally recognized record of research accomplishment with a strong history of research impact and mentorship. The area of research focus is open, though a successful candidate’s expertise should complement and advance the research expertise of the department and university.

The Department Head will take leadership roles spanning research, teaching, and community. Key roles for the department head include ensuring that the department’s research, teaching, and service missions are met; leading and working effectively with faculty, students, and staff; representing the Department of Biology to the public, the broader academy, the university administration, and other stakeholders; leading a successful and collaborative research lab that integrates with current strengths and expands the research impact of the department; directing the teaching mission for Biology undergraduate and graduate education that enhances recruitment and retention of students; fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels from public outreach to education to faculty development; building a healthy and respectful community, including recruiting and supporting all faculty, staff, and students; providing oversight of institutional policy within the department. The position will be for a term of five years with the possibility of renewal. The applicant should currently be in a position equivalent to a Full Professor.

Department or Program Summary

The Department of Biology consists of ~50 faculty spanning diverse research and teaching areas including ecological structure and management, evolutionary mechanisms, microbial communities and their hosts, molecular structure and mechanisms, molecular genetics, cell biology, developmental and regenerative biology, neural circuits and computation, natural ethology, and theoretical and computational approaches to modeling and predicting living systems. The Department’s educational mission focuses on undergraduate and graduate coursework, lab work, mentorship, and training. Biology career instructors and tenure-track faculty collaboratively contribute to the curriculum of the Department. The Department’s mission is supported by ~15 expert administrative staff. Most research faculty are affiliated with one of four institutes, the Institute of Neuroscience, the Institute of Molecular Biology, the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Faculty members also participate extensively in related centers of excellence including the META Center for Host-Microbe Systems Biology, the Center for Genome Function, and the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.

Minimum Requirements

• Terminal degree in Biology, or equivalent degree in a related field (e.g. PhD, MD).
• Twelve years experience post-terminal degree, or rank of Full Professor or equivalent held at another institution.

About the University

The University of Oregon (UO) is an R1 institution, a member of the Association of American Universities, and enrolls ~20,000 undergraduate and ~4,000 graduate students. The UO recently joined the Big Ten Conference, with student athlete competition within the new group starting in 2024. UO will also join the Big Ten Academic Alliance, bringing together research and academic institutions sharing a common mission of research, graduate, professional, and undergraduate teaching, and public service. The 295-acre main UO campus features state-of-the-art facilities in an arboretum-like setting, with satellite campuses in Portland and on the coast in Charleston. The main campus is located in Eugene, a vibrant city of ~200,000 within easy traveling distance of the Pacific Coast, the Cascade Mountains, Portland, and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. The University supports its educational mission through modern libraries, teaching, laboratory classrooms, field research opportunities, and extensive undergraduate and graduate mentored training. The University supports its research mission through generous research space and state-of-the-art Core Facilities including the Genomics and Cell Characterization Core Facility, the Imaging Microscopy Core, the Center for Advanced Materials Characterization, and the Research Advanced Computing Services. Clinical and bioengineering opportunities are supported via collaborations with Oregon Health Sciences University and the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.