Visiting Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior

Search:	#1330
Date Posted:	03/18/2025
Type/Department:	Faculty in Dean of Faculty Office
Search Status:	Searching for Candidates - Accepting Applications
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Hampshire College

Job Title: Visiting Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior

Position Type: Full Time

Pay Range/Status: $65,399     

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2025

Hampshire College, an independent, innovative liberal arts and experimenting institution with a mission to advance social justice and transform higher education, is accepting applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior to begin July 1, 2025. This visiting position is for one year with the possibility of renewal based on College needs.

Hampshire College is an experimenting institution with a mission to advance social justice and transform higher education, and we seek creative and collaborative colleagues to join its faculty. Hampshire’s academic program is unique within higher education in the United States. Students draw from multiple disciplines and methodologies to develop their own concentrations, and every student completes a year-long substantial project synthesizing their course of study as a condition of graduation. Students are provided narrative evaluations of their work instead of grades. Our student community is distinctively diverse: from a recent survey, 39% are BIPOC or international, 37.5% receive Pell Grants, approximately a third are neurodivergent, and a substantial majority identify as LGBTQIA+. Hampshire is a member of the Five College consortium (Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts), and located in Amherst, MA.

Building on its student-driven approach, Hampshire is implementing a radically new academic program that emphasizes urgent challenges, transdisciplinarity, antiracism, community engagement, and project-based skills. We convene transdisciplinary Learning Collaboratives that assemble faculty, students, and staff to address urgent questions developed by and voted on by the community. Additionally, Hampshire has implemented a “Race and Power” requirement that ensures students, staff, and faculty alike will engage in critical reflection on racial justice and equity throughout their Hampshire careers. In the letter of application, candidates are encouraged to explain how their teaching and scholarly/artistic work does or could contribute to this curricular and pedagogical vision.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Candidates should be able to teach (1) introductory animal behavior courses that will serve students with no prior animal science experience, and (2) intermediate/advanced animal behavior, animal cognition, or evolution courses that will serve students in animal sciences and those with interdisciplinary interests.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach two-three courses totaling 48 students during each semester (Fall and Spring)
• Connect at least half their normal teaching course load each year with one or two of the Learning Collaboratives and Urgent Challenges described here
• Work in individual and group settings to advise and mentor an increasingly diverse body of Hampshire students
• Participate in events and forums organized by one of the Learning Collaboratives
• Be eager to participate in continuous pedagogical experimentation

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE SHOULD:

• Have a Ph.D. (or expect to receive it by the start date) in a relevant field
• Have a demonstrated ability to engage undergraduates in animal science/animal behavior through innovative teaching

BENEFITS:

Hampshire College offers an excellent benefits program for eligible employees such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible leave plans, and many other fringe benefits. For information on Hampshire College, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.hampshire.edu.

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their teaching and scholarly interests
• A curriculum vitae
• A statement addressing your approach to justice, equity, and antiracism (JEA) in teaching philosophy and practice
• Names, titles, and contact information for three referees
• Any other materials that could support the application (sample syllabi, evidence of teaching excellence, work samples, etc.)

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity employer and deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We’re particularly committed to revealing and combating the social and institutional structures that support racism and white supremacy in all phases of employment and college life. We believe that the educational and employment environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together to work and grow. We encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, sexual minority groups, veterans, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. Hampshire College is committed to removing barriers to employment faced by equity-seeking groups and encourages (but does not require) members of these groups to self-identify in their application materials. Applicants whose work incorporates a global perspective and a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity in the work environment are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit your cover letter, resume and names/phone numbers of three professional references via our website at https://jobs.hampshire.edu/ Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity institution, committed to diversity and inclusion in education and employment.