Specialist - Teacher-Fixed Term

Position Summary

The Department of Chemistry (www.chemistry.msu.edu) in the College of Natural Science at Michigan State University seeks two outstanding candidates for a fixed-term, 9-month academic-specialist position for our Undergraduate General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory Program, beginning August 16, 2024. This is a fixed-term academic staff position at the rank of Academic Specialist - Teaching for the evening laboratory sections. The Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory Program at the Department of Chemistry serves a diverse population of students interested in science-based and science-related careers with a focus on pre-professional students. The successful candidate will become part of a collaborative Chemistry Laboratory teaching team and will be the lead coordinator of the evening laboratory sections for either CEM 161 (general chemistry) or CEM 255 (organic chemistry) in the fall and spring semesters. Other responsibilities will include serving as the instructor for two laboratory sections of either CEM 161 or CEM 255 offered during the afternoon sections in the fall semester and two laboratory sections of either CEM 161 or CEM 255 in the spring semester. Responsibilities include working in a collaborative environment to prepare and deliver laboratory instructional materials and assist with training/mentoring/coordinating graduate teaching assistants. The person hired will have opportunities to be involved in ongoing campus-wide efforts to refine pedagogy in gateway science and mathematics courses.

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 -Chemistry or a closely related field

Minimum Requirements

• A PhD degree in Chemistry or a closely related field.
• Must be able to work on site until 9:00 p.m, Monday – Thursday when classes are in session.
• Teaching experience or potential of teaching as reflected in experiences communicating with and educating students or professionals (e.g. academic instructor or someone with industrial science communication background).
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion by cultivating equitable and inclusive learning environments for a diverse group of learners.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team of students, staff, and faculty. 

Desired Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a classroom or laboratory setting.
• Laboratory safety awareness.
• Experience in Green Chemistry.
• Teaching experience in a laboratory setting at the undergraduate level (including, but not limited to, being an instructor of record or a teaching assistant).

Required Application Materials

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of interest (no more than 4 pages) that describes your interest in the position. Please also address the following in your letter:  
  • How has your educational background prepared you to contribute to the undergraduate laboratory setting?
  • Describe your willingness to work on site in the evening. 
  • How have your experiences communicating with and educating people prepared you to teach in the undergraduate laboratory? 
  • Explain the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and Chemistry. How will you contribute to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of the undergraduate laboratory? Describe any experience that will guide your approach.
  • How have your past experiences working in collaborative groups prepared you to be part of the undergraduate laboratory team?  
  • If you possess any of the desired qualifications – leadership in a classroom/laboratory setting, lab safety, green chemistry, lab teaching experience – explain how those experiences have also prepared you to contribute to the Undergraduate Laboratory.
• Names and contact information of 3 references.

Special Instructions

All required material should be uploaded as a single PDF document. Review of applications begins two weeks after the job is posted. Position will be open until filled. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Amy Pollock (apollock@msu.edu) and Dr. Mengqi Zhang (zhan1962@msu.edu), Co-Chairs of the search committee, or to Professor Timothy Warren, Chair of the Department of Chemistry (warre155@msu.edu). 

Review of Applications Begins On

06/24/2024

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.