Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology
University of Wisconsin System
Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology
University of Wisconsin System
Statewide public university system in Wisconsin
POSITION: The Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 23rd, 2027. We seek a broadly trained biologist with expertise in aquatic ecology who is committed to excellence in undergraduate education and developing a vibrant research program in aquatic ecology with undergraduates. The successful candidate will 1) contribute to the ecology and environmental biology curriculum by teaching both introductory and upper-level courses, 2) conduct research in any area of aquatic ecology amenable to collaborations with undergraduates, 3) engage in service to the Department, College, University, and/or community, and 4) contribute to UW-Eau Claire's commitment to achieving an equitable, diverse, and inclusive climate.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Earned Ph.D. by August 23, 2027, and demonstrated interest in joining a department that values excellence in teaching undergraduates and engaging in collaborative research with undergraduates.
DUTIES: The successful candidate will teach both introductory and upper-level biology courses for majors (such as Biol 180 Environmental Biology and Conservation, Biol 222 Foundations of Biology II, Biol 223 Foundations of Biological Inquiry, and Biol 321 Ecology) as well as offer upper-level coursework related to their expertise (such as Biol 311 Entomology, Biol 345 Invertebrate Zoology, Biol 376 Aquatic Ecology, Biol 379 Biology of Fishes, Biol 383 Biostatistics, etc.). The candidate may also have opportunities to develop additional courses that enhance our curriculum, including courses that support the Marine Science minor. The teaching commitment is 24-credits per academic year. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop an active research program involving undergraduate students, provide academic advising to students (in collaboration with the Advising, Retention, and Career Center), engage in service to the Department, College, University, profession and/or community, and contribute to UW-Eau Claire's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI).
DEPARTMENT: The Department of Biology currently has 11 faculty, 2-4 instructors, a lab manager, a greenhouse/animal care manager, and approximately 700 students involved in Biology-affiliated majors (Biology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, and Microbiology). The Department works closely with the Health Careers Center on campus to support the advancement of pre-professional and professional health science students and programs. Department members are dedicated to teaching and are actively involved in research with undergraduates as evidenced by co-authored presentations and publications. The Department also has a longstanding research initiative privately supported by the Pine Lake Association to facilitate student-faculty collaboration on one of Wisconsin’s most pristine and ecologically significant lakes. Members of the Department are also involved in interdisciplinary work through the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, a partnership among the University of Wisconsin System universities that provides training to students, funds collaborative research, and engages public and private partners in freshwater career opportunities. Active partnerships also include those with the Gulf Coast Research Lab at the University of Southern Mississippi and Beaver Creek Reserve. The Department also has a long-standing agreement with the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos to place four student interns each summer.
Departmental facilities include a variety of teaching and research laboratories with standard field and molecular research equipment, as well as shared access to conventional and confocal fluorescence microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, additional analytical instrumentation through the Materials Science and Engineering Center, and the UW-Eau Claire high performance supercomputing cluster. In addition, we have greenhouses, a vivarium, natural history collections, living coral reef tanks, and access to Putnam Park, a Wisconsin State Natural Area, on the campus. In 2027, UW-Eau Claire will open a new ~$340m Science and Health Sciences Building, which will house the department and all teaching and research facilities.
Research is supported by competitive start-up packages as well as both external and internal grants through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). ORSP internal funds are available to support summer research stipends and travel to professional meetings for both students and faculty mentors. In addition, a substantial ongoing internal grant from the UW-Eau Claire differential tuition program supports our Biology Research Scholars Program, which enables cohorts of students each summer to conduct research with UWEC Biology faculty by providing funding for student stipends, faculty mentor stipends, and supplies/travel. Each member of the department also receives annual allocations of endowed funds for professional development and/or research expenses.
We participate in the TRIO-Funded Ronald McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement and Upward Bound Programs as well as other initiatives to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion.
To learn more about the Department of Biology, visit: http://www.uwec.ly/biology.
UNIVERSITY and EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY: UW-Eau Claire, a primarily undergraduate institution of approximately 9,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff, is consistently recognized as a top comprehensive university in the Midwest and is widely known as a leader in faculty-
undergraduate research and study abroad. We strive for excellence in liberal education through commitment to teaching and learning and dedication to our core values of diversity, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. UW-Eau Claire is home to the UW System's only Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration, which supports research collaborations between faculty and undergraduates as well as external grant development and hosts an annual Celebration of Excellence in Research and Creative Activity. UW-Eau Claire has recently established the Center for Environmental Research and Scholarship to serve as an interdisciplinary hub and raise the profile of environmental programs on campus. UW-Eau Claire's campus (often described as "Wisconsin's most beautiful campus") spans the banks of the Chippewa River in the heart of Eau Claire, western Wisconsin's largest city. To learn more about UW-Eau Claire, visit https://www.uwec.edu/human-resources/employment-opportunities/.
The City of Eau Claire, situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, is a vibrant community of over 69,000 located in the Chippewa Valley. Eau Claire has made numerous "Best of" lists, including #2 Most Livable College Town (https://www.eauclairewi.gov/our-city/eau-claire-awards-and-recognitions) and was featured in the “Reasons to Celebrate America” series in Time Magazine and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel due to its ever expanding entrepreneurial, local food, art and music scenes. Our city is a recreation destination as the surrounding scenic countryside offers plentiful access to rivers, public parks, and many seasonal outdoor activities. Eau Claire is affordable, has major medical facilities, outstanding public schools, and ample employment opportunities. Eau Claire is just 90 miles from the MSP international airport and the cosmopolitan center of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. To learn more about events and opportunities in Eau Claire, visit https://www.visiteauclaire.com/
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications are submitted electronically. Please click on the “Apply Now” link for this job posting on the following UW-Eau Claire Web site: https://www.uwec.edu/job-postings/. This will direct you to the UW System Career Opportunities page where application materials will be submitted. You must create an account and login before you can apply. If you have not yet registered, click on the "New User" link to begin the registration process. If you are already a registered user, input your "User Name" and "Password" and select "Login." Click the link to the Biology: Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology position (Job ID #10013395) and then click the "Apply Now" button to submit your application electronically. Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents are attached, and all required fields are completed. Please be sure you have included the following in PDF format:
Please direct requests for additional information to: Dr. Nora Mitchell, [email protected].
To ensure consideration, completed applications must be received by September 28, 2026. Screening may continue until the position is filled.
UW-Eau Claire, an institution of approximately 9,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff, is consistently recognized as a top comprehensive university in the Midwest and is widely known as a leader in faculty-undergraduate research and study abroad. We strive for excellence in liberal education and select graduate and professional programs through commitment to teaching and learning and dedication to our core values of diversity, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. To learn more about UWEC, visit https://www.uwec.edu/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ .
The City of Eau Claire, situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, is at the center of a metropolitan area of approximately 100,000 people located 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The area features beautiful parks and trails, strong public schools, a vibrant arts scene and local food culture, and abundant recreational opportunities.
The university reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. Employment will require a background check. Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).
The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime. Visit Campus Security and Fire Report. Also visit our Campus Security Authority(CSA) policy.
UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
Statewide public university system in Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin System is Wisconsin's statewide public higher-education network, providing university study, research and community outreach. Its institutions include research universities in Madison and Milwaukee, comprehensive universities and a polytechnic university, with undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs. The Board of Regents sets policy and approves budgets, while system administration coordinates finance, technology and shared services for the member universities. Created in 1971 by merging two public university systems under one board, it is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and uses Universities of Wisconsin as its public brand.
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