The faculty members of the Biology Department are committed to providing the best possible education for our students. Toward this end we strongly encourage students to become full participants in the processes of science.
Our role as faculty is to provide the intellectual and physical environment where this participation can take place. Teaching and learning biology at Hendrix includes rigorous classroom discussions, investigational laboratory exercises, field work, and research projects designed to maximize the role of the students as scientist.
We recognize that telling students about science, or even demonstrating scientific experiments, can never provide the rich, rewarding experience of doing science. Although our students do take a rigorous series of formal lecture courses to provide the background necessary for developing an intellectual understanding of science, it is the participation aspects of our program that leads to true maturation as scientists.
Our students graduate from Hendrix prepared to enter medical school (Hendrix graduates enjoy a medical school acceptance rate twice the national average), veterinary school, graduate school, the research world, and a variety of other fields.
Department Employment Opportunities
Hendrix College Biology Department is seeking a Ph.D. scientist to teach Botany and advanced courses of her/his design as well as to engage undergraduates in quality research beginning in August 2009. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, this is a full-time tenure-track teaching position at the rank of assistant professor. We will consider applicants from a wide range of sub-discipline expertise and research interests. Full time teaching responsibilities at Hendrix normally include two courses with laboratories/semester but reassignment time for active research will reduce this teaching load 25%. There is technical support for the courses and labs as well as space and equipment available. See current course descriptions and further details at www.hendrix.edu/biology. Consideration of applications will begin October 20, 2008 and continue until a successful candidate is hired. The Biology Department website (www.hendrix.edu/biology/) will continue to post this ad and provide up-to-date information until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current CV, a statement of relevant teaching philosophy and interest, a statement on their research interests, transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work, three letters of reference, as well as the phone and email contact information for the three referees. Please send all materials via email to haggard@hendrix.edu or by mail to: Dr. Bruce Haggard, Chair Biology Department (Re: Botanist Position) Hendrix College 1600 Washington Avenue Conway, AR 72032
General Information for Botany Faculty Position Applicants The Biology Department at Hendrix College has a long record of successfully preparing students for both graduate and professional schools. This success comes from having faculty who are committed to teaching, and the opportunity we have to work with bright, motivated students. All the Hendrix science departments have excellent reputations at the local and regional level, and are gaining national attention. Because of that reputation, nearly half of all new students at least consider majoring in the sciences. Most Hendrix biology majors were among the top students in their respective high schools and are highly capable in the classroom and in the laboratory.
To ensure that our students continue to be successful requires that they have both rigorous classroom instruction and significant experience in research. Thus, in recent years we have been steadily increasing our emphasis on undergraduate research. While historically most of our biology majors were aiming for medical school, the increased emphasis we have put on undergraduate research appears to be drawing more students towards graduate school. We have been increasing research opportunities for students over the last several years, and intend that this new position will continue that trend. Thus, the successful applicant will be expected to establish a strong research program that fully involves undergraduate students. Our number one priority in the department will continue to be excellence in teaching, but we consider participation in undergraduate research to be a crucial educational component for many of our students. To facilitate the research program, this position includes 25% release time from our normal teaching load. A common pattern for faculty with such release time is to teach 2 courses (with labs) one semester and only 1 class and lab the other semester. Most faculty will continue their research in the summer, and in-house funds are available on a competitive basis to support student stipends and housing allowances. Because we do not have summer school, faculty and students are able to pursue research full time during these months.
The majority of recent research in the department has been in various aspects of molecular biology and more focused on animal biology. Thus we are eager to extend research opportunities in botany to bring a more appropriate balance and enhance opportunities for students interested in plant science. We do not have any particular area of research expertise in mind for this position. We are not a large institution, and so must avoid duplication in specialty areas, but we are keen to find complementary interests. This position will be our 2nd in botany, but our current botanist also has a leadership role in our Environmental Science program and thus unable to dedicate full time teaching within the department.
The Biology Department is housed in the Donald W. Reynolds Life Science Center. Facilities for teaching and research in this building include a roof-top greenhouse with 2 rooms under separate environmental controls, a walk in growth chamber and a small but robust herbarium. For lectures we have two excellent smart classrooms (full AV capabilities) for larger courses and two small seminar rooms. The botany teaching lab has space for 24 students (and a large preparation room) and is directly across the hall from the herbarium and walk in growth chamber. We also have a tissue culture room, fluorescent microscopes, a cryostat and a robust suite of molecular biology tools for candidates with research interests in those directions.
The Conway area provides many opportunities for teaching field trips or research opportunities. Within 2 hours drive, we have the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, Mississippi River delta land, and a small but growing restored tall grass prairie. The Arkansas River is immediately west of town and the scenic Buffalo National River an hour to the north. There is also extensive agriculture in the area. The state has an active chapter of the Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups.
Hendrix is a distinguished liberal arts college with an endowment of $185 million, sheltering a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, located in Conway, Arkansas, thirty miles from Little Rock at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The College, related to the United Methodist Church, has a strong commitment to excellence in teaching liberal arts. Hendrix is an equal opportunity employer. Women and members of minority groups are especially encouraged to apply. Please visit our website at www.hendrix.edu.