Assistant Professor-FixedTerm

Position Summary

The Department of Physiology (PSL) at Michigan State University (MSU) seeks an engaging Assistant Professor with a strong interest in undergraduate education who is trained in neuroscience or a closely related biomedical discipline. This is a full-time, fixed-term (non-tenure track), academic year appointment (9-month).

Appointments are for one academic year and are renewed annually based on funding and performance. The successful candidate must demonstrate effective teaching of neuroscience, physiology, or other related classes to undergraduates.

Specific duties include: 1) designing and teaching a new writing-intensive undergraduate course focused on scientific communication; 2) working with Neuroscience faculty to implement the newly approved curriculum, including contributing to the development and teaching of upper- level lecture, seminar-style, and/or discussion-based neuroscience courses; and 3) playing an active and integral role in the broader mission of excellence in undergraduate education within the Neuroscience Program and PSL department especially outreach activities in the community along with departmental committee service.

Instructional duties for this faculty position may also include working with a teaching team (composed of other faculty, academic and technical staff, graduate teaching assistants, and/or undergraduate learning assistants) to develop and teach upper-level neuroscience courses, supervising staff and learning assistants, assessing student learning (including writing assignments), and reporting grades. 

The successful candidate will actively collaborate with current faculty and MSU informational technology staff to advance MSU’s strong commitment to undergraduate STEM education. The Department of Physiology recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture which actively seeks out and strengthens all voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. The Department of Physiology is committed to creating a welcoming teaching and learning environment and is interested in candidates of all backgrounds. The search committee is especially interested in candidates who, through their teaching and/or service, will contribute to the overall excellence of the academic community.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Neuroscience or related biomedical science

Minimum Requirements

• A Ph.D. or equivalent degree in neuroscience or related biomedical field by appointment start date
• Experience teaching neuroscience, or a related discipline, to undergraduates in the classroom
• Commitment to effectively teaching and engaging students of all backgrounds

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in evidence-based and active learning approaches to undergraduate teaching
• Experience teaching scientific communication at the undergraduate level
• Experience working productively in collaborative teams
• Interest in developing and leading scientific outreach events to engage with the community
• Commitment to professional pedagogical development

Required Application Materials

1. Cover letter describing your interest in the position and qualifications. The cover letter should address these prompts and be limited to 3 pages.

A. How has your education and experience prepared you to teach scientific communication, particularly in neuroscience? Provide evidence of your commitment to undergraduate teaching, including coursework, professional development, or prior experience. Highlight any experience developing and teaching writing-intensive or communication-focused courses, assessments that emphasize scientific writing and oral communication. Please also include interest and examples of communicating scientific information to the greater community through outreach events.

B. How have your experiences in academic or professional settings prepared you to collaborate with faculty in neuroscience and physiology? If applicable, describe your experience mentoring or supervising trainees of differing backgrounds and experiences (i.e. graduate and undergraduate assistants, teaching and/or research staff). C. How have you pursued professional development in pedagogy, scientific writing, and/or communication? How do you plan to continue growing in these areas at Michigan State University, and what contributions do you envision making to the neuroscience undergraduate major?

2. A teaching statement (limited to 1 page) that clarifies: 1) the overall philosophy of teaching scientific communication to undergraduate students with a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences and 2) methods or strategies for teaching students to effectively search for references, synthesize scientific literature and/or communicate scientific concepts in various formats.

3. Curriculum vitae

4. Names and email addresses of three references.

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin April 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically to the MSU Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu Posting Number 1029832. For more information, contact Dr. Michelle Mazei-Robison, Chair of the Search Committee at mazeirob@msu.edu.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations.

Review of Applications Begins On

04/15/2025

Website

https://physiology.natsci.msu.edu/

Department Statement

The discipline of physiology is uniquely positioned among the biomedical sciences to span the gulf between exploring the most fundamental aspects of biology and the most practical and applied problems of human and animal health. Faculty in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University work to understand how the vast array of molecular and cellular events successfully integrate to define the phenomenon of human existence.

THE PHYSIOLOGY DEPARTMENT MISSION:

• Identify factors and molecules that influence health and disease.
• Understand mechanisms of disease progression.
• Improve overall human and animal health through identification of novel therapeutic targets and treatments.
• Train future scientists in state-of-the-art physiology concepts & approaches.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.