The Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for a tenure-track position in the Biology of Human-Altered Environments at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek to recruit colleagues whose research aims to understand biological processes within human-altered environments. Example areas of interest include (but are not limited to): ecological or evolutionary responses spanning molecular, physiological, organismal, population, community or ecosystem scales; mitigation by more resilient organisms or communities; and how social and ecological systems interact with each other. We emphasize these are examples only and encourage applications from all candidates working in the biology of organisms across all domains of life and their responses to human-induced rapid environmental change and/or interactions with human-altered environments, which may include agricultural systems, fisheries, urbanization, infrastructure, restoration efforts, or climate change. We are especially interested in candidates who utilize novel approaches that span levels of biological organization or spatial scales and that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Penn’s Department of Biology has a long-standing tradition of maintaining an integrated research and educational program across all basic biological sciences, including Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, Plant Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genomics, and Neuroscience. The Department values interdisciplinary research, collaboration and collegiality, and has a vision plan emphasizing Life in its Natural Context. This recruitment also aligns with the strategic plan of the School of Arts and Sciences: https://strategic-plan.sas.upenn.edu/.
The Department of Biology is committed to increasing the diversity and inclusion of people of all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in STEM fields. We aim to create an inclusive environment where all members of our community can thrive. The department has an action plan that includes outreach to pre-college students and the general public, increasing the inclusiveness of teaching, mentoring, and research for undergraduate students, and recruiting and supporting a diverse pool of graduate students and postdocs. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to one or more of these goals and should describe how they would do so in the research and teaching statements, including any description of the candidate’s prior experience working toward these goals.
We seek candidates who share our strong commitment to research, teaching and mentoring, and to a scholarly community shaped by values of inclusive excellence. The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to cultivating and sustaining a community of students, scholars, researchers, and staff that reflects the diversity of our world. We nurture working and learning environments that are affirming, equitable, and inclusive. As a community, we are committed to thoughtful discussions and dynamic interactions as we strive for an environment where everyone is supported and valued. Please see our School’s Inclusion and Antiracism Initiatives to learn more about our active priorities: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/2020-inclusion-and-anti-racism-initiatives.
A PhD or an equivalent degree in a relevant discipline is required at the start of the appointment.
