Company Overview
[$COMPANY_OVERVIEW]
Role Overview
We are recruiting a tenure-track Associate Professor of Zoology to lead cutting-edge research and inspire the next generation of organismal biologists. You will establish an internationally recognized research program that integrates molecular, ecological, and evolutionary approaches to address fundamental questions in zoology, while delivering high-impact teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This position offers generous start-up funds, access to world-class facilities including our vivarium and sequencing core, and the opportunity to shape strategic research initiatives across [$COMPANY_NAME]’s multidisciplinary life-science ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- Develop and sustain an externally funded research portfolio targeting major agencies (NSF, NIH, ERC) with annual expenditures of ≥$500k
- Publish high-impact papers in tier-1 journals such as Nature Ecology & Evolution, Current Biology, or Proceedings of the Royal Society B
- Teach three courses per year, including upper-division Zoology and graduate-level seminars in your specialty, utilizing evidence-based pedagogies
- Mentor Ph.D., M.S., and honors undergraduates; supervise postdocs and lab staff; maintain an inclusive, rigorous training environment
- Contribute to departmental governance, curriculum redesign, and accreditation activities; serve on university tenure & promotion committees
- Build collaborative grant proposals with faculty in genomics, conservation, and bioinformatics; leverage our HPC cluster and drone remote-sensing platform
- Translate research findings to stakeholders—museums, NGOs, and policymakers—enhancing [$COMPANY_NAME]’s public-engagement metrics
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Zoology, Biology, or closely related field with a minimum of six years of postdoctoral or independent research experience
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications (≥20) with first- or senior-author papers in high-impact journals
- Experience teaching vertebrate or invertebrate zoology at university level; evidence of effective course design and student-centered learning
- Successful procurement of extramural research funding as PI or co-PI
- Experience supervising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Preferred Qualifications
- International reputation in a zoological subdiscipline (e.g., behavioral ecology, phylogenomics, developmental evolution)
- Expertise in modern molecular techniques (RNA-seq, CRISPR, single-cell transcriptomics) applied to non-model organisms
- Experience with fieldwork in biodiversity hotspots and permitting compliance (CITES, IACUC)
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through outreach, mentoring, or curriculum innovation
- Record of data publishing and reproducible science practices (Git, R/Python, FAIR data standards)
Technical Skills and Relevant Technologies
- Advanced microscopy (confocal, SEM, micro-CT) and image-analysis software (ImageJ, Imaris)
- Phylogenetic inference tools (BEAST2, RAxML-NG) and comparative methods in R (geiger, ape)
- Geospatial analysis (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) and ecological-niche modeling (MaxEnt, kuenm)
- High-performance computing schedulers (SLURM) and cloud platforms (AWS, CyVerse)
- Electronic lab notebooks (LabArchives) and reference managers (Zotero, EndNote)
Soft Skills and Cultural Fit
- Collegial leadership style with a track record of forming multi-institutional research consortia
- Evidence-based approach to mentoring that supports trainees from under-represented groups
- Strategic vision to align personal research goals with departmental strengths in ecology, evolution, and conservation
- Ethical commitment to animal welfare and open science communication
- Adaptability to emerging pedagogical technologies (active-learning classrooms, VR dissections)
Benefits and Perks
Salary: competitive nine-month base of [$SALARY_RANGE] with supplemental summer research salary possible
- Substantial start-up package ($1M+) including renovation funds for specialized housing of live specimens
- Annual research allocation ($25k) plus subsidized access to core facilities (genomics, microscopy, metabolomics)
- Reduced teaching load during first two years to accelerate lab establishment
- Relocation allowance, dependent tuition benefits, and generous retirement contributions (12% university match)
- Professional-development funds for conference travel, sabbaticals at partner institutions, and leadership programs
Location
This is a hybrid position based in [$COMPANY_LOCATION]; faculty are expected to be on campus four days per week during academic terms while enjoying flexibility for fieldwork and conference travel.
Equal Opportunity Statement
[$COMPANY_NAME] is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We enthusiastically welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We particularly encourage individuals from historically under-represented groups in zoological sciences to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.
Application Instructions: Submit a single PDF containing (1) cover letter highlighting fit with the position, (2) CV with publication list, (3) research statement (≤3 pages), (4) teaching philosophy (≤2 pages), and (5) diversity statement (≤1 page). Arrange for three confidential reference letters to be sent directly to the search committee. Review of applications begins 1 October and continues until the post is filled; early submission is strongly encouraged even if you meet most but not all preferred criteria.
