Instructor & Course Coordinator for Physiology & Human Biology Course

University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

UCLA's Life Sciences Core Education Department invites applications for an Academic Administrator (non-tenure track). This full-time, two-year appointment will teach LS7C (Human Biology & Physiology) once per quarter and coordinate course activities, syllabus, calendar, exams, and outcomes to support student success.

The successful candidate will mentor TAs, collaborate with faculty, use evidence-based teaching, and apply data to improve retention. A Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in life sciences and university-level teaching experience.
• Experience with evidence-based teaching methods and inclusive pedagogy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and administrative abilities.
• Preferred experience with data analysis to support student learning and retention.

Responsibilities

• Teach LS7C annually and coordinate course activities to align with assessments.
• Plan syllabus, calendar, exams, and outcomes; use data to inform curricular changes.
• Ensure uniform learning outcomes across LS7 sections and align with LS7 series.
• Build a community of practice among instructional team; mentor new faculty and TAs.
• Support faculty with technology and LMS tools for course delivery.

Skills

Evidence-based teaching

Data analysis

Interpersonal communication

Administrative skills

Mentoring

Technology for instruction

Teaching undergraduates

LMS proficiency

Education

Ph.D. in life science (Physiology/Human Biology)

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Job description

The Life Sciences Core Education Department at UCLA invites highly qualified applicants for an Academic Administrator position. Academic Administrators serve as instructors and course coordinators and are non-tenure track faculty. This Academic Administrator will teach and coordinate one of our introductory biology courses, LS7C (Human Biology & Physiology). They will teach one section of LS7C per quarter in addition to providing logistical and managerial support for this course. This Academic Administrator will join, through our department, a community of faculty that teach other introductory biology or mathematics courses to our life sciences majors at UCLA. This position will report directly to the chair of our department. Our courses collectively serve over 3000 diverse students per year and have been successful in retaining these students in their life science majors. Professional development options are available to the candidate at UCLA and through programs such as SABER. This Academic Administrator is a full-time, two-year contract position (with possibility to extend) with a salary range of $94,078 to $103,440, commensurate with experience. Full benefits are included.

Key Responsibilities:

• The Academic Administrator will teach one offering of LS7C each term and maintain teaching excellence using evidence-based teaching practices.
• They will plan and implement course activities and ensure alignment of activities to assessments and established learning outcomes. This includes the course syllabus, course calendar, exams, and a framework for student grade determination. In addition, they will use data to inform decisions regarding curricular changes to meet course learning objectives and student retention goals.
• Because LS7C is a prerequisite course which provides the foundation for subsequent biology classes, there is a need for the Academic Administrator to provide logistical support that promotes greater course uniformity across all sections of LS7C. To that end, the Academic Administrator will ensure that all sections of LS7C taught are meeting the same learning outcomes. This course must also be aligned with the learning outcomes that span across all LS7 series courses.
• Build and maintain a community of practice among the LS7C instructional team to engage in sustained efforts to collectively improve instructional practices and support the faculty to achieve excellence in their teaching. This includes mentoring new faculty by offering professional development for implementing active learning and concept delivery, as well as handling varied student concerns and accommodations that contribute to student success. Also, support faculty with mastering technology required for the instruction of the course, including textbook integration to class websites and polling and learning-management systems.
• Mentor teaching assistants (TAs) and provide them with training relevant to course activities and discussion sections. Also mentor students in your class about how best to learn the material.

Qualified candidates must have a Ph.D. in a life science discipline relevant to the curriculum of LS7C (Physiology and Human Biology) and have university-level experience in teaching undergraduates. In addition, the successful candidate should have experience with evidence-based teaching practices, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and strong administrative skills. Additional preferred skills in this position include experience in data analysis to support student learning and retention, the ability to assess and respond to students’ and instructors’ experiences and show a commitment to help diverse students learn.