"Assistant Professor of Aquatic Ecology (RISE EARTH)"

Job Summary

The Departments of Integrative Biology and Botany are seeking candidates for a tenure-track faculty position in Aquatic Ecology to join the research group at the Center for Limnology (http://limnology.wisc.edu). We especially encourage candidates with expertise in fish and fisheries ecology. Other areas of interest include quantitative ecology, aquatic conservation, aquatic community and ecosystem ecology, aquatic food webs, and limnology. Our goal is to hire an outstanding and interactive scholar with broad research interests and promise for intellectual growth. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

The successful candidate will mount a vigorous research program while making significant contributions to UW-Madison’s teaching and service mission. Specifically, the successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally and internationally. Moreover, the successful candidate, as a member of the College of Letters & Science, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

The successful candidate will be based at the Center for Limnology, with a tenure home in the Department of Integrative Biology, https://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/. UW-Madison is considered the birthplace of limnology in North America. The Center for Limnology is a collaborative and interdisciplinary unit that conducts research on a wide range of topics relating to freshwater ecosystems. UW-Madison offers diverse collaborative opportunities (http://www.water.wisc.edu), potential for involvement with North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research program (https://lter.limnology.wisc.edu), and research opportunities at Trout Lake Field Station (https://limnology.wisc.edu/trout-lake-station-overview).

In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission.

This position is part of a new university-wide initiative called RISE EARTH (Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Excellence in Environment: Adaptation, Resilience, Technology, and Humanity). Over a three year period, UW–Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. Further information regarding RISE EARTH can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/.

Key Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will mount a vigorous research program while making significant contributions to UW-Madison’s teaching and service mission. Specifically, the successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally and internationally. Moreover, the successful candidate, as a member of the College of Letters & Science, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

Department

College of Letters and Science, Departments of Integrative Biology and Botany

Compensation

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate excellence and productivity in scholarly research, as well as a commitment to teaching, mentoring, and service. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience fostering or the ability to foster teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.

Education

PhD in Aquatic Ecology or similar by start of appointment

How to Apply

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under Job Requisition JR10003792. Applications must be received through UW-Madison's online application system. Applicants should submit the following items: 1) A letter of application 2) Curriculum vitae 3) A research statement 4) A teaching and mentoring statement (max. 2 pages) 5) Three sample publications (uploaded as one PDF) Applicants who move forward in the process will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference. For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on Nov. 21, 2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Contact Information

Professor Jake Vander Zanden mjvanderzand@wisc.edu 608-262-3014