Assistant Professor of Teaching in Biostatistics and Data Science - tenure-track position

The closing date for applications is December 15, 2023

The Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia seeks candidates to fill a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Teaching position, in Biostatistics and Data Science in the Biology Undergraduate Program. The UBC Biology Program, which is administered by the Zoology and Botany departments, places a premium on excellent teaching, with 14 tenure-track faculty in the Educational Leadership stream. Our courses emphasize state-of-the-art approaches to teaching and learning, and innovation and assessment of new approaches, in both large and small enrollment courses. The position is based at UBC’s Vancouver campus. The Vancouver campus of UBC is situated on traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam).

For this position in the educational leadership tenure stream, applicants must have expertise in biology, statistics, and data science, and a PhD is valued but not required. They must have teaching experience in biostatistics or data science. Candidates must or will demonstrate ability or potential to teach a range of subject matter in biology at all levels of undergraduate instruction (first-year through fourth-year), including large-enrollment courses. Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of outstanding teaching ability and the potential to contribute to ongoing curriculum and course development. Preference will be given to candidates who have used teaching approaches that have been supported by discipline-based educational research. Candidates must be committed to improving biology teaching and leading collaborative teaching teams. They will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, to create a welcoming community for all, particularly for those who are historically, persistently or systemically marginalized.

Duties of the position will include: teaching courses in biostatistics (specifically, BIOL300 Fundamentals of Biostatistics) and data science; the coordination of the teaching team for multiple sections of biostatistics lectures and tutorials (including supervision of graduate teaching assistants); the development of data science and statistics tutorials, and development of other courses including first year courses; and the development and coordination of strategies to integrate data science and biostatistics across our curriculum. As a member of the UBC Educational Leadership stream, the candidate is expected to demonstrate promise of educational leadership, and expected to meet the requirements for promotion and tenure within the prescribed time frame (as described here: https://science.ubc.ca/sites/science.ubc.ca/files/FacultyofScience_EL_DP.pdf and https://hr.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Educational_Leadership_Stream_Criteria.pdf). There will be opportunities to work in collaboration with Science Education Specialists (https://skylight.science.ubc.ca/contact) in the Biology program on course or curriculum development, or projects to assess pedagogy. In addition to the duties outlined above, the candidate is also expected to participate actively in departmental activities, service, events, and initiatives.

How to apply: 

Application packages must be submitted to Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25566.
It must include:

1. Cover letter (up to 2 pages) describing interest and overall fit to the position as described above, addressed to the search committee chairs, Dr. Darren Irwin and Dr. Kaitlyn Gaynor
2. Curriculum vitae, including a summary of teaching experience and evidence of effectiveness
3. Teaching statement (up to 2 pages) of teaching interests and philosophy
4. Diversity statement (up to 1 page) describing your lived background experience (if comfortable), and your past experience and future plans regarding working with a diverse student body, and contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion.
5. Contact information for three or more people willing to serve as references

The closing date for applications is December 15, 2023 with the appointment anticipated to begin on or after July 1, 2024.

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.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority, and members of historically marginalized groups will be given special consideration.

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 the Zoology Manager of Human Resources (zoology.hr@ubc.ca).