Endowed Chair in Honey Bee Biology (Open Rank)

Endowed Chair in Honey Bee Biology
Department of Entomology

Appointment type and Code: Open Rank- 9403, 9402, 9401
Salary range: $90,000 - $132,000 (plus benefits)
Working Title/Specialty: Honey Bee Biology
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Department Head
College/Admin Unit: College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS)
Campus Location: St. Paul Campus

College Overview:

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 13 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers. CFANS offers thirteen undergraduate majors and thirteen graduate majors, three pre- major/pre-professional programs and 23 minors for undergraduate students. Undergraduate enrollment in the college is about 2000 students. CFANS students are well-prepared for a diverse, multicultural workforce through the college's emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning; internships and global perspectives.

Department Overview:

The Department of Entomology in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is located on the St Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. It is composed of 16 faculty and 40 staff engaged in research, teaching, and extension related to biodiversity and systematics, ecology, physiology, neurobiology, and functional genomics of diverse insects and other invertebrates, including pollinators, mosquitoes and ticks, and management of pests in residential, commercial/industrial, urban, agricultural, forested, and natural landscapes. The department offers MS and PhD degrees in Entomology, and an undergraduate Insect Science Minor. The Department maintains the University of Minnesota Insect Collection, one of the largest university-affiliated insect collections in North America with over 4 million specimens, representing over 53,000 described species.

Position Overview:

The successful candidate will develop an innovative, internationally recognized and externally funded research program related to honey bees. The successful candidate will also engage in teaching courses, mentoring and advising students, and outreach related to honey bees.

This position will continue the 100+ year history of leading-edge honey bee research at the University of Minnesota. As knowledge of honey bee biology has accumulated and the health of honey bee colonies and the needs of beekeepers have changed over time, professors of honey bee biology at the University of Minnesota have addressed research topics using a combination of basic and practical approaches. The successful candidate is expected to maintain active research, teaching and outreach programs, and support philanthropic efforts in the Department, College and University.

This position is supported by the endowed Honey Bee Faculty Chair Fund. It is a 9-month, open-rank position based on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in the Bee Research Facility that shares space with the native bee research program. The successful candidate will have access to experiment station land, greenhouses, and other University research facilities and resources.

Responsibilities:

Research (60%):
The successful applicant will maintain a strong, innovative, externally funded research program on honey bee biology. Specific areas of expertise include but are
not limited to honey bee social behavior and evolution, genomics (and other "omic" approaches), physiology, neurobiology, microbiome, social immunity, parasite and pathogen transmission, behavior, chemical ecology, population biology, landscape interactions, pesticide interactions, nutrition, plant-pollinator interactions, and crop pollination.

The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with faculty in the Department of Entomology (https://entomology.umn.edu/faculty) and others within the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences and other departments outside the College as appropriate (e.g., faculty in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior), and with multistate and international collaborators.

Teaching (30%):
The successful candidate will contribute to the teaching mission of the Department of Entomology. Teaching expectations include responsibility for a minimum of one undergraduate (annually taught) and one graduate/undergraduate course in their area of specialty or other topic complementing the current teaching strengths of the Department.

The candidate will be expected to mentor graduate and undergraduate students, preferably in the Entomology program.

Outreach (10%):
The candidate will engage in outreach activities related to honey bees. An opportunity exists for the successful candidate to collaborate with, and provide programmatic advice to the Bee Squad [https://beelab.umn.edu/bee-squad-and-extension], a unique program that specializes in outreach and education to beekeepers and the public.

Required Qualifications

* Ph.D. or internationally equivalent degree in Entomology or related biological field.
* Applicants should currently have an Assistant, Associate or Full Professorship, or equivalent position at an industry, state or federal laboratory, with demonstrated record of research in the area of honey bee biology.

Applicants at the level of Assistant Professor are expected to have initiated an innovative, productive research program, demonstrated the ability to obtain extramural funding and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In addition to these qualifications, applicants at the Associate Professor level are expected to have a research program that is at least partially funded by federal grants, and nationally recognized for its excellence. At the level of full professor, a distinguished research program that is national and internationally recognized is expected. Excellence in teaching, advising and service is expected at all levels. View the standards for performance in the department [https://faculty.umn.edu/sites/faculty.umn.edu/files/2020-09/entomology.pdf].

Preferred Qualifications

* Demonstrated record of working in a collaborative capacity (e.g., contributions made to multi-author publications and/or collaborative grant proposals).
* Demonstrated experience with course development and delivery at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
* Demonstrated record of training students in honey bee biology concepts.
* Demonstrated participation and development of outreach programs associated with honey bees.
* Commitment to advancing and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion including the ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals with diverse identities and underrepresented groups.

Salary/Benefits:

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary will be supplemented with 9 weeks of summer salary for the first three (3) years of the appointment to help establish a research and teaching program. Thereafter, a 9-month salary can be supplemented through research and/or educational grants.

Materials needed for application:
* A cover letter clearly indicating how the applicant addresses the required and preferred qualifications
* Curriculum Vitae
* 1 - 2 page Research Statement
* 1 - 2 page Teaching Statement
* 1 - 2 page Outreach Statement
* 1 - 2 page Diversity Statement**
* Names, addresses and email contact information for three (3) professional
references that will be contacted if you are deemed a final candidate

For questions regarding this position, please contact Professor George Heimpel (heimp001@umn.edu). The application deadline is 12/18/2024.

**Applicants are required to submit a diversity statement for this position. CFANS values and is actively invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all of our academic programs. Please review the CFANS diversity and inclusion page for more information.

Please provide a diversity statement that details your professional experiences in DEI. Experiences may include:
* Working with diverse communities or local organizations
* Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the curriculum
* Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into your research
* Your own educational experiences, such as courses or workshops you have participated in and how you anticipate incorporating what you have learned in your future work

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

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. This position requires that you attach:

* A cover letter clearly indicating how the applicant addresses the required and preferred qualifications
* Curriculum Vitae
* 1 - 2 page Research Statement
* 1 - 2 page Teaching Statement
* 1 - 2 page Outreach Statement
* 1 - 2 page Diversity Statement**
* Names, addresses and email contact information for three (3) professional
references that will be contacted if you are deemed a final candidate

Application deadline is December 18th, 2024

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

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.

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