DePaul University invites applications for a field-based ecologist/naturalist to join us as a full-time instructor beginning in April 2024. This position has an initial contract that runs until the end of the 2024-25 academic year (June 2025) with the potential for renewal. This is an opportunity to join DePaul’s vibrant Department of Environmental Science and Studies (ENV) (https://env.depaul.edu) as teaching faculty.
The ENV is especially interested in applicants whose teaching interests are in field-based botany, ecological restoration, vegetation management, and other areas related to urban biodiversity conservation and management. The candidate should ideally be familiar with Midwestern flora but may also have field-based skills with other organismal groups. Understanding regional conservation strategies and the social and community context in which they are employed would be a plus. Candidates with interests in urban agriculture and horticulture may have opportunities to teach courses related to this topic.
The successful candidate will teach 9 teaching equivalents (TE) a year (each lecture section counts for 1 TE and each lab section for 0.5 TE). Note that DePaul uses a quarter system, and these teaching equivalents typically occur over the autumn, winter, and spring quarters. These courses will include plant identification, conservation biology, and introductory classes in environmental science and studies. There is also a possibility of developing courses around other areas of expertise.
This contract position is an exciting opportunity for an individual with a commitment to undergraduate education. Additionally, community partnerships can be developed using Chicago as a classroom for social justice and equity-based learning. We have long-standing collaborations in teaching and research with the Field Museum, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Morton Arboretum, and the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The successful candidate will have a demonstrably strong record of teaching and will be committed to helping a diverse population of students succeed in learning, regardless of gender, ethnicity, and STEM preparation. The ENV particularly values inclusive and active pedagogical approaches in the classroom.
The ENV currently serves over 120 undergraduate students in two majors: Environmental Science (BS) and Environmental Studies (BA). The department also offers a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science that serves approximately 20 students. The ENV currently has eight core faculty and a laboratorian. ENV faculty are actively engaged in research and teach a diverse student population.
Although our ENV department prides itself on its small-community feel, the College of Science and Health (CSH) and DePaul University offer big-university resources and amenities. CSH facilities include greenhouses, vans for field work and field trips, laboratory spaces, a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FL-AAS), ion chromatograph, a STEM center, and internal funding opportunities for faculty and student projects. DePaul’s Steans Center supports faculty in developing research and educational partnerships with Chicago communities and provides funds for students engaged in community-based research.
About the College
The College of Science and Health is the third largest college at DePaul, enrolling over 3,000 students. The college includes programs in mathematics, psychology, physics and astrophysics, environmental science and studies, chemistry and biochemistry, biology, neuroscience, health sciences, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and nursing. The College of Science and Health provides high quality, personalized, accessible science and health education to a diverse student body, grounded in the values of St. Vincent de Paul. Our teaching and research advance knowledge and service to society. The College is located on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus.
About the University
With an overall enrollment of over 22,000 students, DePaul is the nation’s twelfth largest private non-profit university. While the university is large, the class size in the department typically does not exceed 40 students. We seek candidates with a demonstrated record of effectiveness or potential as an instructor for a variety of courses or teaching environments, ability to teach graduate-level courses, and commitment to continued development as an educator.
DePaul University seeks applicants that reflect the diversity of its student body and the city of Chicago. Applicants who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students, and who can contribute to an inclusive climate are encouraged to identify their experiences in these areas. Members of historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.