"Assistant Curator of Ichthyology and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences (Tenure Track)"

Job Details

Description

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNM) and the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invite applications for a full-time 12-month tenure-track split position as Assistant Curator (0.59 FTE)/Assistant Professor (0.41 FTE) with a start date Fall 2026.

We seek an innovative, creative and collaborative colleague with a record of collections-based research in ichthyology who will establish a discipline-leading, student-involved, cross-disciplinary and externally funded research program; build collaborations within and outside the University; and work with colleagues and students toward OU’s Lead On Strategic Plan.

The ideal candidate will perform collections-based research in any subfield of fish biology, including but not limited to Systematics, Phylogenetics, Comparative Genomics, Landscape/Population Genetics, Biodiversity, Geographical Ecology, Global Change Biology, and/or Evolutionary or Conservation Biology, and have experience working with museum collections. We are especially interested in candidates who use genetic or genomic tools and datasets in combination with innovative computational, ecological, behavioral and/or comparative approaches to address questions within the context of one or more of the four SBS research initiatives.

The successful candidate will: (1) develop and maintain an extramurally-funded research program; (2) grow and curate the collection of fishes; (3) contribute to museum public exhibit development and support; (4) develop and contribute to museum education and community outreach activities; and (5) contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, including instruction of one course per year in Ichthyology, Animal Behavior, Biogeography, Genetics, Evolution, Ecological Modeling, or Bioinformatics.

The SNM is a Provost-direct unit and the designated museum of natural history for the State of Oklahoma. The museum has an outstanding curatorial, collections, education, exhibits and support staff that serve the museum’s mission from research to preservation to education. The SBS was recently established through the integration of the departments of Biology and Microbiology & Plant Biology to align programs and research with faculty strengths and the OU Norman Research Strategic Verticals.

OU invests in its faculty by providing support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through mentoring, new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational support. We encourage candidates to apply who are seeking to work in a university-based museum and a rapidly growing college with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Ichthyology or other related field at the time of application.
• Established record of high-quality research and publications.
• Demonstrated record of, or clear potential for, strong extramural funding.
• Familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Record of specimen-based collection experience and potential for specimen-based curation and obtaining collection grants.
• Record of, or potential for, collection interpretation, exhibition development, and science communication.
• Demonstrated commitment to outreach, community engagement, and service to the museum, school, university, and discipline.
• Commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that engage students as they explore museology and biological sciences, provide the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the museum and bioscience workforce, and encourage students to become active members of the museum and scientific community.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading collaborative projects and working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Record of past teaching efforts, evidenced by list of courses taught, example syllabus, and/or teaching evaluations.
• Potential for collaborations with others within the Museum and School.

Application Instructions

Applicants are required to submit a current curriculum vitae and the following documents (1–3 pages each) to https://apply.interfolio.com/174674: 1) a cover letter describing your interests in and qualifications for the position; 2) a curatorial plan including your museum experience with collections, collection interpretation, exhibition, and outreach and community engagement; 3) a teaching plan briefly describing your experience with teaching and student mentorship and your plans/goals for teaching at OU (including existing and proposed courses) and advising a varied cohort of undergraduate and graduate students; and 4) a research plan describing your research focus, methods, future trajectory, and its potential contributions to one or more of the four SBS research initiatives “Ecology of Changing Planet”, “Biological Foundations of One Health”, “Mechanisms of Biodiversity”, or “Behaviors: From Molecules to Ecosystems”. For additional details, visit https://www.ou.edu/cas/sbs/research-themes. Additional materials may be requested at a later date.

In order for an application to be reviewed, applicants are required to submit contact information for three (3) confidential letters of recommendation at https://apply.interfolio.com/174674.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on [30 days after approval to post] and will continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries should be directed to the search committee chair or co-chair: Chair: Dr. Ingo Schlupp, Professor, University of Oklahoma, schlupp@ou.edu; Co-Chair: Dr. Janet Braun, Director, University of Oklahoma, jkbraun@ou.edu.