Hispanic Serving Institution Initiative Tenure Track Assistant Professor Joint in Society and Genetics and Integrative Biology and Physiology

POSITION DESCRIPTION
UCLA’s Institute for Society and Genetics (ISG) and Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology (IBP) are jointly recruiting a tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty member to have a split appointment in both departments. We are looking for a scholar 1) whose research addresses fundamental physiological, cellular, and/or molecular processes in a way that integrates (or plans to integrate) social or societal dimensions and 2) who can successfully mentor Latinx undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students and trainees.

Candidates may come from any biological discipline (including biological anthropology or public health). Research field, physiological system, and methodological approach (e.g., wet lab, model systems, computational) are open as well. Preference will be given to scholars who creatively articulate how their current or future research engages physiological mechanisms that integrate the biological (e.g., DNA repair, epigenetics, cellular dynamics, circadian rhythm, hormonal signaling, microbiome, or metabolic integrity) and the social or societal (e.g., touch, care, kinship, networks, foodways, pollution, housing, migration, or displacement). Special consideration will be given to scholars whose research also intersects questions of health, wellbeing, and/or disease affecting Latinx individuals or communities including indigenous and Black Latinx populations especially in the USA.

The Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/) is a multidisciplinary department of social scientists, life scientists, and humanists analyzing complex problems at the interface of biology and society and training crossdisciplinary thinkers. The Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology (https://www.ibp.ucla.edu/) employs experimental, computational, and quantitative approaches to study diverse physiological systems, this has enabled discoveries of how molecules, cells, tissues, and organisms solve biological problems essential for life. Successful candidates should be able to articulate their research and mentoring in ways that contribute to both scholarly communities.

This search reflects the UCLA Division of Life Science’s commitment to diversify scientific research and training and to support a new generation of underrepresented minority scholars and trainees (especially from Latinx, Black, and Native American backgrounds). UCLA aims to achieve federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution by 2025. In preparation for this designation, the Office of the Chancellor and the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost have sponsored this search in order to recruit exceptional scholars whose teaching, scholarship and/or mentoring has strong ties to Latinx experiences in the United States. This search is conducted in partnership between the Chicano Studies Research Center and three units in the Life Sciences Division—the Institute for Society and Genetics (ISG), the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology (IBP), and the undergraduate Neuroscience IDP (uNSIDP). Faculty hired through this search are expected to maintain an active affiliation to the Chicano Studies Research Center and encourage the success of Latinx and first-generation scholars. The HSI initiative prioritizes the hiring of exceptional scholars who have connections to Latinx experiences in the USA through their research, teaching, and/or mentoring.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in any relevant discipline. To apply, access the recruitment via this direct link https://apptrkr.com/3438328 on the UCLA Academic Recruit website. The following materials are required: 1) a cover letter introducing the candidate and articulating a vision for research, teaching, and mentorship at the intersection of biology and society, 2) full curriculum vitae; 3) a description of research plans (2-3 pages); 4) a statement on teaching and mentoring (1-2 pages); 5) a statement on contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion (1-2 pages); 6) three letters of reference. Initial review of applications will begin on October 17, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. We highly encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with a commitment to mentoring underrepresented groups in the sciences.

Finalists will be invited to present their research at a 2-day symposium at UCLA on December 12 and 13, 2022.

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, bullying and other demeaning behavior, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment as well as a commitment to addressing all forms of academic misconduct, UCLA conducts targeted employment reference checks for finalists to whom departments or other hiring units would like to extend formal offers of appointment into Academic Senate faculty positions. The targeted employment reference checks involve contacting the finalists’ current and prior places of employment to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University’s Faculty Code of Conduct. To implement this process, UCLA requires all applicants for Academic Senate faculty positions to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” into RECRUIT as part of their application. If the applicant does not include the signed authorization to release information with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete. As with any incomplete application, the application will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists (i.e. those to whom the department or other hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer) considered for Academic Senate faculty positions will be subject to targeted employment reference checks.

More information about this recruitment: http://socgen.ucla.edu/opportunities/ and https://www.ibp.ucla.edu/positions/.
Department: https://socgen.ucla.edu/
Department: https://www.ibp.ucla.edu/

QUALIFICATIONS
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Ph.D. or equivalent degree in any relevant discipline.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements
• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching
• Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our Sample Guidance for Candidates and related EDI Statement FAQ document.
• Reference check authorization release form – Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
• Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
• 3 letters of reference required

Please ensure that your application packet includes letters of reference from three professional references.

Apply link: https://apptrkr.com/3438328

Help contact: ana@socgen.ucla.edu

CAMPUS INFORMATION
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees must (a) provide proof of receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 Vaccine no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment and provide proof of Full Vaccination no later than eight weeks after their first date of employment; or (b) if applicable, submit a request for Exception or Deferral no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.