Term Faculty - Biology Laboratory Specialist

The Department of Biology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University invites applications for a full-time three-year term position starting July 2025. The individual will have a partial teaching load, including coordination of the introductory biology lecture sequence. Depending on the individual’s qualifications and interests, they may choose to conduct research, including biology education research.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB), a liberal arts college for women, and Saint John's University (SJU), a liberal arts college for men, are located in the central lakes area of Minnesota, surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of pristine forests, prairies, and lakes. The campuses are minutes away from St. Cloud, an increasingly diverse regional center with a population of over 100,000, and 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some CSB/SJU faculty and staff choose to reside locally, while others commute from the Twin Cities. Both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities offer a wide range of fine arts, cultural, dining, recreational, and sporting opportunities.

CSB/SJU are Catholic colleges in the Benedictine tradition enlivened by values of community, hospitality, stewardship, and justice. The schools are dedicated to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons. Students, staff and faculty from many diverse belief systems and backgrounds collectively bring a rich dimension to the academic, cultural, and religious experience at CSB/SJU. We welcome faculty who devote themselves with passion and integrity to their disciplines and to a transformative education of their students. Please view our brochure regarding Higher Education in the Catholic and Benedictine Tradition.

With a total enrollment of approximately 2,900 students, faculty members develop relationships with students in small classroom settings and have opportunities to work closely with students on research projects, experiential learning experiences, and study abroad programs. Recent initiatives to create a dynamic general education curriculum and to develop plans for a new teaching and learning center demonstrate strong institutional support for faculty development.

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information). For further information regarding our institutions, visit CSBSJU.

The posted wage represents CSB and SJU's good faith estimate of likely compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will be dependent upon several factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skills, and may fall outside of the range indicated.

Individual leads and coordinates introductory biology laboratory course design, instruction, supplies and purchasing, and assessment and teaches introductory biology laboratories. Individual works with faculty to revise laboratories and instructional materials and to train faculty and teaching assistants in introductory biology laboratory procedures and instruction. Individual hires, trains, and supervises introductory biology teaching assistants. Individual will participate in departmental and institutional service, and student advising, as appropriate.

• Lead design and instruction of introductory laboratory courses (including conducting regular meetings for faculty and teaching assistants about laboratory objectives and implementation)
• Teach a laboratory section each semester with the possibility of an additional section or introductory biology lecture, depending on individual’s interest and ability
• Coordinate introductory laboratory courses (including ordering and preparing supplies for labs, and developing and testing laboratory exercises)
• Prepare instructional materials for the introductory laboratory courses (including developing lesson plans and assignment rubrics with input from other Biology faculty as needed)
• Facilitating administrative duties including coordinating Introductory Biology student worker hiring and budgets
• Preparing and evaluating student assessments and surveys as needed
• Oversee Biology Department safety, including coordinating waste management and pick-up (in conjunction with the Chemical Hygiene Officer), conducting lab audits and overseeing compliance, supervising and training student employees on safety procedures, coordinating regular Biology safety meetings, and annually updating the Biology Chemical Hygiene plan. (training for safety responsibilities is available)

Other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in related field or commensurate experience in science education
• Proficiency in laboratory and investigative techniques
• Leadership, organizational, and collaboration skills

• Evidence of the ability to be an effective teacher

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in science-related mentoring or teaching 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Requires routine handling of chemicals using appropriate personal protective equipment and safety protocols. 
• Requires occasional, low-intensity outdoor field work in varying weather with distances up to 1.5 miles.
• Requires working at a computer for extended periods, including typing, reading from a screen, and using various software programs essential for the role.
• Occasionally required to lift or move supplies of up to 15-25 pounds and to navigate within the laboratory and classroom environment.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Occasional travel between the campuses of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. 

Applications are accepted online by clicking on "Apply" above. Applicants are asked to provide the following materials:

• A letter of application which addresses how the applicant's education, teaching interests, and teaching and/or work experience meet the position qualifications.
• A statement of teaching philosophy, including how you will integrate diversity and support inclusion for all students in the classroom and use innovative/active-learning pedagogies.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Unofficial copies of transcripts; official copy required upon hire.
• Names and contact information of three references.

If you require an accommodation to participate in the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (320) 363-5500 or [email protected].

It is the policy of CSB and SJU to conduct a pre-employment background check. An offer of employment is contingent upon a successful background check. 

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.