Full-time 9-Month Lecturer in Agricultural Bioinformatics

The Entomology and Plant Pathology (EPP) Department within the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee (UTK) is seeking a Lecturer of Bioinformatics to help establish a nationally recognized undergraduate academic program in agricultural bioinformatics.

This is a 9-month, non-tenure track, lecturer position located at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture campus in Knoxville, Tennessee. The majority of teaching and other work duties are expected to be performed on-site, although there is some flexibility in course delivery mode depending on demand. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a collaborative and innovative team, building an excellent academic program from the ground up and having meaningful input in creating a robust teaching curriculum in agricultural bioinformatics. The new program will be housed within the EPP Department in coordination with other units across campus.

The successful candidate will contribute to a bioinformatics undergraduate program focused on understanding and leveraging complex datasets (e.g. omics data, environmental data, image data, etc.) produced from agricultural and biological science studies. On the computational front, focal areas may include combinatorial algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance computing to enable efficient analysis of big data in agriculture. In addition to teaching responsibilities, the successful candidate will be responsible for service activities primarily related to the development and management of the bioinformatics academic program. Other service activities include assisting with student recruitment and retention, as well as guiding students through undergraduate research and internship opportunities. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to pursue a research program independently or collaboratively, although pursuing research and obtaining external research support are not requirements of this position. Additionally, there is potential for the candidate to secure summer salary annually through other avenues such as external grants or teaching additional courses or workshops.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Position Include:

?      Teach nine credit hours (approximately three courses) per semester at the undergraduate level on topics such as Introduction to Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computational Genomics, Machine Learning Applications, or related courses according to the candidate's background and expertise. Courses will include both conceptual content and practical, hands-on activities. Existing infrastructure through resources like the AI Tennessee Initiative are readily available for integration into course development.

?      Serve as the primary point of contact for developing, promoting, and growing the agricultural bioinformatics program within the department and engaging with other relevant academic units (e.g., Computer Science, Microbiology) or programs (e.g., Bredesen Center, College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies) across campus.

?      Serve as a primary resource for new and changing agricultural bioinformatics topic areas and for updating or revising course curricula and practical laboratories as needed.

?      Service activities will primarily focus on developing and managing the agricultural bioinformatics undergraduate academic program. Additional service responsibilities will include assisting with student recruitment and student retention, updating the curriculum, and mentoring undergraduate students by guiding research and internship opportunities.About the University of Tennessee and Knoxville:

UTK is the state?s public flagship university and a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in scholarship, learning, and service and aims to enrich and elevate society. The Herbert College of Agriculture (HCA), which currently enrolls ~1500 undergraduate majors across eight academic departments, educates and prepares students for leading personally satisfying lives as productive members of society with emphasis on careers in the agricultural, environmental, life, and social sciences. HCA offers bachelor?s, master?s, and doctoral degrees and provides hands-on learning in a collegial and collaborative atmosphere. HCA is fully supportive and committed to the development of an Agricultural Bioinformatics major in the EPP Department, as evidenced by their commitment to this position and two additional future hires with teaching responsibilities in agricultural bioinformatics.

The EPP Department currently has 27 full-time faculty members with expertise in diverse areas of entomology, plant pathology, and bioinformatics. The department is an extremely strong and growing unit that combines basic and applied research, extension, and undergraduate and graduate teaching across the fundamental disciplines of entomology, plant pathology, and bioinformatics. The department is the only academic unit in Tennessee with the mission and responsibility to provide basic and applied information on questions of plant diseases and insect related problems affecting plants, animals, and humans. The department currently does not have an undergraduate academic major but does offer an undergraduate minor in entomology and plant pathology. The department has a thriving graduate program offering both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in several concentrations. The successful candidate will have opportunities for collaboration within the EPP Department and across UTK, as well as an excellent opportunity to play a role in the direction and growth of the department beyond the new major as several new hires are anticipated. For more information about the department, visit our website at: https://epp.tennessee.edu/

The city of Knoxville is a desirable area to live, because the diverse opportunities available in the area are appealing to a variety of lifestyles. Knoxville is a city of more than 200,000 offering many amenities of urban life. It has a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, and eclectic cultural activities, sports events, restaurants, and shopping. Knoxville is a gateway to a diverse and expanding outdoor recreation economy. The city is situated within a portion of the Tennessee River Valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most biodiverse in the USA. These areas offer numerous outdoor activities, both terrestrial (e.g., hiking, trail running, mountain biking, camping, off-roading) and aquatic (e.g., kayaking, water rowing, boating). Tripadvisor recently named Knoxville a Top Ten Destination on the Rise. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Nashville, TN.

Required Qualifications:

The requirements for this position can be met either by having a post-baccalaureate degree (e.g., M.S.) in Bioinformatics, Computer or Data Sciences, or a related field of study with experience in Bioinformatics Applications, or by having a post-baccalaureate degree (e.g., M.S.) in Agricultural or Biological Sciences and considerable professional experience in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Sciences, or related fields of study. Also required is evidence of excellent, relevant teaching experience. The candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong organizational, management, and interpersonal skills, and the ability and willingness to work as a member of diverse multidisciplinary teams. The final requirement is the applicant must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computer or Data Sciences, or a related field with experience in agricultural bioinformatics applications, and a combined total of 18 graduate credit hours of coursework in relevant domain areas. Individuals with a Ph.D. degree in agricultural or biological sciences and considerable professional experience in bioinformatics or data sciences also will be considered. Experience developing and teaching one or more academic courses in bioinformatics or related areas is desirable but not required. Having a formal degree or educational experiences in one or more domain areas of agriculture would be a strength. The candidate?s demonstrated ability to have collaborated with colleagues, industry, or professional associations and organizations or have contributed to open-source projects is desirable.

To Apply:

Applicants must apply through the university?s applicant tracking system, Interfolio, by

uploading the following documents as PDF files: 1) A cover letter addressing the position

description and your qualifications and experiences (2-page max); 2) a one-page statement of teaching philosophy; 3) a curriculum vitae; 4) copies of official transcripts; and 5) complete contact information of three professional references.

Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is

identified. The target hire date is on or before February 1, 2025. The candidate will have a summer salary during the first year and release time from teaching courses to allow for course and curriculum development prior to August 1, 2025. The salary for this position is competitive ($80-90K depending on educational background, qualifications, and relevant experience) and includes comprehensive benefits and the potential for promotion in rank following university guidelines. The EPP Department, HCA, and UTK are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all. The University of Tennessee is an equal opportunity employer, and candidates of all backgrounds and with different experiences are encouraged to apply. Questions regarding the position may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Bonnie Ownley (bownley@utk.edu).

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or eoa@utk.edu or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or investigations@utk.edu.

About University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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