The University of North Carolina Asheville Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry invites applications for a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry to begin Fall 2021. The Department offers an American Chemical Society certified major with inquiry-based student research experiences scaffolded throughout our curriculum. The successful candidate will have earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry prior to August 1, 2021 and demonstrated teaching skills. Teaching duties will include 12 contact hours per semester in Foundations of Physical Chemistry and General Chemistry lecture and laboratory courses, with options to teach across the departmental curriculum depending on areas of expertise. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to Departmental and University service and can have opportunities to engage in research and mentor undergraduate students. The appointment is for two years, contingent upon a successful review after year one.

UNC Asheville is a leading public liberal arts institution with a deep commitment to teaching. It is the designated liberal arts university of the UNC system and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. The faculty at UNC Asheville teach across our required interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Core (LAC) curriculum, in courses that include first-year seminars; diversity intensive courses; courses that engage scientific perspectives, the intersection of arts and ideas, and a central component of the curriculum—our Humanities Program.

Furthermore, UNC Asheville has been and continues to be a national leader in undergraduate research. Over 60% of our students graduate each year having been engaged in this important learning experience and the University embraces the mentoring of undergraduate research as one of the highest forms of teaching. This commitment makes it essential for all faculty to be engaged in the current trends of their disciplines and this is demonstrated in the outstanding research and scholarship produced by the faculty.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach 3-4 courses (12 contact hours) per semester, engage in service to the institution, the community and the profession, and ideally work with our students in some area of the discipline specific to their expertise. Individuals with a passion for undergraduate teaching and interest in a career at an institution focused on the liberal arts are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNC Asheville is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic and educational community, welcoming and supportive of faculty and staff from all racial, ethnic, economic, religious, gender, and gender-identity backgrounds. We encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds and interests align with this commitment. The successful candidate will be excited to engage a diverse community of learners, including first-generation college students and students from under-represented groups and/or under-resourced high schools, through varied, innovative, and student-focused pedagogies. Our alliance with the eastern band of Cherokee of western North Carolina, the local community of Black Asheville, and rural health initiatives with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) are just a few reasons UNC Asheville is a destination for collaborative education opportunities.

Applicants should submit the following electronically at https://jobs.unca.edu:

(1) Cover Letter addressing your interest in this position and how you are best suited for this faculty role. Please include your teaching philosophy, a description of your scholarly interests and the ways in which you engage or contribute to the evolution of your discipline and how your approach to teaching and scholarship align with the values of UNC Asheville.
(2) Curriculum Vitae
(3) Diversity Statement: 1-2 pages describing: (a) your experience in advancing diversity in teaching, scholarship and/or service; (b) examples of demonstrated leadership potential in the area of equity and inclusion; and © your understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion to the mission of a liberal arts university.
(4) References: Names and contact information for three references from whom we will request letters of reference to be sent separately; these references should address your written, verbal and interpersonal skills; ability to teach and mentor undergraduate students; and potential to develop and maintain a successful research program.

Review of applications will begin February 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Sally A. Wasileski, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at swasiles@unca.edu.

UNC Asheville is committed to equality and diversity of experiences for our students, applicants and employees. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply regardless of socio-economic status, gender expression, gender and sexual identity, culture, and ideological beliefs. UNC Asheville is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will not discriminate against applicants and employees on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other legally protected status with respect to all terms, conditions, and privileges of university-sponsored activities, employment, and the use of university facilities.