Assistant Professor - Forensic Science

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The mission of the College of Humanities and Sciences is to serve as the intellectual heart and soul of our institution and wider community. The College of Humanities and Sciences:

• Prepares lifelong learners to participate actively as engaged and responsible citizens
• Propels scientific research and scholarship to improve the human condition, cure and treat diseases, and promote healthy environments
• Grounds us in our history, critically examines our present human condition and empowers students to create more equitable local and global communities
• Provides communities with a passionate and creative workforce that serves as a powerful engine for economic development and innovative solutions to problems

As the intellectual lifeblood of VCU and our community, the College of Humanities and Sciences seeks to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others-locally, globally and throughout time. Most importantly, our educational and research environment addresses an array of technological, health-related and societal problems, as well as providing profound insights and reflections of what it means to be human and humane..

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Forensic Science at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the rank of assistant professor. We are seeking a qualified candidate with expertise in a forensic science discipline, which may include but is not limited to Forensic Anthropology, Trace Evidence Analysis, pattern or comparative evidence analysis, and/or other applied forensic specialty areas. Candidates will be expected to teach in their area of expertise as well as general forensic sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks to attract an active, culturally and academically diverse faculty and staff of the highest caliber. The candidate must have demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU. The University has an enrollment of over 29,000 students, of which approximately 16,000 represent ethnic minorities. The Department of Forensic Science includes nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom are actively engaged in community STEM activities through programs with our partners in the local schools and other collaborating agencies such as the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Both the B.S. and M.S. degree programs are fully accredited by the AAFS Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). The Department is operated with a close collaboration with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/).

Position Responsibilities: The faculty member will be expected to contribute to course, curriculum, and program development; participate in campus, university, and community service activities; and engage in activities to stay current in their discipline. Evidence of commitment to excellence in research and teaching is required. The candidate will be expected to develop a successful, externally funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students; research should be collaborative, including interdisciplinary projects with other forensic science faculty. Professional experience in a casework or an academic forensic laboratory setting is preferred. This is a 9-month position with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2025.

Required Qualifications: Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a forensic science-related discipline (e.g., Biological Anthropology, Forensic Science, etc.) or a related discipline within the natural or physical sciences.

Preferred Qualifications: N/A

Applicants should submit: a cover letter; curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philosophy, experience and interests; contributions to diversity (see below); and contact information for at least three professional references to VCU Jobs, referencing position number req6372 (https://vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home?c=vcu ).

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion. For more information and guidelines, see https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/prospective.
Review of application materials will begin November 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.