Position Description

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS) at St. Olaf College invites applications for two full-time, tenure track positions in Applied/Computational Mathematics, or a closely related field, at the Assistant Professor level, to begin August 2024. We seek candidates with a strong desire for supporting a thriving, active, and diverse undergraduate mathematics program within a nationally ranked liberal arts college.

The normal teaching load is five courses per year, including beginning, intermediate, and advanced undergraduate mathematics courses. In addition, there is the opportunity to establish interdisciplinary connections within and outside of the MSCS Department and to expand the applied and computational mathematics curriculum. Successful candidates will develop and maintain an active research program, including contributions to the departmental commitment to research by and involving undergraduates. Our department is committed to the work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and we seek a tenure-track colleague who will contribute to inclusive excellence through their work in the classroom, student mentoring and advising, and other service work in the department and across the college.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in mathematics or closely related field is strongly preferred by the date of appointment. Applicants should have expertise in applied/computational mathematics and a demonstrated commitment to and potential for supporting a thriving and diverse undergraduate mathematics program through teaching, research, mentoring of undergraduate research, and advising. Applicants with experience teaching undergraduate mathematics courses, especially courses where they've had full responsibility, will be given higher consideration.

About the Department:

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at St. Olaf College is among the largest and most successful among American undergraduate institutions. Graduating about 75 mathematics majors, 70 statistics and data science concentrators, and 40 computer science majors annually, St. Olaf is among the nation's top undergraduate origins of Ph.D. degrees in the mathematical sciences. The department has approximately 20 faculty members covering a broad range of expertise, and we regularly offer numerous advanced courses and seminars in both applied and pure mathematics, including partial differential equations, dynamical systems, computational geometry, complex analysis, advanced linear algebra, graph theory, measure theory, abstract algebra, combinatorics, and topology. 

Part of the success of the department can be attributed to the fact that each of us subscribes to the departmental ethos that all students, not just a small elite, can benefit from training in MSCS disciplines. This ethos drives our departmental discussions and activities, and results in excellent teaching, collaborations with engaged students, and leadership at the college.

Possibilities for collaborative research are plentiful; projects involving undergraduates are supported by St. Olaf’s Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry program. Additionally, our Center for Interdisciplinary Research is a nationally recognized program that pairs MSCS faculty and students with faculty and students from other disciplines “to share in the excitement and challenge of working across the traditional academic boundaries to collaborate on research.” For more information about the department, visit wp.stolaf.edu/mscs/.

Diversity:

At St. Olaf College, we are committed to equity and inclusion. We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to the Hill each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

How to Apply:

A complete application includes:

1. Cover letter addressing your qualifications, general interest in the liberal arts, and particular interest in St. Olaf College
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Diversity statement (200-500 word limit): Describe how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at our college through your teaching, research, and/or service. Include examples of your contributions when possible.
4. Graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
5. Statement of teaching philosophy, including a discussion of pedagogical techniques used to create an active, inclusive classroom
6. Statement of research and interest, including the potential for engagement in research with undergraduates
7. The contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship (St. Olaf solicits letters directly after an initial round of screening.)