Tenure-Track (Open Rank) Position in Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Employer: The University of Southern Mississippi

Location: Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Date posted: Aug 19, 2025

Position Type: Faculty Positions, Science & Mathematics, Agriculture & Animal Sciences, Biology & Life Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, & Forestry, Aquatic Biology, Ecology

Employment Level: Tenured/Tenured Track

Employment Type: Full Time

Institution Type: Public Four-Year Institutions

Summary: The Division of Coastal Sciences (COA) in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) invites qualified applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in Aquatic Ecotoxicology at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level, to begin in Fall 2026.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities: We seek a scientist with a focus on aquatic ecotoxicology who investigates questions related to organismal responses to current and future anthropogenic stressors and contaminants. Potential areas of research include but are not limited to molecular, biochemical, and organismal responses to contaminants (e.g., metals, pesticides, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and/or emerging contaminants); mechanisms of toxicity; and multi-stressor experimental research. The successful candidate will be expected to use a custom-built, state-of-the-art 11,000 ft² biosafety level 2 toxicology facility. This facility contains two aquatic exposure chambers and is supported by an in-house aquaculture lab, molecular biology lab, and instrumentation lab. It is capable of precise flow-through control of a wide range of environmental variables and toxins. Additional information on the facility can be found at https://www.usm.edu/gulf-coast-research-laboratory/aquatic-toxicology.php.

The candidate will be expected to: (1) develop a strong, nationally recognized and externally funded research program; (2) publish in peer-reviewed literature; (3) mentor graduate students and undergraduate students; (4) deliver engaging instruction, contributing to the educational mission of COA and SOSE by developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses related to aquatic ecotoxicology and broader coastal/marine sciences; (5) engage in service activities to COA, SOSE, and USM; and (6) Foster collaborations across USM's diverse academic units. Evaluation of applications will consider the potential of candidates to develop collaboration with other USM academic units including the Division of Marine Science.

Additional Information: SOSE offers graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate degree programs in Coastal Sciences, Marine Science, Hydrographic Science, Marine Biology, and Ocean Engineering, and a certificate program in Uncrewed Maritime Systems. The faculty and staff of SOSE leverage its location on the Gulf Coast and expertise in marine and coastal science, engineering, and policy to address challenges facing coastal and marine environments regionally, nationally, and internationally. SOSE has significant research infrastructure and facilities across four principal sites spanning the Mississippi Gulf Coast: the NASA Stennis Space Center, the Gulf Park Campus at Long Beach, the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the Port of Gulfport and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. This position will be located in Ocean Springs at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, a marine laboratory featuring comprehensive research programs in coastal and marine biological sciences. Research program support includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation; a fleet of small and large research vessels; the GCRL Museum collection; facilities at the Center for Fisheries Research and Development (CFRD) and Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC); and the NSF I/UCRC Science Center for Marine Fisheries. Ocean Springs is known for its beauty, natural resources, and arts community. It is home to galleries, restaurants, and schools that are ranked among the best in the state.

Minimum Qualifications: A Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience in a relevant discipline. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Preferred Qualifications: Publication in peer-reviewed literature and a record of scholarship, service, and grant development appropriate for the applicant’s rank.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications must be submitted online (https://usm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/4856). For full consideration, application materials should be submitted by October 31, 2025. A completed application will have the following materials: (1) letter of interest; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) statement of research interests, accomplishments, and plans; (4) statement of teaching philosophy; (5) PDFs of three representative publications, and (6) contact information for three references. Academic transcripts will be required for candidates who are invited for on-campus interviews. For additional information contact Search Committee Chair Dr. Eric Saillant (Eric.Saillant@usm.edu).

About The University of Southern Mississippi: Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions. Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others. We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer/Americans with Disabilities Act institution, The University of Southern Mississippi encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.