Assistant Professor of Biology, Aquatic Ecosystems

Job Description

Job Description

The Department of Biology and Earth Systems Sciences (BESS) at Wilkes University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Aquatic Ecosystems, beginning in Fall 2026, contingent on final budgetary approval.

This position involves a balance of teaching, scholarship, and service, including instruction of undergraduate courses and laboratories, directing undergraduate research, academic advising, committee work, and engagement with the broader university and community. A Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Biology, or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment. The successful candidate will demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for undergraduate teaching, a commitment to mentoring students, and the potential for excellence as both an educator and a scholar.

We seek a broadly trained aquatic ecologist whose expertise strengthens both our Biology and Environmental Science programs. The ideal candidate will have research and teaching interests in aquatic ecosystems science. Teaching responsibilities may include a mix of introductory and upper-level courses in Biology and Environmental Science. Teaching and research experience incorporating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is welcome.

The successful candidate will also be expected to develop and maintain an active research program, including regionally relevant field research, that is suitable for undergraduate participation, with opportunities for external funding and collaboration.

Wilkes provides excellent facilities and support for teaching and research. Resources include:

• Water and air quality laboratories, soils and sedimentology labs, genomics center, microscopy facilities, herbarium, and environmental monitoring equipment.
• The Center for Geographic Information Science (GIScience), with aerial and ground-based spatial and image data acquisition tools, as well as access to a supercomputing cluster.
• A 120-acre university-owned ecology preserve with streams, ponds, forests, and meadows and a 10-acre cranberry bog located adjacent to a natural glacial lake.
• Other nearby field sites in Northeast Pennsylvania include pristine lakes, wetlands, and rivers/streams that offer rich opportunities for aquatic and environmental research.

To apply, visit https://wilkesuniversitycareers.applicantpro.com/jobs/. A complete application will consist of a cover letter, CV, teaching statement, research statement, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin January 15th, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

About Wilkes:

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Wilkes institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the scenic Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information. The BESS Department, as well as other departments at Wilkes, are highly collaborative and student-centered.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.

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