"Insect Science Education & Research Assistant Professor"

Position Overview

This is a 9-month, tenure track position at the Assistant professor level in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota with 70% teaching and 30% research responsibilities. The Department of Entomology offers a graduate program in Entomology and an undergraduate minor in Insect Science. The minor program offers in-person, on-line and hybrid courses plus research and outreach opportunities. This position will help sustain the Insect Science minor that has grown dramatically in recent years with a five-fold increase in course enrollments.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally recognized teaching and research program. Responsibilities in teaching will include design and delivery of innovative entomology-related courses and coordination of undergraduate training, aiming for program sustainability and growth. The candidate will also be expected to secure extramural funding to support a research program that integrates with their teaching portfolio and the needs of the Department. This activity may take several forms, such as research into pedagogy or involving undergraduates in entomological research. The candidate will have the opportunity to mentor undergraduate and graduate students and teach/co-teach graduate courses as well.

This position is based on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. The expected start date is to be negotiated, but an arrival by spring semester 2026 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Teaching (70%):

• The successful candidate will be expected to design and teach at least 9 credits per academic year of high quality, undergraduate courses in entomology geared towards the needs of students from inside and outside the Department.
• The successful candidate will be expected to offer courses in a variety of modalities (in-person, on-line, or hybrid) depending on student needs, as well as direct undergraduate students’ research projects.
• Service expectations include periodic representation on committees of the Department / College / University.

Research (30%):

• The successful candidate will develop an innovative, nationally and internationally recognized, externally funded research program.
• Research areas may include, but are not restricted to, pedagogical work in instructional strategies using insects as model organisms, macroecological and macroevolutionary research, innovative research in insect ecology, landscape ecology, insect physiology, invasive arthropod species, insect dynamics and climate change, conservation biology, IPM, pollination biology, or other areas that integrate with the strengths of the Department and offer opportunities for student involvement.
• The successful candidate will be encouraged to collaborate with faculty in the Department of Entomology and faculty in other Departments inside and outside of the College, as well as stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent degree in Entomology or related field
• Demonstrated experience with design, development, and delivery of course(s) with primary emphasis in entomology
• Record of mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students
• Record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with evidence-based best practices in teaching and different modalities of course delivery
• Experience with high enrollment courses (>100 students)
• Experience with curricular design and/or undergraduate program coordination at Department/College/University levels
• Record of obtaining extramural funding to support teaching and/or research
• Evidence of fostering a supportive learning environment across the learner spectrum