Job Details

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Department of Biology within the College of Arts and Sciences invites applications for a nine-month, fixed-term Instructor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology Lab Coordinator. Expected begin work date is August 2025.

Responsibilities will include teaching laboratory courses in one or more of the following: genetics, cell and molecular biology, microbiology, and forensic biology and lectures in areas appropriate for the successful applicants expertise and experience. Coordination of microbiology lab curriculum and materials for two courses (BIOL 313 and 413) will be part of the assigned job duties of the successful applicant and will involve ordering teaching materials, training lab assistants, and maintaining lab equipment and teaching space. Service responsibilities will include academic advising in Biology and/or Forensic Sciences and other departmental or higher service will be welcomed.

Candidates must have at least a Masters degree in Biology and have teaching experience in cell and molecular biology, microbiology, and/or forensic biology at the college level. Candidates must have at least a Masters degree prior to the hire date and the degree must be from an appropriately accredited institution.

Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated organizational skills and extensive experience in laboratory techniques. Experience in teaching college-level courses in cellular and molecular biology, microbiology, and forensic science or population genetics is also preferred.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts from highest degree earned*, teaching philosophy, and a list of three professional references with full contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Jeremy Hyman, Biology Department Head, at jhyman@email.wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.