Dr. Shirley C. Tucker Chair in Lichenology

Dr. Shirley

C. Tucker Chair in Lichenology

Faculty

LSUAM Science - Department of Biological Sciences (Patrick Joseph DiMario ))

0202 Life Sciences Building

Academic

The Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University seeks an outstanding senior scholar at the rank of Associate or Full Professor to fill a tenured appointment as the Dr. Shirley

C. Tucker Chair in Lichenology. The successful candidate will be engaged in scholarly research on the evolutionary biology of lichens, with an emphasis on collections-based research. Candidates should have internationally recognized scientific reputations and are expected to maintain a high-level, externally funded research program, and provide leadership both on campus and beyond. The Tucker Chair includes a competitive salary and access to discretionary funds generated by the endowment.

LSU is designated a Carnegie Research I University and is one of a handful of distinguished universities to enjoy Land, Sea, and Space Grant status. The Department of Biological Sciences currently consists of 65 tenure-track faculty members studying a wide range of biological questions at scales from molecules to ecosystems. The candidate will build on LSU’s strengths in evolutionary biology, systematics, and collections-based research.

Among the departmental resources is the Shirley

C. Tucker Herbarium (https://www.lsu.edu/herbarium/), which is one of the largest herbaria in the Gulf South, home to ca. 400k specimens, including a nationally important collection of lichens. The Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees and has a strong record of success in research and student training. (See https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/ for more information.) Opportunities for a broad range of research interactions are available within the department, at the Museum of Natural Science, and throughout the University.

Duties include:

• 50% - Lead a research team and maintain a vigorous, independent, and extramurally funded research program on the evolutionary biology of lichens; supervise graduate student research; and publish in highly ranked journals.

• 50% - Teach undergraduate and graduate courses and mentor graduate student research.

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Botany, or a related field, and a demonstrated record of high-impact published research in lichenology.

Advanced level of the following job competencies are required:

Research on the evolutionary biology of lichens (collections-based);
Securing and maintaining extramural research funding;
Publishing in highly ranked journals;
Undergraduate and graduate teaching;
Graduate student mentoring and supervision; and Scientific leadership on campus and beyond.

Preferred Qualifications

Tenured or tenured-equivalent applicants with a strong record of past external funding are strongly preferred.

October 2, 2026

December 31, 2026

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

• health, life, dental, and vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• retirement options
• various leave options
• paid holidays
• wellness benefits
• tuition exemption for qualified positions
• training and development opportunities
• employee discounts
• and…