For full job posting and application information, please see the following website: https://employment.everettcc.edu/postings/4566

Summary

Everett Community College has an exciting opportunity for a Biology instructor in the innovative Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA).

Just 30 miles north of Seattle, EvCC is the seventh largest community college in Washington State and a pioneering college for the statewide Running Start program.

ORCA was founded 16 years ago with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. High school juniors and seniors enroll tuition-free in the sought-after program through an application/selection process. Nearly 90% of the students who enroll in the full-time, cohort-based, college program earn an Associate degree when they graduate from high school.

The faculty at ORCA represent core disciplines in English/humanities, social sciences and the natural sciences/mathematics, and work collaboratively, weaving relevant curricular concepts through an interdisciplinary focus on asking questions and using evidence to support one’s ideas.

Faculty work with the same students for two years, facilitating a rich environment where relationships are valued and students are supported with high impact educational practices, including undergraduate research, collaborative projects and writing intensive experiences.

Research at ORCA
To facilitate the blending of core content with other disciplines, ORCA developed a longitudinal study of the Snohomish River Estuary. This project, the State of Possession Sound (SOPS), catalyzed undergraduate research and four National Science Foundation grants, including a research lab, a research vessel, support for student research projects and the most recent GEOPATHS/EXTRA grant supporting summer work. SOPS work allows rotating groups of students every other week to collect biogeochemical data; students also use their emerging writing and mathematical skills to analyze and interpret their findings. This project provides the framework for the first year curriculum and often inspires student-driven questions for second year research.

Job Summary
The position includes all science instruction during the first year of the program. (After developing successful relationships with first year students, continued research mentoring during the second year will be added). This includes teaching a series of three courses over an academic year (Fall: Ocean Technology, Winter: Oceanography, Spring: Marine Biology of the Pacific Northwest).

Each course is intended to build on the knowledge of the previous course(s). The successful candidate will work with all 60 first year students (divided into 3 groups of 20) and mentor them as they build and develop their research and communication skills. The position will continue to enhance, create and revise course materials and deliver innovative lessons with embedded assessments. It is the expectation that the candidate will incorporate data from student/colleague feedback to revise and improve instruction leading to student success, particularly for underserved and underrepresented students in STEM.

Engagement in the community to advance student research initiatives by networking with local scientists and actively participating in student recruitment is also an expectation. Becoming an integral part of a team leading ORCA into the next decade will be central to this new position.

Minimum Qualifications

– Master’s Degree in Biology or Oceanography or related field
– Experience teaching Oceanography, Marine Science or Marine Biology and/or related coursework with relevant skills to do so effectively
– Desire to join and contribute to the relationship-rich culture at ORCA
Understanding of and desire to work in an interdisciplinary setting
– Demonstrated experience, and/or classroom strategies for, effectively instructing students from diverse backgrounds including differences in culture, heritage, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, class, and religion.

Preferred Qualifications

– Engaging and enthusiastic instructor
– Experience teaching and mentoring high school aged students
– Positive, affirming attitude when working with students
– Leadership experience
– Collaborative
– Demonstrated ability to integrate research into undergraduate education
– Experience delivering high impact practices including cultivating active learning environments
– Experience providing guidance and advising to students
– Data management experience including technology tools
– Experience on research vessels or small boats
– Grant writing experience, particularly related to undergraduate student research