Assistant Professor Biology Forensics

Position Title: Assistant Professor Biology Forensics

Department: Biology

Location: Washburn University

The screening committee will review all applications submitted by February 20, 2023

Position Summary: Washburn University's Department of Biology invites applications for a 9-month, tenure track faculty position in Biology at the Assistant Professor level (Forensic Biologist) to begin August 1, 2023. The selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to pursuing teaching excellence, including a dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage students from diverse backgrounds.

Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in Topeka, Kansas that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students and was named the top public university in Kansas and the overall 14th best in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report for 2022-2023. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

The Washburn Biology Department offers degrees in the following majors: general biology, environmental biology, forensic biology, molecular biology & biotechnology, and biology secondary education. The B.S. in Forensic Biology degree is designed with future FEPAC accreditation in mind and the selected candidate will oversee this degree program and advise its majors. In addition to forensic biology, Washburn has active programs in forensic anthropology, forensic chemistry, forensic investigations, and digital forensics. The state-of-the-art Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Forensic Science Laboratory building on Washburn’s campus opened in November 2015 and houses teaching and research labs for our forensic programs. Exciting opportunities exist for collaboration with KBI forensic scientists and Washburn forensic faculty. Students also have internship opportunities through the KBI and other forensic labs. Research is a requirement of all biology students, and these experiences increase our graduates’ competitiveness in graduate school or the workplace.
Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body and to cultivating a vibrant and inclusive working environment and curriculum. We offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, a supportive leadership team, and a healthy work/life balance. At Washburn, we strive to ensure a campus climate that supports the success of every employee and appreciates the unique skills and expertise that each contributes to serving our students.

Essential Functions:
• Fulfill teaching expectations associated with a tenure-track appointment. Teach 12-hours per semester (either in-person or online) or a full workload as outlined in the faculty handbook.
• Teach and develop undergraduate classes and seminars as assigned and as dependent upon department needs, which may include lecture and lab courses in Introductory Biology, Introductory Forensic Biology, General Cellular Biology, General Genetics, Forensic Molecular Biology, and/or some combination of classes consistent with the candidate’s training and interests.
• Fulfill service expectations associated with a tenure-track appointment by engaging in service activities in the department, university, and profession.
• Fulfill expectations associated with a tenure-track appointment for scholarship.
• Establish a research program involving undergraduates, potentially collaborating with scientists or law enforcement at local forensic laboratories as part of Washburn’s Forensic Programs.
• Mentor and advise students interested in pursuing careers in forensics.

Required Qualifications:
• Doctoral degree in Biology or closely related field; or Master’s degree in Biology with a minimum of 4 years of professional forensic experience; or Master’s degree in Forensic Biology; or Master’s degree in Forensic Science. ABD applicants will be considered, with completion of the doctorate by August 1, 2024.
• Demonstrated commitment to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage students from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience teaching at the university level or professional workplace.
• Forensic biology teaching experience and course development.
• Experience or potential for research in a field of forensic biology.
• Experience or potential to involve undergraduate students in research projects.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
• Please submit a letter of interest, current CV, copies of transcripts, teaching philosophy statement that addresses inclusive teaching practices, evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., student or peer evaluations, teaching awards, etc.), an outline of research plans – especially those involving undergraduates, and the name/address/phone numbers of three current professional references.
• If you have questions about the position, please contact Dr. Andrew Herbig, Chair, Forensic Biology Search Committee (andrew.herbig@washburn.edu).
• The successful candidate will be required to submit to a background check prior to hire. Official transcripts are required at time of hire.