Submit Your Application

Application Window

Best Consideration: Monday, July 22, 2024

UNM Job Posting Number: req23085

Apply by these dates to ensure full consideration by the committee. Applications received after these dates will only be considered if the position(s) have not yet been filled. Start must be between January-July 2025.

Download job description here: FIRST Faculty Job Description.pdf

Accessibility link: https://unm.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=7&c=unm&id=23085

Position Description

The University of New Mexico College of Arts and Sciences is seeking to recruit a tenure-track Assistant Professors to join the cohort of the eight Assistant Professors already hired as part of the NIH funded Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) grant (https://commonfund.nih.gov/FIRST) awarded to the University of New Mexico (UNM). The UNM FIRST program goals are: (1) to recruit a cohort of diverse faculty who have a demonstrated strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence in the biomedical fields of neuroscience and data science in neuroscience, and (2) to achieve sustainable culture change of inclusive excellence at the institutional level.

The new hire will be part of one of the following six academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences: Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physics and Astronomy, Speech and Hearing Sciences, and Mathematics and Statistics. There is the option to be hired across two departments as well.

This position is for tenured-track faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences. Tenured-track faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences are fully funded (hard money) for academic year salary for the duration of their careers at the institution.

View the video here (and below) to learn about the application!

University of New Mexico Information

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is the premier research university in the state of New Mexico. We are a Carnegie R1 Highest Research Activity Institution, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, and a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution.

UNM is located in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. Albuquerque is an ethnically diverse metropolitan area of over a half million residents that has been listed as one of the best small cities in the U.S. by National Geographic Traveler. The city has a rich culture and a location offering unparalleled opportunities for outdoor adventure. Learn more about our city here (https://unmfirst.unm.edu/why-choose-us/why-albuquerque.html). The University is located within one hour of Santa Fe, three hours of Taos, and within minutes of the Sandia and Manzano mountain ranges, which offer great opportunities for hiking, biking, rock climbing, skiing, and other outdoor activities.

New Mexico is a majority minority state with a long and rich cultural heritage that prioritizes advancement, equity, and accessibility. In the 2023 legislative session, a few of the key bills passed included free school meals of all K-12 students, establishing the Native American Voting Rights Act, establishing permanent funding for land and water conservation, and expanding protections offered under the Human Rights Act, just to name a few. To learn more about our 2023 legislative session, read here. Equality New Mexico, one of our leading non-profit organization for equal rights, further expanded that the 2023 legislative session was the most successful session for LGBTQ issues, including bill HB7 that legally affirmed all New Mexicans protected access to reproductive and gender affirming care. The Land of Enchantment continues to welcome all who wish to call it home.

To learn more about living in New Mexico, our values, and our culture visit here: https://unmfirst.unm.edu/why-choose-us/index.html.

In addition to the highest standards of scholarship, teaching, and professional activity, successful candidates will have demonstrated a commitment to promoting inclusive excellence. Several of the University’s ongoing initiatives to promote inclusive excellence include:

UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion - https://diverse.unm.edu
Advance at UNM – https://advance.unm.edu
UNM2040 Goal Three: Inclusive Excellence - https://opportunity.unm.edu/goals/goal3.html

The selected candidates will receive competitive startup packages to support salary and research start-up costs, and will be welcomed into a diverse and inclusive vibrant scholar community. The positions have 75% protected research time for the duration of the NIH FIRST award.

Eligible candidates have not held a prior tenure-track Assistant Professor position but may have held a non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor position. Furthermore, candidates must qualify as a NIH early-stage investigator (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-stage/index.htm), including not having already been the Principal Investigator or Program Director on a successfully awarded NIH independent research award comparable to an R01.

The appointment will be at the Assistant Professor rank. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and based on comparable University of New Mexico salaries at the Assistant Professor rank in each department.

Still have some questions? Visit our FAQ page for more information!

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

A PhD, MD/PhD, PharmD, DrPH or other doctoral degree in psychology, biological sciences, neuroscience, chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, physics, data science, mathematics, statistics, communication sciences and disorders, computer science, cognitive sciences, or a related area. This degree must be awarded by the time of the appointment.
Has not held a prior tenure-track position.
Satisfies the NIH Early-Stage Investigator criteria (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-stage/index.htm), including not having already been the Principal Investigator or Program Director on a successfully awarded NIH independent research award comparable to an R01.
Research and scholarship in the general areas of neuroscience or data science in neuroscience.

Preferred Qualifications

A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.
A publication record in the general areas of neuroscience or data science in neuroscience.
Potential for success in interdisciplinary collaboration with one of the other five departments represented in this award (Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physics and Astronomy, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics).
Research in an area appropriate for NIH R01 funding opportunities (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r01.htm).
Potential for teaching courses in the home departments selected.
Experience serving as a mentor or potential to serve as a mentor.

Application Requirements

View the video above for specific guidance and tips for your required documents.

Documents Required

Curriculum Vitae: Most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter (1-2 pages): Candidates should describe their suitability for the position by addressing both the minimum and preferred qualifications. They also should indicate which of the six departments are their top two preferred home departments, and rank order them based on preference.
Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (2 pages maximum): Candidates should discuss their track record in advancing inclusive excellence, and their plans for advancing efforts at UNM. The statement should include any of their specific contributions to actively mitigate inequities for any constituency. Furthermore, candidates should describe plans to mentor, support and amplify diverse voices in higher education and to foster healthy educational and research environments at their institution or outside. Examples of past efforts or ideas suitable for a Hispanic-Serving Institution R1 public university will strengthen your statement.
Research Statement (3 pages maximum, not including references): Candidates should summarize previous research experience and include short- and long-term research goals. They also should describe how their research plans are tied to potential NIH funding (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r01.htm) and the Strategic Plans, Requests for Applications, or Notices of Special Interest published by NIH institutes.
Teaching Statement (2 pages maximum): Candidates should describe teaching experience. They also should include their teaching philosophy and overall pedagogical strategy. Furthermore, candidates should describe their culturally responsive approach to inclusive excellence in their teaching. In addition to specifying courses they would like to teach in the areas of neuroscience or data science in neuroscience, they should identify other courses of interest that would contribute to the course offerings of the preferred home departments. Candidates should include any mentoring or plans for mentoring, and should specify if done with underrepresented students.

Contact Us: All applicants are highly encouraged to contact the Principal Investigators for this program, Dr. Jane Ellen Smith or Dr. Irene Salinas, at unmfirst@unm.edu so that questions may be fully addressed. Applicants also are encouraged to contact the search committee chairs for their primary departments of interest. Download job description here: FIRST Faculty Job Description.pdf.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.