"Visiting Assistant Professor (Molecular Biology) - Full Time"

Visiting Assistant Professor (Molecular Biology) - Full Time

Biology

Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a full-time one-year position of Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology to begin August 15, 2026.

Applicants must have current authorization to work in the United States. Gustavus will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position. Gustavus is not an e-verify institution.

Employment Type: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Benefits-Eligible; Exempt (Salaried); In-Person Instruction

Position Overview

• Teach 28 credit hours over the academic year. Primary teaching responsibilities will include an intermediate, 200-level Cell and Molecular Biology course with labs that will serve both Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors, as well as a 300-level Genetics course (without lab) and a 300-level Molecular Biology course (with labs). Additionally, the candidate will teach one lab section of an intermediate 200-level Microbiology course. The department has designated laboratory curricula for our 200-level courses that complement lecture content. 200-level labs are supported by Laboratory Coordinators who are responsible for setting up the lab, as well as providing informational meetings that facilitate successful lab implementation for all team members.
• Help cultivate a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strive to foster an environment where people can be themselves, build community, learn, and grow.

Why Teach at Gustavus?

• Improve your teaching. Take advantage of opportunities to join a teaching circle, participate in workshops, apply for an internal teaching development grant, and engage in conversations about teaching with colleagues across campus.
• Develop professional skills by participating in faculty meetings and committees, attending faculty development days, and taking advantage of the College's membership to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD).
• Be a part of our community. We offer free parking, exercise classes, and use of library and athletic facilities.

Prerequisites

What We're Looking For

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, or a related field; we will consider candidates who have achieved ABD status
• Ability to teach Molecular Biology and Genetics courses
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and identities

What's Preferred

• Evidence of effectiveness in teaching
• Demonstrated commitment to undergraduate students
• Prior experience teaching as instructor of record

How to Apply

To apply, visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ and complete the online application. The documents that must be uploaded include the following:

• Letter of application that addresses the position qualifications
• Curriculum vitae
• A brief (1-2) page teaching statement that describes your experience and/or approaches to teaching
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (scanned copies acceptable)
• The names and contact information for three professional references (at least one must be able to address teaching experience and teaching effectiveness; please indicate the teaching reference in your letter of application). Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation; the committee will conduct reference checks by phone.

For full consideration, applications must be received by February 23, 2026. While applications may be accepted after this date, it is not guaranteed that they will be considered. At this time, please only upload the required documents listed above. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the search committee.

What We Offer

Based on data from AAUP (American Association of University Professors) and CUPA (College and University Professional Association), we offer a competitive starting salary range of $54,500 to $58,000 for a 9-month academic year. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience, training, certifications/licensure, market factors, departmental budgets, and responsibility. In addition, Gustavus provides comprehensive benefits designed to support your personal and financial well-being, including:

• Medical insurance (which includes access to Nice Healthcare) as well as dental, vision, and life insurance
• Workplace accommodations for physical or mental health concerns
• Access to mental health apps
• Onsite health services
• Paid parental leave (after one year of employment)
• Employer contribution to retirement savings plan (after one year of employment)
• Tuition scholarships for dependents
• Tuition benefit plan for employees and spouse

Institution Information

Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation's leading private liberal arts colleges serving 1,800 students, where faculty help equip students to lead purposeful lives and to act on the great challenges of our time. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota, and within a short drive to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Mankato metro areas. Learn more at https://gustavus.edu/about/administrative-offices/provost/prospective-faculty-provost.

Gustavus Adolphus College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

Department Information

The Biology Department offers diverse academic experiences to undergraduate students as part of a strong liberal arts education. Both the College and the Department are taking evidence-based actions to enhance diversity and support inclusion in classrooms and among our majors and faculty. Each year, about 45 Biology majors graduate, placing us among the largest majors across the College. Our courses are also integral parts of other majors, such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Environmental Studies, and Nursing. Our majors develop breadth through a required four-course core spanning biochemistry to organismal and systems-level processes before taking elective courses in areas of their interests. Both core and elective courses have embedded research opportunities that emphasize quantitative analyses and scientific communication. Our graduates pursue employment, as well as graduate and professional studies in biotechnology, education, environmental, or health-related fields. Departmental faculty are active teacher-scholars who value collaborations within and between disciplines. Newly renovated science facilities include teaching and research tissue culture spaces and confocal and scanning electron microscopes. Our courses are part of a college-wide liberal arts curriculum that develops an understanding of human cultures and the natural world by inquiry, analysis, and communication while also promoting civic engagement and ethical actions. As such, many of our courses emphasize how science intersects with issues of social, cultural, philosophical and environmental value. For more information about the department, its faculty, students, and courses, please see the department website at https://gustavus.edu/biology/.

Contact

Laura Burrack | lburrack@gustavus.edu | 507-933-7325