Assistant Professor - Curator of Education; Tenure-Track

Assistant Professor - Curator of Education (Tenure-Track)

Join to apply for the Assistant Professor - Curator of Education (Tenure-Track) role at University of Colorado Boulder

The Museum of Natural History, an interdisciplinary research institute within the University of Colorado Boulder, invites applications for a dynamic Curator of Education to join our team as a tenure-track Assistant Professor beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. The position is rostered in the Museum, with tenure home in the School of Education. Teaching responsibilities will be split between the tenure home department and the Museum & Field Studies Graduate Program.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will have a promising research agenda in one or more areas including (but not limited to) informal learning, place-based education, outdoor education, and/or museum interpretation. Strong preference will be given to candidates that demonstrate effective, cross-disciplinary or team-based projects, as evidenced by publications, grants and productive collaborations/partnerships. This role will have opportunity to engage with the Museum’s collections and unique strengths in the study of organismal responses to environmental change through time.

The Museum houses over 5 million specimens and objects and represents the largest collection in the Rocky Mountain region. The successful candidate will demonstrate genuine interest in contributing to the Museum & Field Studies Masters and Professional Certificate Program, and School of Education. They will lead the development and implementation of informal, place-based and experiential research and educational programs that advance the museum’s mission to inspire discovery, foster scientific literacy, and engage diverse audiences.

This role will lend expertise to and participate in our existing public research communications and expand capacity for our museum studies graduate program to use the museum as a laboratory for elevating the university’s research and educational impacts.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active, externally funded research program, curate and lead the education collections, supervise and mentor graduate students, teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and contribute professional service both within the university and to their professional research community. The typical effort distribution for tenure-track Museum faculty is 40% research, 20% teaching, 20% curation and 20% service.

• Maintain an active research program in museum education, informal STEM learning, or related areas.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and successfully seek external funding to support research, education and museum programming.
• Mentor postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduates in research and professional development.

• Teach and develop courses and participate in the Museum and Field Studies and School of Education graduate programs on science education, informal education, and/or related disciplines within the university.
• Supervise student internships and practicum experiences in museum education.
• Participate in departmental, museum, and university service activities.

• Collaborate with curators and museum staff to integrate museum collections, ongoing research, and exhibits into experiential learning opportunities.
• Design, implement, and evaluate innovative educational programs for diverse audiences, graduate and undergraduate students, K–12 teachers and students, and lifelong learners.
• Develop and curate museum educational collections.
• Collaborate on development of educator professional development curricula and resources aligned with state and national science standards.