Assistant Professor - Animal Ecology

Department: Department of Biological Sciences

Campus

Location:

Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: $70,000

Work Schedule: M-F 8-5;
Variable dependent on schedule; work is performed on-site and in person

Export Compliance Requirement:No export control requirement.

Position Overview:

The Department of Biological Sciences in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Animal Ecology. We welcome applicants whose research focuses on vertebrate or invertebrate systems across any area of animal ecology, including behavioral ecology. We are particularly interested in applicants who will include use of the WSU Field Stations in their teaching and research programs.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, develop a productive research program, and provide service to the university and profession. This position is a 9-month appointment with an anticipated start date of Fall 2027.
Department

Description:

The Department of Biological Sciences offers majors in Biology with either an Ecological/Environmental/Organismal or a Biomedical emphasis. There are approximately 340 undergraduate majors and the department’s Master of Science in Biology program currently includes 19 graduate students. There are 11 faculty members and seven full-time departmental support staff/administrators. The department is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and student success. The WSU Field Stations span four reserves totaling over 5000 acres, featuring both restored and native tall and mid-grass prairies.

The Ninnescah Reserve is the base of operations for our Field Station Manager and includes research and storage/maintenance buildings. A 2025 square foot space on the Wichita main campus is dedicated to organismal biology coursework and WSU’s natural history collections. The department houses modern laboratory space that includes analytical/molecular equipment, an accredited animal facility, and access to the Kansas State University and Wichita State University High Performance Computing clusters.

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Teaching:
Develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in the candidate’s area of expertise. This includes designing curriculum, delivering high-quality instruction, and assessing student learning. The faculty member will mentor and advise students, including supervising undergraduate and M.S. research projects.
Research/Scholarly Activity:
Establish and maintain an active, externally funded research program in animal ecology involving undergraduate students and M.S. graduate students. This includes publishing peer reviewed scholarly work and disseminating results in academic venues.
Service:
Participate in service activities within the department, college, and university, as well as in professional organizations. Service duties include committee work, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment, and community outreach. The faculty member will contribute to the governance and strategic initiatives of the department and may also…