Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Evolutionary Biology

Application deadline: 12 Oct 2023

The UBC Biology program, jointly administered by the Departments of Botany and Zoology, invites applications for a three-year lecturer position in evolutionary biology. The position is a joint position between the Departments of Zoology and Botany and is based at the UBC campus in Vancouver.  The Vancouver campus of UBC is situated on traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam).

The successful candidate will join the teaching team for BIOL 336 (Fundamentals of Evolutionary Biology), to both teach in and coordinate this multi-section course. Classroom teaching duties include: preparing and delivering clear, engaging and interactive classes; developing evaluations and interacting with students through office hours and using online tools. Coordination duties include organizing and facilitating teaching-team meetings; managing teaching assistants; and updating the website, learning activities, course materials and tutorial activities. Other duties include managing course and tutorial registrations.

The other duties of this position will include teaching in the First-Year Seminar in Science (SCIE 113). SCIE 113 is a small, seminar-style course in which students will develop scientific literacy and communication skills, learn about research at UBC, and consider topics in the philosophy of science. The course contributes to the BSc Communication Requirement, and thus the successful candidate will have an interest and experience in teaching oral and written communication skills.

The job may include teaching other biology courses from first-year (e.g., BIOL 121, Genetics, Evolution & Ecology) to more advanced levels. Some service duties may be assigned by the Heads of Botany and Zoology.

The applicant should have experience teaching large-enrolment undergraduate classes using interactive approaches (for example flipped or blended learning approaches), creating and administering learning assessments, conducting quantitative analyses and interpretation of evolutionary biology data, and mentoring and managing teaching assistants. We seek an individual with exceptional communication, organizational and teaching skills and a record of excellence in teaching. A PhD (preferred) or MSC in evolutionary biology or a closely related field is required, with a demonstrated ability to teach evolutionary biology.

The position is a three-year contract, subject to demonstration of satisfactory performance by the end of the first year. A Lecturer is a faculty member holding a renewable term appointment. Lecturer appointments are expected to be renewed for successive terms upon demonstration of excellence in teaching. Lecturers are eligible for a professional development leave of four months (with 80% salary for the period of the leave) every six years.

Please contact the Department of Zoology Manager of Human Resources at zoology.hr@ubc.ca for additional information. All email correspondence must indicate the Evolutionary Biology lecturer position in the subject line.

Application packages should include:

(i) a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position (2 pages max) including details of teaching and/or research expertise in specific subfields of evolutionary biology;
(ii) a curriculum vitae;
(iii) a brief teaching dossier (2-3 pages max), including a statement on teaching philosophy and examples of applications of that philosophy;

(iv) evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., teaching/course evaluations, peer-reviews of teaching); and
(v) names and contact information of three potential referees (note that these referees not be contacted until a candidate is short-listed)

The closing date for applications is October 12th at 5pm, with appointment anticipated to begin on January 1st, 2024. Applications are to be submitted on Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25643.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. Inclusion is built by individual and institutional responsibility through continuous engagement with diversity to inspire people, ideas, and actions for a better world. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

Also, within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed by contacting zoology.info@ubc.ca. 

Application deadline: 12 Oct 2023

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number NC-57511 during correspondence about this position.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

About Vancouver
Vancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada's third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It's the perfect backdrop to your academic research.