Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior

Job Description

Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior

Location: 100 N East Ave, Waukesha, WI

Job Category: Animal Behavior, Faculty

Employee Type: Regular Faculty

The Department of Human Services at Carroll University (CU) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Wildlife Behavior or Zoo and Aquarium Studies at the Assistant Professor rank, beginning Fall 2026.

This position is a 60% teaching, 20% scholarship, 20% service appointment within a primarily undergraduate, teaching-focused institution. We are seeking a colleague who is deeply committed to undergraduate education and excited to contribute to the continued growth of the wildlife and zoo-focused aspects of our curriculum.

Starting Date: August 24, 2026

About Carroll University

At Carroll University, we are committed to fostering a community grounded in equity, inclusion, and belonging. Rooted in the Presbyterian (U.S.A.) heritage, we value diverse perspectives and seek faculty who can engage and inspire an increasingly diverse student population.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Animal Behavior, Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Zoo and Aquarium Studies, Ethology, Animal Science, Behavior Analysis, Ethology, Anthrozoology, Psychology, or related field
• Expertise in the behavior of non-domesticated animals (wildlife, exotic, zoo, or aquarium animals). Could be demonstrated through certifications, experience working at an AZA-accredited location, research publications, 500+ hours of field work, etc.
• Demonstrated potential for effective, engaged undergraduate teaching
• A zoo or wildlife research agenda that can be conducted in a teaching-focused environment and meaningfully involves undergraduate students. Please include a description of your research agenda in your cover letter.

Responsibilities

Primary teaching responsibilities include:

• An existing introductory course on the Science of Animal Behavior
• An existing upper-level Observational Methods for Wildlife Behavior (involving student research at the Milwaukee County Zoo)
• Supervision of internships
• Developing and teaching upper-level elective courses in the candidate's area of expertise and aligned with student interest and program needs (e.g., Zoo and Aquarium Studies, Wildlife Management, Field Methods in Animal Behavior, Wildlife Rehabilitation). Please include in your cover letter a few courses that you would be interested in developing and teaching. The courses must fill an interest for our students (e.g., natural setting with wildlife/zoo animals or similar).

Developing an active wildlife or zoo, student-engaged research program that is feasible within a small liberal arts setting, ideally integrating resources such as Carroll's 75-acre Greene Field Station (https://www.carrollu.edu/greene-field-station) or the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Contributing to curriculum development and program growth, particularly in wildlife and/or zoo-focused pathways

Additional responsibilities include advising and participating in departmental and university service

Ideal Candidate

In addition to the qualifications above, we are seeking a colleague who:

• Is genuinely passionate about undergraduate teaching and sees teaching as a central part of their professional identity
• Is committed to inclusive and equitable teaching practices, including the ability to engage and support students from historically marginalized backgrounds in the study of animal behavior
• Is excited to mentor undergraduate students in research, including designing projects that are accessible, applied, and feasible within limited resources
• Understands how to build a meaningful research program in a teaching-focused environment, including working with modest startup support and leveraging partnerships, grants, and creative design
• Is eager to teach the courses the program needs, including foundational and methods-based courses, and values contributing to a shared curriculum
• Brings energy and initiative to help grow the wildlife and/or zoo-focused areas of the program, including increasing visibility and opportunities for students in these tracks
• Values collaboration across disciplines (e.g., Biology, Environmental Science) and with community partners such as the Milwaukee County Zoo
• Is adaptable, collegial, and invested in contributing to a small, student-centered academic community

Rank and Salary

Assistant Professor (tenure eligible)

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications

Program and Resources

The Animal Behavior program includes two full-time faculty members and three contributing cross-disciplinary faculty. Housed within the School of Education and Human Services, the program supports approximately 140 undergraduate majors with broad interests across domesticated and non-domesticated species. The program is supported by:

• A 75-acre field station with diverse ecosystems
• A longstanding partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo
• Recently updated teaching and research facilities

Application

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please submit:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness. This can include course evaluations or a letter from your current supervisor attesting to your skills in the classroom environment if course evaluations are not available.

Finalists will be asked to submit graduate transcripts and three letters of reference.

The University

Founded in 1846, Carroll University is an independent, co-educational comprehensive institution grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The Pioneer Core general education curriculum emphasizes intercultural awareness. Carroll offers graduate programs in health sciences, business, software engineering, and education. Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the University serves approximately 3,500 students. The University, though intentionally ecumenical and non-sectarian in approach, is related to the Presbyterian Church, USA.