Assistant Professor of Freshwater Ecology — University of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Biological Survey (OBS) at the University of Oklahoma invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor of Freshwater Ecology.

We seek an innovative and collaborative colleague with expertise in freshwater systems (broadly defined to include invertebrate and/or vertebrate communities) who will establish a nationally recognized, externally funded research program. The successful candidate will run an active research lab, mentor graduate students, contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching (one course per semester), and provide taxonomic expertise essential to the OBS mission of documenting and conserving biodiversity in Oklahoma.

We are particularly interested in candidates who integrate field-based or experimental ecology with taxonomic and conservation-oriented research. Approaches may include, but are not limited to, the following: population and community ecology, conservation biology, eco-informatics, phylogenetics, environmental monitoring, or global change biology, with a strong focus on freshwater ecosystems.

The successful candidate will be expected to: (1) develop and maintain an extramurally funded, discipline-leading research program; (2) train and mentor graduate and undergraduate students in ecology, conservation, and biodiversity science; (3) teach one course per semester at the undergraduate or graduate level; (4) contribute expertise to biodiversity documentation, monitoring, and conservation initiatives carried out by the OBS; and (5) build collaborations within and beyond OU, including partnerships with state and federal agencies, NGOs, and conservation organizations.

The OBS is both a state agency and a research unit in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences ough coordinated research and monitoring, the OBS compiles detailed information on biological communities in the state and surrounding regions while enhancing our general understanding of ecology and natural history for the benefit of the scientific community, elected officials, and the public.

Established in 1927, its mission is to consolidate expertise and information on biodiversity with an emphasis on the plants and animals of the state of Oklahoma. The OBS is home to the Robert Bebb Herbarium, the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, and the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry program. Together, these programs track and conserve species and habitats, advance biodiversity research and education, and inform state offices, tribal organizations, and private landowners.

As an integral unit of OU, the OBS contributes to cross-disciplinary research, student training, and outreach at local, state, and national levels. The OBS contributes to the scientific community of the University of Oklahoma and beyond through innovative research that advances a multitude of areas within the biological and environmental sciences while bringing external funding to the university and fostering expertise needed to confront present and future conservation and biodiversity challenges.

OU invests in its faculty by providing support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through senior faculty mentoring, new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational support. We encourage candidates to apply who seek to contribute to a collegial and interdisciplinary research environment within a rapidly growing college and department.

This position offers a competitive salary, startup funds, lab space including indoor and outdoor facilities, and a generous benefits package that includes paid leave, health coverage, life insurance, and retirement funds. The starting date is expected to be in August of 2026.