The Botany Department at Connecticut College is excited to announce the R.H. Goodwin Scholar-in-Residence program for the 2024-25 academic year.
Established in honor of the late Richard H. "Dick" Goodwin - Director of the Connecticut College Arboretum, Katharine Blunt Professor Emeritus of Botany, and nationally acclaimed land preservationist - this program was made possible by a generous gift from the Conservation and Research Foundation, an organization founded by Goodwin in the 1950s.
The Botany Department welcomes applications from professionals and academics engaged in botanical fields, broadly defined, who are passionate about cultivating the next generation of plant scientists, land stewards and conservationists. The ideal candidate will be eager to engage with faculty and undergraduate students in botany and related fields in a supportive and stimulating intellectual environment. The R.H. Goodwin Scholar-in-Residence program is designed to provide opportunities for professional development and to foster an exchange of expertise, ideas and pedagogical practice.
Expectations & Compensation
R.H. Goodwin Scholar-in-Residence will teach one undergraduate course per semester in botany at Connecticut College, including an advanced 400-level seminar in their area of expertise. For their second course, they may opt to teach an additional course in an area of their expertise or a new version of a course currently offered in the Botany Department. Scholars-in-Residence are expected to maintain a presence on campus outside of their scheduled teaching hours to facilitate intellectual engagement. Although appointments for the academic year are preferred, applications for a one-semester residency will be considered and compensation prorated accordingly.
As an introduction to the community and to foster interaction, the Scholar-in-Residence will give one public lecture open to the college and local community, followed by a reception. When appropriate to their background, the Scholar-in-Residence should be available to consult with students on their independent research and expect to give one guest lecture per semester in another course at the College.
Compensation for the academic year is a stipend of $40,000. Separate funds are available through the department for any teaching supplies or activities, and a shared office space is provided. Although the primary aim of this Scholar-in-Residence program is to enrich the botanical community and curriculum at Connecticut College, a supplemental budget of up to $5000 may be applied for separately to support research activities. Research activities that provide training for undergraduates enrolled at the College are especially encouraged.
Resources & Facilities
Connecticut College is a private, selective liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut and has a long tradition in botany, with exceptional facilities to support teaching and research. The Botany Department is located in New London Hall, which houses a 3000-square-foot greenhouse and the Graves Herbarium, with over 15,000 curated plant specimens. The Connecticut College Arboretum, which includes the campus, is a 750-acre living laboratory with over 500 species of woody plants, a large native plant collection, wildflower garden, and over 200 acres of undisturbed natural areas including woodlands. The Thames River estuary is accessible via a newly revitalized waterfront and Mamacoke Island, which is attached to the mainland by a small tidal salt marsh. An on-campus, student-run organic farm is also available for teaching and events.
Botany faculty include experts in plant ecology, ethnobotany, sustainable agriculture, plant cell biology, tree physiology, algae and aquatic science. Strong interdisciplinary connections also exist with the Environmental Studies Program, Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment, and Integrative Pathways focused on food systems and sustainability. Preference will be given to applicants whose areas of expertise complement and/or enrich our existing specializations in plant-environment interactions, conservation biology, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem studies, and organismal plant biology. Professionals with expertise in applied fields (e.g., horticulture, propagation, arboriculture, collections) are also encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Review of applications will begin January 1, 2024 for the 2024-25 Scholar-in-Residence program and continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by January 1st.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, current resume or C.V. and provide the names and contact information for three professional references. A written teaching statement that (a) describes their teaching philosophy, (b) highlights evidence of excellence in teaching or comparable training and instruction, and (c) briefly describes two undergraduate courses that they propose to teach while here is also required. One of the courses should be appropriate for a 400-level seminar, although this does not preclude interdisciplinary topics.
If supplemental research funds are being requested, a description of research activities, an itemized budget of up to $5000, and a budget justification should be submitted as separate documents. If laboratory space or access to specialized equipment is required, the applicant must have a faculty host at the College and include a letter from the host stating that laboratory space and/or technical support will be made available to the applicant while on campus.
Connecticut College strives to support a diverse and inclusive community and believes that intellectual vitality and diversity are inseparable. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and differently abled candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Non-U.S. citizens eligible to work in the U.S. are welcome to apply, but note that Connecticut College is unable to sponsor visas at this time.