Job Summary 

Drexel University, a top-ranked Carnegie R1-classified research institution located in Philadelphia, seeks an innovative leader and research scientist for the position of Head, Department of Biology, in the College of Arts and Sciences, starting in September 2024. The Department is made up of 12 tenure-line faculty and 8 teaching faculty, whose research and teaching activities take place alongside a vibrant population of approximately 700 Biology undergraduate majors and over 30 PhD students. Faculty with active research programs and a strong record of extramural funding pursue research in the areas of molecular and cell biology, neurobiology, organismal and evolutionary biology, and STEM education. Biology faculty hold appointments and pursue collaborations with colleagues in the College of Medicine; the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems; and the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, which is tightly integrated with the Academy of Natural Sciences.

The Department of Biology is housed in the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), a state-of-the-art five-story building with naturally-lit open-design laboratories, modern classrooms and conference rooms, and a comprehensive light microscopy core facility with advanced imaging capabilities, including confocal, super resolution, and 2 photon excitation microscopy. Located in University City, PISB is in the heart of a vibrant neighborhood with numerous collaborative opportunities, including a developing gene therapy center with Spark Therapeutics, the University of Pennsylvania, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Wistar Institute. Additional resources are available to Biology faculty as consortium members of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, an NCI-designated Cancer Center.

The Department is also home to state-of-the art teaching initiatives to support undergraduate and graduate student learning and professional development, and Departmental faculty are committed to effective and inclusive teaching. Evidence-based teaching practices that emphasize experiential and student-centered learning are a focus in our programs. Educational practices are fostered through a close collaboration and interaction with the Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence (CASTLE) and funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for promoting inclusive teaching to ensure the success and belongingness of students in STEM disciplines. The Department is also engaged in the nationally renowned, HHMI-supported SEA-PHAGES program.

Essential Functions 

• Interface effectively with, and represent the department to, the college and higher administration.
• Mentor and manage faculty and staff, fostering department community.
• Manage the department's budget and resources fairly and effectively.
• Guide and develop the research, teaching, and service missions undertaken by the faculty.