Professor & Department Head - Neuroscience

Job Description

The NEWDepartment of Neuroscience, housed in the College of Science and Mathematics, invites highly qualified and enthusiastic candidates to apply for the Professor & Department Head position beginning Fall . Competitive salary and startup commensurate with experience. This position will support existing neuroscience programming, the new BS in Neuroscience, and the new Ph.D. programs with neuroscience coursework (pending final approvals proposed to start Fall ).

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence and innovation in teaching, maintain an impactful research program, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, actively engage in mentoring and guiding doctoral students through their academic and research endeavors, fostering a supportive and enriching environment within our PhD program, and participate in the necessary operation of the institution.

We are specifically looking for strong and innovative leaders who can teach courses and conduct research in areas such as Neuropharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Neuroethology - additional areas of specialization will be considered.

This is a 12-month tenured** position located on Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville, Texas. Work hours: Mon-Fri; 8 AM-5 PM or as work and teaching requirements indicate. May be required to work/teach at other campuses or online at the institution’s discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Workload distribution will be adjusted after the initial cohort matriculates and the full establishment of the program and department.

Administration:

The Department Head is responsible for providing leadership and support for the faculty and staff within the new Department of Neuroscience while also collaborating with other administrators across the university.

Leadership and Strategic Management

Collaborate with the Department of Neuroscience faculty and staff to establish a vision for the department in alignment with the overall vision of the College of Science and Mathematics and the university. Work with other department heads, associate deans, and the college dean in the development and implementation of the strategic plan for the college, in collaboration with the faculty. Lead the development of a departmental strategic plan and work with the departmental colleagues to implement it.

Program Development and Teaching

Collaborate within the college to develop doctoral program applications. Work with university partners to regularly perform market analysis to propose and develop various graduate and undergraduate programs, majors, minors, certificates, etc. Work collaboratively across the college and the university to develop new cross-disciplinary programs. Work with enrollment management and graduate admissions to market programs to increase enrollment. Maintain academic integrity and rigor of classes and programs. Encourage high-quality teaching by supporting faculty to effectively deliver courses using various modalities, including cutting-edge technologies. Propose and administer new courses/curriculum.

Administrative

Recruit and retain exceptional scholars and teachers in the department. Collaboratively set yearly goals and perform annual performance evaluations for faculty and staff. Perform mid-tenure review for department tenure-track faculty. Perform tenure and promotion evaluations for department faculty. Maintain open lines of communication within the department and the college leadership. Maintain community engagement.

Budgeting

Manage the department budget based on the college guidelines. Work with the university budget specialist for record keeping and university reporting.

Research

Encourage and support department faculty in maintaining an active research agenda, publications, and grant applications Encourage faculty for a collaborative mindset for cross-disciplinary research efforts across the university.

Student Support

Ensure class offerings meet student demand and degree progression. Support student organizations within the department. Ensure an environment for student success, engagement, and retention. Connect students with opportunities for career exploration.

Teaching and Service:

Plan, prepare, and deliver lectures, seminars, and/or laboratory offerings to undergraduate and/or graduate students, which may include general education core curriculum. Develop course syllabi, select instructional materials, and design assessments such as exams, quizzes, papers, etc. Assess student performance, provide timely feedback, and evaluate student learning outcomes to inform teaching practices and curriculum improvements. Engage students in active learning, foster critical thinking skills, and provide opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Provide academic support and guidance to students through office hours, feedback on assignments, and mentoring. Adhere to university policies, academic integrity standards, and accreditation requirements related to teaching responsibilities. Incorporate innovative teaching methods, technologies, and pedagogical approaches to enhance student learning and engagement. Engage in ongoing professional development activities to stay current in the field, improve teaching skills, and explore new instructional strategies. Collaborate with colleagues, departmental faculty, and university staff to coordinate course offerings, share resources, and contribute to program development and improvement. Participate in institutional service roles including but not limited to, college committees, advisory committees, student/faculty recruitment, and mentoring of new and part-time faculty.

Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity:

Maintain an active agenda for research, scholarship, or creative activity appropriate to the applicant’s academic discipline. Make original contributions to the advancement of knowledge/creative expression in the applicant’s discipline through scholarly publication, presentation, or exhibition. Demonstrate potential for external funding, national impact, or professional recognition.

Minimum Requirements:

Earned doctorate in Neuroscience or a closely related field from an accredited university Must have a distinguished record that warrants a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Full Professor.**Eligibility for tenure will be determined by reviewing the candidate’s record of years of experience and professional achievements in teaching, service, and research consistent with the Texas A&M system guidance.**Tenure upon arrival will be granted pending approval from The Texas A&M University System. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience building new academic programs and departments

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :
Knowledge and understanding of disciplinary subject matter at a level adequate for graduate-level instruction; written and oral communication skills sufficient to conduct effective teaching and research activities; ability to interact with students, staff, and faculty in a professional, collegial, and collaborative manner.

Application Procedure:

During the application process applicants have one opportunity to enter the requested information, upload documents, and Submit the application. Applicants will not be able to make changes or add additional documents once the application materials have been submitted via "Submit" action.

Employment applications must include (required):

Completed online application Cover Letter / Letter of Interest addressing qualifications Curriculum Vitae or Resume At least 3 current professional references and their full contact information, and Unofficial transcripts

Applications received by Tarleton State University must have all job application data entered. Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. “See resume” is not an acceptable entry in the job application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated hire date is Fall .

Official transcripts must be received directly from each degree‐granting institution prior to a letter of appointment being issued.

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