The faculty approved searches for full-time tenure track positions in the departments of biology, mathematics and computer science. They also approved a joint search in the history department and the department of Asian languages and civilizations. All newly hired professors will begin work as assistant professors with the possibility of becoming associate professors often in three years and full professors after seven years.

The department of biology is looking for an assistant professor with a specialization in genomics, the study of genes and their functions. According to Professor of Biology David Ratner, chair of the department, the new professor will in some respects be replacing Professor of Biology Dominic Poccia, who has been on leave for every fall semester since 2002, and who the department anticipates will move into phased retirement soon.

None of the College's current faculty are specialized in the area of genomics. The new professor will teach a course in genomics, help teach Biology 19: Molecules, Genes and Cells and after several years at the College will participate in a course for non-majors as well as an advanced seminar. He or she will also supervise undergraduate research.

The department hopes to begin conducting interviews by the end of this semester, and to have a final hiring decision made by Jan. 1.

The departments of history and Asian languages and civilizations are seeking a jointly-appointed assistant professor of Japanese history. The appointee will be expected to teach all aspects of Japanese History, including general courses in modern and pre-modern Japanese history, departmental seminars and colloquia, and other courses in his or her area of expertise.

"Japanese history has been a staple of the College's curriculum since the College established a special relationship with Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan," said Professor of History and Asian languages and civilizations Jerry Dennerline, chair of the search committee. This year, the College is not offering any courses in Japanese history.

Dennerline says the department hopes to have someone to teach Japanese history next fall. Four candidates will be invited to campus in early February, and the departments hope to have made a decision by the middle of February.

The department of mathematics and computer science is looking for a statistician to replace Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science James Denton, who is retiring. Denton is the department's only statistician. The department is looking for an individual with a Ph.D. in statistics, biostatistics or a closely related field. "[We are looking for] someone strongly interested in undergraduate teaching, who also has a strong research background in statistics and biostatistics," said Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science John Rager, chair of the department. The committee will begin evaluating applications in mid-December and finalists will be interviewed in the spring.