Job Details
The Department of Biology at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA invites applicants for a full-time Assistant Professor position (tenure-track) in Biology beginning August 16, 2027. We are seeking a neurobiologist specializing in research with model organisms. Gonzaga University is committed to pursuing excellence in teaching by creating engaging, inclusive learning environments for undergraduate students, and we are seeking a colleague who shares that commitment. Courses will include a mixture of…
introductory-level Biology courses and upper-division Neuroscience courses. We seek candidates who demonstrate an active program of research in neuroscience and who can mentor undergraduate students in their research.
Ideal candidates will have a record of teaching undergraduates from a variety of backgrounds and identities, including those historically marginalized in the sciences (e.g., first-generation students, students from low-income families, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities).
About Gonzaga University and Spokane, Washington: The Biology Department and the College of Arts and Sciences are committed to inclusive excellence, and the success of a diverse population of undergraduate students, staff, and faculty. Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution, and is therefore interested in candidates who will contribute to its distinctive mission of educating students “for lives of leadership and service for the common good.” The University is committed to fostering “a mature commitment to dignity of the human person, social justice, diversity, intercultural competence, global engagement, solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, and care for the planet.” Successful applicants will have read the mission statement and engaged with it throughout their application. The University is a committed EEO/AA employer seeking to increase the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their disability status and/or protected veteran status.
Gonzaga’s campus sits adjacent to downtown Spokane, WA, along the Spokane River. We exist on the historical and current lands of Salish speaking tribes in the Inland Northwest’s most metropolitan region. Spokane is Washington’s second largest city and boasts a vibrant restaurant, entertainment, and arts community; it is also home to a diverse array of neighborhoods and popular outdoor recreational areas.
Required:
- A Ph.D. in Neurobiology or a closely related field.
- Experience teaching undergraduate students in relevant courses.
- Evidence of a research program that makes use of non-mammalian model organisms (GU does not have appropriate animal facilities).
Desired:
- At least one year of postdoctoral work or a similar experience.
- Evidence of engaging, inclusive teaching at the undergraduate level.
- Evidence of effectiveness in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.
- Evidence of peer-reviewed scholarship.
Job Duties:
- Teach an equivalent of 9 credits each semester, typically 2 lecture sections and one or two labs per semester (1 credit each). Teaching areas will be matched to candidates’ preparation and interests according to program and department needs but will include a mixture of introductory-level Biology courses such as BIOL105: Information Flow in Biology Systems, BIOL 106: Information Flow in Biology Systems, and upper-division Neuroscience courses like and BIOL 376 Cellular Neurophysiology, and/or advanced seminar courses in their area of scholarly expertise.
- Develop a successful neuroscience research program providing quality research experiences to undergraduates. A successful researcher will publish in peer reviewed journals and seek external research funding.
- Provide academic and career advising and mentoring to 15 - 25 undergraduate students per year in the associated Neuroscience major, starting in the second year.
- Support the Biology Department and Neuroscience major and university through service and other forms of academic citizenship while maintaining a close relationship to the Psychology and Neuroscience Department.
- Engage in professional activities that inform teaching, enhance student experience, and help the faculty member to remain current in their field.
- Maintain standards of professionalism.
To apply, please visit our website at: www.gonzaga.edu/jobs. Applicants must complete an online application and submit the following:
- A Cover Letter which summarizes the areas above and describes the candidates understanding of and commitment to the university’s mission.
- Curriculum vitae
- A statement of teaching philosophy (2-page max) referencing evidence of teaching effectiveness and describing how the candidate creates and maintains an inclusive environment that can support and promote learning for students with a variety of backgrounds and identities.
- Evidence of effective teaching and or sample materials from relevant courses, if available.
- A research statement (2-pages max) that describes how the candidate will mentor undergraduate students in their research program at Gonzaga.
- Copies of unofficial graduate school transcripts.
Names and contact information of three professional references (letters will be requested when finalists are selected).
The position will close September 21, 2026, when review will begin. Questions about this position can be directed to Dr. Marianne Poxleitner, Department Chair, at poxleitner@gonzaga.edu. For assistance with your online application, please contact Human Resources at (509) 313-5996.