Luther College invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology with expertise in ecology. This is a one-year, full-time, non-tenure track position, for the 2024-25 academic year. PhD or ABD and teaching experience required. The successful applicant will demonstrate potential for excellence in college teaching and a commitment to the liberal arts.
Teaching responsibilities include an upper-level ecology course, participation in our team-taught introductory Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity course, and courses in the applicant’s area of expertise that complement current departmental offerings and needs of the college. Potential teaching areas may include but are not limited to courses for majors or non-majors including specialized subdivisions of ecology (e.g. disease ecology, agricultural ecology, spatial ecology, urban ecology); environmental conservation; organismal courses (e.g. botany, ichthyology, ornithology, parasitology, virology); or applied courses (e.g. epidemiology, GIS, fisheries biology). Full time teaching load is spread over the fall, January, and spring terms.
Luther College is an undergraduate liberal arts college with a population of fifteen-hundred students. Our faculty and students are highly engaged in academics and research, music programs, athletics, social justice, sustainability, and service. Founded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther values its heritage, just as it values the diversity of its students, staff, and faculty, who hail from many faith backgrounds and heritages. Coming from 40 states and 62 countries, 13% of our students are domestic students of color and 13% are international students.
With over 700 acres of college-owned natural areas (prairie, oak woodland, Upper Iowa River), this is an ideal setting to teach field biology. Our location in the beautiful Driftless region of northeast Iowa is a regional hub for outdoor recreation, two nationally recognized healthcare systems, top ranked schools, business, agriculture, specialty retail, dining and tourism. In this vibrant and scenic rural setting, we are an easy 70-mile drive to three urban areas including Rochester, MN, home of Mayo Clinic and an IBM major campus.
Luther College is committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty, with a focus on mentoring and providing development opportunities and support to new faculty cohorts. This support includes new faculty workshops, development and research funding, faculty mentoring groups, programming by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, providing membership to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), and opportunities through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). Applicants from historically underrepresented groups, in particular ethnic, racial and gender groups are encouraged to become a candidate for the following position.
Apply: Review of applications will begin immediately and continues until the position is filled. Apply for position at https://www.luther.edu/offices/hr/careers. Applicants’ dossier will include:
- Cover letter describing candidate’s interest in the position
- curriculum vitae
- statement of teaching philosophy, experiences, and interests
- evidence of effective teaching (e.g., student evaluations, sample syllabi, other course materials)
- unofficial graduate and undergraduate transcripts
- three references (requests for letters of recommendation will be sent later in the search process)
Inquiries about the position may be directed to Kirk Larsen, Search Chair & Head of the Department of Biology, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101; phone: 563-387-1558; email: larsenkj@luther.edu. Additional information about the college is available by visiting the college website www.luther.edu. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to hr@luther.edu.
