"Assistant Professor, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Botany - Plant Biology (9-month, Tenure Track appointment)"

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Botany - Plant Biology

(9-month, Tenure Track appointment)

Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences invite individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for a 9-month, tenure track faculty position in Biology at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning August 2026.

Qualified candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a biology-related discipline from an accredited institution, with expertise in Botany or Plant Biology. Applicants specializing in botany, plant taxonomy/systematics, plant physiology, plant population genetics, plant and soil science, and forestry are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate a strong record of teaching excellence, research productivity (particularly involving experience with the flora of the Southeastern United States or the Neotropics)—service to the community or profession, and the potential to secure external research funding.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching. Responsibilities include teaching biology courses for both majors and non-majors, developing and maintaining an independent research program, and designing lectures and laboratory courses in areas such as comparative plant morphology, plant physiology, local flora, plant diversity, and plant development.

The department values faculty-mentored student research and seeks individuals with a history of mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. Collaborative and interdisciplinary teaching and research are highly encouraged. Additional responsibilities include curriculum development, instructional design, student advising, service on departmental committees, and community outreach.

Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools with 450 full-time faculty. Samford is ranked #3 in the nation for career preparation and #7 in the nation for student learning opportunities as listed in The Wall Street Journal (2026). The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2026, and will be accepted until February 20, 2026. Please submit the following documents: 1) an application letter that includes statement of teaching philosophy and experience and a description of research interests and activities, 2) a curriculum vitae including contact information of three references, 3) evidence of teaching effectiveness, 4) an application for faculty position, and 5) the faculty applicant Christian mission statement. (The application and the Christian mission statement are available at the links below.) Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience. The successful candidate must pass a background check. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position.

Please submit all application materials in PDF format to:

FACAPP@samford.edu

Subject: Assistant Professor, Biology

“Application for Faculty Position” can be found at:

https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf

“Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at:

https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx