Assistant Professor Position – Plant Biochemistry and Synthetic Biology

Department of Plant Biology
College of Biological Sciences
University of California, Davis

As part of UC Davis’ commitment to hire leading research faculty with an outstanding commitment to research, teaching, and service who will promote the success of all students, including historically underserved and marginalized student communities, and address the needs of our increasingly diverse state and student population, the College of Biological Sciences announces a 9-month, tenure track Assistant Professor Position in the Department of Plant Biology (PLB).

This position is intended for early career scientists who have and will continue to leverage modern technological advances in biochemistry, synthetic biology or closely aligned disciplines. The Department seeks a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary scientist who will capitalize on a broad range of questions pursued at a variety of scales (from the molecular and cellular to the whole plant and ecosystem level).

The appointee will be expected to carry out high-level innovative teaching and curriculum development, including contribution to teaching within a new interdisciplinary Systems and Synthetic Biology undergraduate major, in areas consistent with the broad goals of the undergraduate majors in the College of Biological Sciences (CBS). The appointee will be expected to teach 1.5 undergraduate courses per year in the departmental and/or in the CBS undergraduate curriculum.

As one of the country’s leading R1 institutions, UC Davis seeks candidates with exceptional potential for research, teaching, and inclusive excellence. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the barriers preventing full participation of members from historically underserved and marginalized student communities in higher education, such as (but not limited to) black, indigenous, people of color, women, individuals self-identifying as LGBTQIA+, veterans, differently-abled individuals, economically disadvantaged groups, first-generation, undocumented students, or students at the intersections of these categories. The successful candidate will have an accomplished track record (calibrated to career stage) of teaching, research, service and outreach activities addressing the needs of these underserved groups, and a clearly articulated vision of how their work at UC Davis will contribute to the University’s mission of serving the needs of our diverse state and student population. Applicants’ track record of engagement and activity related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as their plans for future engagement will be a significant part of the overall evaluation of the candidate’s qualifications for this faculty appointment. Guidelines for the Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can be found here: https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/guidelines-writing-diversity-statement.

We desire applicants who have identified strengths and experiences in the following areas:

• A Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Biological Science, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Synthetic Biology, or a related discipline, with significant post-doctoral research experience in the fields of biochemistry or synthetic biology.
• Excellence in research that complements or extends existing research strengths in the Department of Plant Biology and the ability to establish a cutting-edge research

program and attract extramural funding on topics related to biochemistry and synthetic biology that conforms with the mission of both the Department of Plant Biology and the College of Biological Sciences.

• Evidence or strong potential for commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion for historically underserved and marginalized student communities, and how this commitment integrates with teaching, research, and service.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching. Must demonstrate potential or evidence of ability to perform well at both graduate and undergraduate levels and to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses.

For fullest consideration, please review the full position description, which provides guidance on application requirements and recommendations to strengthen your application: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04415. Applicants should submit the following materials online by November 19, 2021: a Cover Letter, current Curriculum Vitae, Statement of Research and Future Research Plans (3-4 pages), Statement of Teaching Accomplishments, Philosophy, and/or Interests (1-2 pages), and Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (1-2 pages), and contact information for three to five referees who could write supporting letters on your behalf. Initial review of applications will be conducted using anonymized versions of the Statement of Research, and the Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. For questions regarding this recruitment and search, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Professor Steven Theg (smtheg@ucdavis.edu) or PLB Department CAO, Lisa Blake (lmblake@ucdavis.edu).

Our Commitment

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of California, Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Please review the full Job Posting to learn about the initiatives that keep UC Davis an inclusive and safe campus for our incredibly diverse students and faculty: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04415

The University

UC Davis is a distinguished university, ranked 5th nationally by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education and 10th nationally by US News and World Report among U.S. public universities overall and for research funding. It is also ranked #1 by Forbes Magazine as “The 13 Most Important STEM Colleges for Women.” Forbes has also ranked UC Davis as 35th among the Best Employers for Diversity. Please review the full position description to learn more about the acclaimed University and the notable rankings we have received regarding diversity, environmental sustainability, work-life balance, more: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04415

Apply Here: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04415

In compliance with federal and state laws and university policy, the College of Biological Sciences and the Department of Plant Biology will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national

origin, ancestry, marital status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, handicap, medical condition, or against disabled veterans or veterans of the Vietnam era.

UC Davis has a strong institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and received an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation award for promoting diversity in STEM faculty, with emphasis   on   Hispanic   Women/Latinas  (h  ttp://ucd-advance.ucdavis.edu/).  Several UC Davis ADVANCE initiatives, such as the Center for Multicultural Perspectives in Science (CAMPOS), in addition to Work-Life programs offered by the Office of the Vice Provost Academic Affairs are working together to make UC Davis a model for inclusivity and collegiality for all academic faculty, staff and students.

UC Davis supports family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to assist an invited faculty recruitment candidate with the care of an infant during the candidate’s visit.

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) and Capital Resource Network (CRN) (https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/capital-resource-network) are services designed to support departments’ and deans’ offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. Eligibility for POP services is limited; for full program details please visit the website: https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/partner-opportunities-program-pop. For questions regarding how these policies/programs affect academic appointees, contact Assistant Vice Provost Binnie Singh at binsingh@ucdavis.edu.

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family, and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a nationally         recognized                               Work-Life                 Program                 for                        Academics (https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/work-life) that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community.

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underserved racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA+ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see this website: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the recruiting college.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (https://www.e-verify.gov).

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment, UC Davis conducts a reference check on all first choice candidates for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions. The reference check involves contacting the administration of the applicant's previous institution(s) to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University's Faculty Code of Conduct. To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search for assistant professor to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled "Authorization to Release Information" into RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.  Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists considered for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions will be subject to reference checks.