Dean - Division of Biological Sciences

Position overview

Position title: Dean, Division of Biological Sciences

Salary range: The posted University of California Deans' Salary Bands set the pay ranges for deans. The Division of Biological Sciences dean position is included in Band 2: $239,600-$611,100. The minimum salary that UC Berkeley expects to pay for this position is $450,000.

Anticipated start: July 1, 2027

Application Window

Open date: June 10, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Aug 10, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), the nation's leading public research university, seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and inclusive leader as its next Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences.

UC Berkeley is internationally renowned for excellence across disciplines, for the opportunities it affords students of all backgrounds, and for scientific discovery, innovation, and cultural creativity. Ranked nationally as the No. 1 public university by U.S. News & World Report Rankings 2025-2026, the Berkeley campus is home to over 33,000 undergraduate students and more than 12,800 graduate students, as well as approximately 1,600 tenured/tenure-track faculty across 16 schools and colleges.

UC Berkeley's Division of Biological Sciences, a unit of the College of Letters & Science, generates profound shifts in our understanding of the function and behavior of living organisms. With over 150 active faculty and affiliates in three departments and one program, and a range of centers, institutes, and museums, the Division's undergraduates and graduate students learn from and work with some of the world's leading scientists.

Within the University of California's shared governance structure, the Dean serves as the Chief Academic Officer and Executive of the Division, reporting directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. The Dean also works in close collaboration with the deans of the other divisions that constitute the UC Berkeley College of Letters & Science.

The new Dean will lead a world-class enterprise at an important moment of transition, using this moment to reflect on strengths, set a clear strategic direction, strengthen financial sustainability, and amplify impact.

The ideal candidate will be a decisive leader who can advocate for the Division's needs and earn the trust and confidence of the faculty through scientific stature, transparency, and responsiveness. A doctoral degree, either a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent international degree, and a distinguished record of excellence in teaching, research, and significant professional activity appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at the level of full professor at UC Berkeley are required.

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership

• Shape and Implement a Forward-Looking Strategic Vision
• Diversify and Strengthen the Division's Financial Model
• Advance Cross-Disciplinary Science and Institutional Collaboration
• Advance Education and the Student Experience
• Champion the Division Across Campus and Beyond
• Leverage Berkeley's Distinctive Assets and Expand Its Impact

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application): A doctoral degree, either a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent international degree.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start): Candidates must have a distinguished record of excellence in teaching, research, and significant professional activity appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at the level of full professor at UC Berkeley.