Assistant Professor - Biology

Position Summary

The Department of Biology at Hamline University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor, with a specialization in ecology or evolutionary biology, to begin fall 2025. The Hamline University Biology Department has received gold-level recognition by the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE), and Biology Department faculty are active, productive scholars, collaborative, and are committed to providing high impact experiences for our students including team-based active learning courses, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and faculty-mentored summer research. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, in full accord with the value that Hamline University places on its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. The department fosters an environment in which all members are supported and feel empowered to obtain their teaching and scholarship goals.

The Biology major curriculum provides students with a broad foundation in biology through a two-course core, a deeper understanding of various sub-disciplines of biology in elective courses, and a capstone experience in their senior year. In addition to teaching and providing research opportunities for Biology majors, Biology Department faculty also teach courses that are part of the general education curriculum (e.g., first-year seminars, natural science courses for non-science majors) and teach courses and provide leadership for several other academic programs that intersect with Biology. The candidate hired for this position would be welcome to collaborate with academic programs outside of Biology that are relevant to their expertise and interests (e.g., Environmental & Climate Studies, Computational Data Science).

Teaching responsibilities for this position will include regular teaching of two introductory courses: BIOL 1520: Integrated Concepts of Biology, and BIOL 1130: Biodiversity & Conservation Biology. BIOL 1520 is one of the core courses for the Biology major and for several other affiliated academic programs, and BIOL 1130 is a required course for students majoring in Environmental & Climate Studies. This position also offers the candidate the opportunity to teach other existing or newly-developed courses related to their expertise. We are especially interested in candidates who study ecology and/or evolution in the context of terrestrial organisms/ecosystems, and who have a strong quantitative component to their training, teaching, and research. Tenure-track faculty at Hamline typically teach six courses per academic year, with a one-course reduction during the first year and a three-course release after a successful 3rd year review. Laboratory sections count as fractional course load equivalents. 

We are excited about prospective colleagues who:

• Have college teaching experience, are able to teach a range of courses in the field, and who will develop electives in areas of their expertise;
• Are committed to teaching excellence and to learning and employing innovative, high impact pedagogical practices that create equitable courses and promote student learning;
• Have a record of supporting students from underserved populations;
• are ready to build a productive research program that includes collaboration with undergraduate students; 
• Are interested in engaging in shared governance and providing service to the Biology Department, the college, university, and their community.

A Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, or a related field is required; ABD applicants with expected defense dates by August 30th, 2025 will also be considered.

Screening of applications will begin on September 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions may be addressed to Leif Hembre, Department Chair & Search Chair (lhembre@hamline.edu).

You will be asked to include the following documents with your application:

• A letter of interest and current curriculum vitae
• A teaching statement that outlines pedagogy in a multicultural/multiethnic campus environment with a substantial population of students who are among the first-generation of their family to attend college.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness, for example sample assignments, copies of student evaluations, a list of courses previously taught and/or a list of courses that could be taught.
• Transcripts of graduate coursework (unofficial transcripts are sufficient)
• A research statement focusing on past work and future plans, with an emphasis on research directions that are suitable and feasible to be done in collaboration with undergraduate students
• Names and contact information for three references