Teaching Specialist

This teaching specialist position will provide classroom teaching for Foundations of Biology lab course sections, either in BIOL 1961 or BIOL 3004, for spring semester 2025. They will attend weekly in-person TA training meetings, grade student coursework, and participate in minor course development. They will also grade lecture exams for BIOL 1951 or BIOL 2003.

80% - Teach one BIOL 1961 lab section or two BIOL 3004 sections, grade student work
20% - Grade exams as assigned, participate in trainings/meetings

Masters degree is normally required. The appointee is not required to have the same credentials expected of faculty, but must have demonstrated competence to teach the course material. Professional and/or teaching experience related to assigned instructional responsibilities may be required.

The University of Minnesota has a national reputation in biology teaching and educational research. To build on existing strengths, the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning was created in July 2014 as a partnership between the College of Biological Sciences and the College of Education and Human Development. The mission of our department is to discover, apply and share research-based strategies that transform biology education. With strengths in both biological and pedagogical research, the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning strives to be part of a tradition of excellence. Through our ongoing research, our department members contribute to the growing understanding of how students learn; through their teaching and outreach, we model the implementation of evidence-based educational research; and through our mentoring of graduate students and colleagues, we will help build a strong community of teaching scholars of national reputation.

Location: St. Paul

Pay Range: $27.23 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 50%-100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

This position will remain open until filled, but application review will begin November 18, 2024. We expect to start Zoom interviews by early December. Application materials need to be submitted online in PDF format with the applicant's last name in the PDF title; applications cannot be considered until all of the following materials have been uploaded:

1. Resume/CV
2, Cover letter describing the applicant's approach to teaching and highlighting qualifications relevant to job requirements, including an explanation of how the applicant meets the required (and desirable, if appropriate) qualifications of the position

The Department of Biology Teaching and Learning values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion along all axes of identity (race, gender, orientation, disability, etc.). We seek colleagues who share this value and can add to our expertise in these areas to join us and the work we are doing. The Department's full DEI statement is available at: https://cbs.umn.edu/academics/departments/btl/about-btl/dei

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).