Assistant Professor of Neuroscience



Location:

Northampton, MA

Open Date:

Aug 19, 2024

Description:

The Neuroscience Program at Smith College is hiring a full time tenure-track Assistant Professor in Neuroscience (start date July 2025). We are looking for a teacher-scholar with broad expertise in neuroscience. PhD in Neuroscience or a relevant field is expected by the time of appointment. Candidates from groups underrepresented in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in a candidate whose work may explore questions of neural plasticity, neurological disorders and/or neurodiversity. We are open to all research methodologies, including using human or nonhuman animals, and we are particularly interested in adding expertise in neurophysiology, computational analysis, and/or functional neuroanatomy to our program. We will look for a candidate who is a gifted teacher, who deeply understands neuroscience, and who can both engage students early in their career as well as challenge our juniors and seniors in upper-level study. We expect this candidate to teach a core course, such as Fundamentals of Neuroscience (our gateway course) or Experimental Methods in Neuroscience, as well as upper-level courses in their area of specialty. Our teaching load is 2:2 "plus", with the plus covering research with undergraduates. 

The Neuroscience program at Smith College has a strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in science. We are seeking a candidate who values and meaningfully  incorporates these principles in their teaching, scholarship and outreach. In addition to our commitment to continue to diversify the faculty in this program, we are interested in how neurodiversity should shape pedagogical practices. 

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is the largest historically women's college in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. Smith College offers opportunities to foster faculty success at every career stage, such as those listed
here.  The College houses a number of research centers with instrumentation to support molecular biosciences, microscopy, and other collective needs, as well as an AAALAC accredited animal care facility housing a variety of research organisms, and shared facilities for eye tracking and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for human neuroimaging. Explore the Smith College Science Center
here. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Students cross-enroll and some faculty cross-teach within the Five Colleges, and graduate students from UMass can conduct their thesis research with Smith affiliated faculty. Details about the Department of Neuroscience may be found
here. 

As set forth in our
mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty.  The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.

Submit application at http://apply.interfolio.com/152435 with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, diversity/inclusion statement, statement of teaching philosophy, and a research statement describing your competitive research plan that includes undergraduate students. Please also include the contact information for three confidential references.. Finalists may be asked for additional materials.  Review of applications will begin on October 10, 2024.

Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.