Assistant Professor, Biology (Genetics or Genomics

Assistant Professor, Biology (Genetics or Genomics)

Black Hills State University (BHSU) invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Biology with expertise in Genetics or Genomics, beginning August 2026. BHSU is a regional university located in the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota that emphasizes experiential learning and focuses upon serving undergraduate and Master's students enrolled in a wide variety of programs. The School of Natural Sciences at BHSU houses the Western South Dakota Genetics & Genomics Core Facility (West Core) and the Center for the Conservation of Biological Resources (CC ) which are equipped with the NGS instrument Illumina Next Seq 2000, as well as qPCR (Quant Studio
3), dPCR (Quant Studio Absolute Q), 3500 genetic analyzer, and other instruments. This provides faculty and students with opportunities to access a wide range of state-of-the-art genetic, epigenetic, and gene expression technologies and applications for teaching and research.

The successful candidate will join a diverse group of Natural Science faculty and will complement ongoing research in areas such as botany, biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, microbiology, genomics, avian physiology, and environmental biology, ecology, and environmental geology. The successful candidate will also demonstrate enthusiasm for employing effective teaching methods, show potential for developing funded research programs involving graduate and undergraduate students, and possess a strong interest in engaging with the students, faculty, and community members of BHSU and Spearfish, South Dakota.

Duties:

• Develop and teach genetics and genomics as well as other courses related to the applicant's area(s) of expertise at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Establish a research program utilizing the resources of BHSU that inspires and engages undergraduate and graduate students.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate research.
• Participate in student advising.
• Participate in activities that serve the School of Natural Sciences, the University, the scientific community, and the community at large.

The successful applicant will have the following:

• Interest in employing evidence-based teaching strategies in the classroom.
• Enthusiasm for working with a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for community service and engagement.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• Strong collegial and collaborative skills.
• A strong interest in mentoring student research.

Required qualifications:

• A PhD in genetics, genomics, molecular biology or a related field.

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge/experience in population or functional genetics/genomics.
• Experience teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
• Experience with analysis of NGS datasets.
• A record of successful publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in grant writing.