Teaching Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

Clinical Faculty - Greenhouse Management and Teaching

Hiring Department: Biological Sciences

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1041928

Posting Close Date: December 18, 2026

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $80,000 to $120,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities, and it is ranked #1 in Illinois for social mobility. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

About the Plant Research Laboratory

The UIC Plant Research Laboratory, operated by the Department of Biological Sciences, is a premier urban research facility supporting biological research, education, and outreach. It features 3,600 square feet of glasshouses on a one-acre outdoor area with experimental gardens. It also houses the UIC Mobile Environmental Laboratory, which supports ecological research on urban vegetation, soils, microclimate, and atmospheric processes. Beyond its vital role in supporting UIC faculty and student research in plant ecology, evolution, and physiology, the facility supports undergraduate courses, and serves as a living laboratory that connects the campus community with the natural sciences. It also leads outreach activities beyond UIC through contributions to urban ecological monitoring, conservation projects, and school gardens throughout the Chicago region.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

Assistant or Associate Rank Clinical Faculty position to serve as Greenhouse Manager for the Plant Research Laboratory (PRL). This is a renewable, non-tenure track, full-time appointment that integrates operational oversight of a shared research and teaching facility with undergraduate instruction and student engagement. The position plays a central role in supporting the teaching, research, and service missions of the department and university. Position start date is flexible, preferably by May 2026.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement plan, Paid time off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Duties & Responsibilities

Greenhouse Operations:

• Oversee day-to-day greenhouse operations, including plant collections, environmental control systems, scheduling, safety, compliance, and coordination of users
• Maintain greenhouse and selected outdoor spaces as functional environments for both research and teaching
• Supervise staff and student workers in collaboration with departmental administration

Teaching and Curriculum:

• Teach at least one course per semester based on the PRL grounds and greenhouses, focusing on botany, plant evolution, urban ecology, and/or related areas
• Support laboratory modules and experiential components of existing BIOS courses
• Maintain living collections and instructional materials in support of instruction on biodiversity and natural history

Research and Student Support:

• Facilitate faculty- and student-led research projects using greenhouse resources
• Advise on experimental setup, plant care, and basic methodological considerations
• Support undergraduate research, independent study (BIOS 199/399)

Outreach and Service:

• Manage and contribute to PRL’s role as a shared campus and community-facing resource that connects plant biology research and teaching with broader campus and external partnerships
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in plant biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience with greenhouse operations, plant care, or controlled-environment systems
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching at the undergraduate level
• Demonstrated ability to integrate research facilities into curriculum and student projects
• Practical knowledge of horticultural, mechanical, or environmental control systems

Application Instructions

For full consideration, please complete an online application, including a cover letter indicating qualifications relevant to greenhouse management, a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy (and prior experience if applicable) focused on experiential instruction in plant biology, and the names and email addresses of three references. Posting will close December 18, 2026 at 5pm CST.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.