expected to maintain a routine presence on campus to support our campus values of focusing on the students, integrity, and intellectual life and serve our campus priorities of academic excellence, transformational education, well-being, and the maximization of resources.
The Biological Sciences Department at SUNY Cortland seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin August 2027. We are a large and diverse department that offers four undergraduate majors: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Conservation Biology and Adolescence Education in Biology. Our faculty contribute to the University’s values of inclusive excellence through (1) innovative teaching, (2) research and/or scholarship that engages undergraduates, and (3) service to the department and university.
Starting Salary: $67,200 + depending on experience ( DOE )
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
• Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many offer permanency.
• Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
• SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’s approval.
• Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
• Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
- Major ResponsibilitiesTeach majors-level introductory organismal biology (BIO212 Fundamentals of Organismal Biology) and upper-level electives in organismal biology with laboratory sections that complements existing courses and faculty expertise. Upper-level electives could include but are not limited to Plant Biology, Wildlife Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Vertebrate Biology (or subdiscipline such as ichthyology, herpetology, ornithology, or mammalogy), Entomology, Mycology, Field Biology, Animal Behavior or other organismal elective in the candidate’s area of expertise.
- Maintain an active research program in an area of organismal biology that involves undergraduates and has the potential for external funding.
- Provide service to the department and university that includes advisement and mentorship of students with diverse backgrounds.
- Functional and Supervisory RelationshipsAssistant professors will mentor undergraduate students in research, supervise internships, participate in service activities for the department and campus community, and advise students in the Biological Sciences.
- Faculty members report directly to the academic chair of the Biological Sciences Department in the School of Arts and Sciences.
- Required QualificationsPh.D. or doctoral candidate, all but dissertation ( ABD ) (with degree conferral by August 2027) in Zoology, Plant Biology, Wildlife Biology, Evolutionary Biology, or a related field.
- Evidence of effective teaching.
- Scholarly productivity with peer-reviewed publications including a detailed plan for engaging undergraduates in the research.
- Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Preferred QualificationsOne or more years of postdoctoral experience and/or formal experience as instructor of record for undergraduate course(s).
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.
Please note: Individuals must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
EEO Statement
The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (AA/ EEO / ADA ) employer. The university actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the university.
Job Close Date
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
F26005
Review Start Date
09/29/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicant
Into the “other” link, please upload a single document that includes a statement of research interests with a plan for inclusion of undergraduates in your research program (2-3 pages) and a statement on your contributions and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (1–2 pages). Other required documents are a cover letter, CV/resume, statement of teaching philosophy, and a list of 3 professional references.
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting
https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/11506
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- Do you or will you need visa sponsorship?
- Are you currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis as visa sponsorship is not available for this position?
Documents Needed to Apply
- Required DocumentsCover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Professional References Contact Info. ONLY (minimum of 3)
- Statement of Teaching Philosophy
- Other - See Special Instructions to Applicants
Optional Documents