Washington State University: Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Ecology

The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Washington State University (WSU) invites applications for a permanent, full-time, nine-month,tenure-track Assistant Professorposition in Pullman, WA,with a specialty in Vertebrate Ecology. We seek applicants whose research program spans spatial and/or temporal scales, or levels of biological organization. Candidates who apply quantitative and inductive approaches to connect organismal biology with ecological processes are particularly encouraged to apply.

Potential research topics of interest include but are not limited to species interactions, broadly defined; physiological ecology; eco-evolutionary dynamics; food webs; and determinants of biodiversity.

The undergraduate population in SBS has primary interests in pre-health, so candidates whose research and teaching can connect with these students are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will also contribute to graduate teaching and training the next generation of biology students in cutting-edge ecological theory and methods.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on August 16, 2026.

Job duties:

• Develop and maintain an active, hypothesis-driven research program in vertebrate ecology, with support from extramural funding sources.
• Recruit and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
• Teach undergraduate courses in ecology, and one of the following areas: animal/human physiology, anatomy, or nutrition, or vertebrate taxon-focused course.
• Develop and teach a graduate course in their area of expertise.
• Participate in service at the department, college, and/or university level.
• Advance SBS, CAS, and WSU’s land grant mission, which seeks to ensure access and opportunity to educational, research, and outreach experiences.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in biology or related discipline and at least six months of postdoctoral research experience prior to the anticipated start date.
• Record of research accomplishment in vertebrate ecology as demonstrated by publications and presentations at scientific meetings.
• Effective communication skills with both students and colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to engage in productive collaborations.
• Demonstrated record of or potential for ensuring access and opportunity in all aspects of our educational experiences in alignment with WSU’s land grant mission.
• Record indicating past teaching effectiveness or evidence of potential for effective teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses in biology.
• Ability to teach undergraduate courses in ecology and one or more of the following course areas: animal/human physiology, anatomy, or nutrition, or vertebrate taxon-focused course.
• Ability to teach a graduate course in the candidate’s area of expertise and the core SBS curriculum.
• Experience with or potential for excellence in mentoring of undergraduate or graduate students undertaking research projects.
• Evidence of seeking or being awarded intramural or extramural funding.

Annual Salary:$80,000 – $95,000 per nine-month academic year

A full position description and application instructions can be found at: