Eastern Kentucky University
Department of Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor
Molecular Biologist

About the Position: Tenure-track at the level of Assistant Professor, 9-month appointment, to begin August 15, 2008. Teaching responsibilities will include courses in the department's undergraduate Biology program (BS) and graduate degree (MS) program. Primary courses to be taught include Molecular Biology and Cell Biology. Additional courses will be assigned based on the candidate's expertise and departmental needs, and may include the following: Introductory Biology, Genetics, Developmental Molecular Biology, and upper-division and graduate-level courses in area of specialty. The typical teaching load is 12 hours per semester, but new faculty can expect to teach 9 hours per semester during their first two years.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish an active, extramurally funded research program and mentor undergraduate and graduate (MS) students, and to interact with the forensic science program in the Department of Chemistry. Research experience and interest in eukaryotic systems preferred. A $60,000 research startup fund has been secured for the successful candidate.

Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution required at time of hire. Candidates must have a strong record of research accomplishments and must provide evidence of excellent teaching and communication skills.

Applications must be submitted online via the “employment” link on the EKU homepage (http://www.eku.edu) or through http://jobs.eku.edu (requisition number 0602095) and must include an application letter, statement of teaching philosophy, research plan, copy of transcripts, and resume (including the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references; letters of recommendation not required at this time).

Review of applications will begin on February 8, 2008 and will continue until position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Pat Calie (Pat.Calie@eku.edu), Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475-3102. Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a satisfactory criminal background check and educational credential verification.  Eastern Kentucky University is an EEO/AA institution that values diversity in its faculty, staff, and student body. In keeping with this commitment, the University welcomes applications from diverse candidates and candidates who value diversity.

About the University: Eastern Kentucky University is a regional, comprehensive institution. EKU attracts about 16,000 students to the main campus in Richmond and several satellite centers from its Appalachian and central Kentucky service region and beyond.

About the Department: Students enjoy close working relationships with 22 faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences. Many faculty members are involved in supervising undergraduate and M.S. graduate research. The undergraduate program in wildlife management is one of only two in the state and the only degree program of its kind in the service region. Currently, 45 full and part-time students are enrolled in the M.S. program in biology. Many are attracted by the department’s reputation for ecological, environmental, and behavioral scholarship. Faculty research is facilitated by our lab facilities, a system of natural areas owned by the university, and close proximity to areas (such as the Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area and Bluegrass Army Depot) that provide exciting opportunities for field research. In addition, plans are now underway for a new science building that will include state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities. The anticipated completion date for the new science building is Spring Semester 2011.

About the Community: Richmond, with a population of about 30,000, is located where Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region meets the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. There are varied cultural, historical, and outdoor recreational opportunities, with several state parks, Daniel Boone National Forest (including Red River Gorge), and national parks (Great Smoky Mountains and Mammoth Cave) within a few hours drive. Lexington, a convenient half-hour drive to the north, offers urban amenities in a metropolitan setting, as well as opportunities for collaboration with faculty at the University of Kentucky. The cost of living is relatively low (Richmond’s Cost of Living Index is 87 and the national average is 100).