Career Center

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty ASSISTANT PROFESSOR position in the Biological Sciences Department in an area related to the study and/or promotion of Environmental or Health Justice.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of two polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 11 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students have participated in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model. 

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university's nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus's more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 Baccalaureate and 29 Master's degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership. 

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 15 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor's degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.  

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour's drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population.  California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona – nearly half (49%) of new students were transfers in Fall 2020.  58% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible.  The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 49% Latinx, 21% Asian, 15% White, 3% Black, 5% International, 3% two or more races, 3% unknown, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. 39% of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria.  We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society. 

Tenure track faculty hires will demonstrate a commitment and record of contributions through their teaching, scholarship, or service to these inclusive excellence criteria (a minimum of two must be addressed in the Student Success Statement):

1. Integrates the values of equity and inclusivity into their teaching, scholarship and/or service contributions with diverse student populations;

2. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups and communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;

3. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;

4. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;

5. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;

6. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline;

7. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;

8. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;

9. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and

10. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

The College: The College of Science's mission is to educate, mentor, and inspire students through scientific inquiry and hands-on learning. It offers 15 undergraduate degree programs and six Master's degrees across seven academic departments that include: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics & Astronomy. Our Center for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (CEMaST) supports K-16 education locally and nationally to increase STEM success and participation for all. The College has approximately 145 full-time faculty, 45 staff, 4,700 majors, and enrolls over 35,000 students each semester. The College of Science is committed to the teacher-scholar model and is the largest recipient of extramural funding on campus. We encourage a broad range of applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive campus environment.

The Department: Our 30-member Biological Sciences faculty offers a Master's program and a Bachelor's program to over 1,400 students in Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Biology. The Department faculty has opportunities to engage in cooperative teaching and research activities with other Colleges at Cal Poly Pomona, as well as nearby institutions including California Institute of Technology (Caltech); University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); University of California, Irvine; University of California, Riverside; University of Southern California (USC); City of Hope Beckman Research Institute; Claremont Colleges; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Los Angeles; and California State University, Long Beach. The faculty in this Department have diverse expertise and are involved in a wide variety of both basic and applied research. A focus on teamwork and cooperative activities is well developed. For more information, see the Department website: http://www.cpp.edu/~biology/.

The Position. We seek a colleague with expertise in an area related to the study and/or promotion of Environmental or Health Justice. The area of specialty is open. Areas of expertise in biology could include (in alphabetical order) ecology, environmental biology, environmental toxicology, epidemiology, ethnobiology, health disparities, human population genetics, parasitology, physiology, tropical and neglected diseases or a related field. The new hire will be a part of the Ethnic Studies Affinity Faculty and will have the opportunity to engage with a new and permanent Office of Ethnic Studies Affinity Teaching and Scholarship. This is a space for collaboration across disciplines and methodological vantage points, mentorship, and professional development programming. The Ethnic Studies Affinity Faculty, and the resources to support them, are a key element of CPP's ongoing efforts to ensure the flourishing of our diverse students and faculty and be the leading inclusive polytechnic university in the nation.  

The applicant will be expected to assist in curriculum development, advise students, serve on academic committees, and engage in professional activities. Teaching responsibilities will be tailored to the areas of interest and expertise of the successful applicant. Please see the variety of courses offered the Biological Sciences in the CPP course catalog here.

Minimum requirements include: 

• Ph.D. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Epidemiology or a related field, or equivalent terminal degree (e.g. M.D.) from an accredited university.  Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.
• Commitment to student success through applicant's teaching, scholarship, or service, demonstrated by a Student Success Statement addressing at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above and a commitment to working in an inclusive environment.
• Demonstrated potential to establish an active research program with undergraduate and/or Master's students.
• Ability to develop and teach a general education course that meets the requirements for Area F Ethnic Studies courses(described near the end of the webpage) that will be cross-listed with Biological Sciences and based on the candidate's area of expertise (see examples of Area F Courses already approved.)

Preferred/Desired Qualifications: 

• University teaching experience.
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience or familiarity with techniques that promote student engagement and success.
• Evidence of conducting scholarly research activities with undergraduate and/or graduate students.

A completed application will consist of a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your background and interest in teaching, research and service. In your cover letter, please address the duties, qualifications and preferred qualifications stated in our position description.

• Student Success Statement (2-page max, single-spaced) about your teaching, or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population. Please address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above. Please note that the student success statement will play a critical role in selecting candidates.

• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy (2-page max). In this statement, please describe your experience or interests in developing and teaching a general education course that meets the requirements for Area F Ethnic Studies courses (described near the end). Please also discuss the pedagogical strategies that you have employed or will employ to assure student success in your classes.
• Research Statement (3-page max). In this statement, please describe your research experience, and the research program you will establish in the department of Biological Sciences to engage students in our