"Visiting Assistant Professor - Biology"

University of Puget Sound

Visiting Assistant Professor - Biology

Job ID: 8078

Location: Biology

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Temporary

Faculty Posting Details

Appointment: Department of Biology, 1-year Visiting Assistant Professor position; begins Fall 2025.

Responsibilities: The Department of Biology at the University of Puget Sound, a predominantly undergraduate liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, seeks to recruit a visiting Assistant Professor for the 2025-2026 academic year. Excellence in teaching is highly valued at Puget Sound and we expect the incumbent to show promise and enthusiasm to become a skilled teacher.

In Fall 2025, the successful individual will teach an upper level Evolution course (BIOL360) with two lab sections, as well as one lab section of an introductory Biology course (BIOL112).

In Spring 2026, they will teach an upper division elective course with a lab such as Conservation Biology (BIOL370) or other course that covers advanced topics in evolutionary, ecological or environmental biology. In both upper-division courses the instructor has discretion about content and focus of the material covered.

For BIOL112, the instructor will be a member of a team of faculty teaching the course with similar lab designs. We are particularly interested in individuals with experience teaching a course in evolution and with post-doctoral research work in ecology/evolutionary biology. We also hope that the individual in this position will join the department in actively working on inclusion issues in science education.

While there is no expectation for research or mentoring, laboratory space and very modest funds are available if the incumbent is interested in doing research with undergraduates during their stay at Puget Sound. If interested, the individual might also collaborate with researchers at the Puget Sound Museum of Natural History, a world class collection comprising >105,000 specimens of mammals, birds, herps, plants, insects, molluscs, and fossils with strengths in tetrapod vertebrates.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in Biology or similar discipline (ABD considered).

Application Deadline: Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than Feb 1, 2025 to ensure consideration.

Required Documents: Please submit curriculum vitae (CV) when prompted to submit resume. Additional documents can be attached within the application before submission. Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered. Curriculum vitae, Letter of Interest, Diversity Statement, Teaching statement, Three (3) Letters of Reference. You will be asked to specify the email addresses of reference providers at the time of application and the system will email these providers on the next business day.

Applicant's Diversity Statement: As a department and university, we are strongly committed to creating an inclusive and effective teaching, learning, and working environment for all. In the applicant's diversity statement, applicants should comment on their ability to contribute meaningfully to our on-going commitment to be informed and competent with regard to issues of diversity, equity, and individual differences. We encourage applicants to reference the University of Puget Sound's current Diversity Strategic Plan (DSP) at https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity prior to writing this statement.

Compensation and Benefits: Rank: Visiting Assistant Professor. Faculty salaries at the University of Puget Sound are based on a common salary scale based on experience. Assistant Professor salaries for 2024-2025 begin at $72,265 annualized for an Assistant Professor without a terminal degree in their field in their first year of full-time postdoctoral teaching through $81,428 annualized based on experience. The position has a 5 unit teaching load (full time is 6 units) and comes with full benefits. Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package, including: Medical, dental, and vision, Life insurance and long-term disability, Employee Assistance Program, Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions, Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families, Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures) and more! For more information on Puget Sound's faculty benefits package, visit: Summary of 2025 Benefits for Faculty Members.pdf.

About Puget Sound: Located in a vibrant port city in the Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound is a leading national liberal arts and sciences university preparing students for success since 1888.