Job Summary/Basic Functions

The Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning in the Academic Year 2025-2026. Applicants should hold an earned Doctorate in Biology, Ecology, Zoology, or related fields with an emphasis in Ichthyology or related Fish Biology from an accredited institution at the time of appointment. ABD applicants may be considered but must have a Ph.D. (verified by official transcripts) at the time of appointment. The position begins August 2025.

The position serves the B.S. Biology, B.S. Biomedical Sciences, B.S. Wildlife Management, and M.S. Biology majors in the College of STEM, as well as allied degrees in the College of Health Sciences. It requires doctoral-level preparation for instruction in the biological sciences as well as pursuit of original research in the field of fish biology, with preference for candidates with experience in scientific collections. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses that may include, but are not limited to, Ecology, Fisheries Biology, Ichthyology, Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology, and Introductory Ecology and Evolution in a 4/4 annual teaching load. Additional responsibilities will include curation of fish collections at EKU, and may include instruction of other courses central to the MS Biology program. The successful candidate will also maintain an active scholarly agenda and participate in departmental service, as needed. Reassigned time linked with lab coordination, museum curation, and departmental service may be available under current departmental policies.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish an active research program, to pursue extramural funding from regional or national agencies, to mentor undergraduate and master’s students.

EKU’s Department of Biological Sciences engages in both basic and applied research. The department includes a robust group of more than 20 full-time faculty who work collaboratively among themselves and with other departments and colleges at EKU. Our campus is located in the Outer Bluegrass Ecoregion and is within an hour’s drive to a diversity of ecoregions (Interior Plateau, Southwestern Appalachians and Western Allegheny Plateau). EKU has a long pedigree of mentoring students engaged in field ecology and working in scientific collections. Our faculty mentor students conducting research across a variety of terrestrial and aquatic systems.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Earned Doctorate in Biology, Ecology, Zoology, or related fields with an emphasis in Ichthyology or related Fish Biology from an accredited institution at the time of appointment. ABD applicants may be considered but must have a Ph.D. (verified by official transcripts) at the time of appointment.

Experience:

• Knowledge of current practices in professional communication and social media
• Effective interpersonal communication skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Analytic and problems solving skills
• Active and effective listening skills
• Ability to collaborate with peers and students
• Ability to understand and adapt to current trends in professional communication

Licensure & Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching biological concepts at the college or university level
• Evidence of active engagement in scientific research at the doctoral level
• Evidence of potential ability in academic assignment and/or professional contributions and activities

Job Duties:

• Duties include: • Maintain a full-time teaching load, teaching courses as assigned at the times and in the locations necessary to meet the needs of EKU students. • Utilize effective teaching methods, innovative teaching techniques, and teaching modalities, and multiple evaluation and assessment procedures as a means to help meet the needs of EKU students. • Demonstrate the ability to teach, develop, and implement courses related to one’s curricular area. • Maintain an active research agenda. • Demonstrate the willingness and ability to work effectively with colleagues to support the mission of EKU, its academic units, and its campus community.