Assistant Professor - Animal Ecology

Wichita State University; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Wichita State University’s Department of Biological Sciences invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Animal Ecology. The candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, develop a productive research program, and engage in service to the university and profession.

We welcome researchers focusing on vertebrate or invertebrate systems and encourage use of the WSU Field Stations in teaching and research. The appointment begins Fall 2027 on a 9‑month contract.

Qualifications

• Teaching experience at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to mentor students and supervise research projects.
• Willingness to collaborate across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in animal ecology and related areas.
• Develop a productive externally funded research program with student involvement.
• Provide service to the department, college, and professional communities.
• Engage with field stations and contribute to curriculum development.

Skills

Teaching experience

Communication skills

Mentoring students

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Biology or related field

Terminal degree in direct field

Job description

Department: Department of Biological Sciences

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: $70,000

Work Schedule: M-F 8-5; Variable dependent on schedule; work is performed on-site and in person

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Position Overview: The Departmentof Biological Sciences in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Animal Ecology. We welcome applicants whose research focuses on vertebrate or invertebrate systems across any area of animal ecology, including behavioral ecology. We are particularly interested in applicants who will include use of the WSU Field Stations in their teaching and research programs. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, develop a productive research program, and provide service to the university and profession. This position is a 9-month appointment with an anticipated start date of Fall 2027.

Department Description: The Department of Biological Sciences offers majors in Biology with either an Ecological/Environmental/Organismal or a Biomedical emphasis. There are approximately 340 undergraduate majors and the department's Master of Science in Biology program currently includes 19 graduate students. There are 11 faculty members and seven full-time departmental support staff/administrators. The department is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and student success. The WSU Field Stations span four reserves totaling over 5,000 acres, featuring both restored and native tall and mid-grass prairies. The Ninnescah Reserve is the base of operations for our Field Station Manager and includes research and storage/maintenance buildings. A 2025 square foot space on the Wichita main campus is dedicated to organismal biology coursework and WSU's natural history collections. The department houses modern laboratory space that includes analytical/molecular equipment, an accredited animal facility, and access to the Kansas State University and Wichita State University High Performance Computing clusters.

Core Responsibilities - Teaching: Develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in the candidate's area of expertise. This includes designing curriculum, delivering high-quality instruction, and assessing student learning. The faculty member will mentor and advise students, including supervising undergraduate and M.S. research projects.

Research/Scholarly Activity: Establish and maintain an active, externally funded research program in animal ecology involving undergraduate students and M.S. graduate students. This includes publishing peer reviewed scholarly work and disseminating results in academic venues.

Service: Participate in service activities within the department, college, and university, as well as in professional organizations. Service duties include committee work, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment, and community outreach. The faculty member will contribute to the governance and strategic initiatives of the department and may also engage in service to the broader profession.

Other: Fulfill other duties as assigned, in accordance with the faculty member's talents and departmental needs. All Wichita State faculty are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards in teaching, research, and service.

Job Summary

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Essential Functions

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Teaching: Develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in the candidate's area of expertise. This includes designing curriculum, delivering high-quality instruction, and assessing student learning. The faculty member will mentor and advise students, including supervising undergraduate and M.S. research projects.

Research/Scholarly Activity: Establish and maintain an active, externally funded research program in animal ecology involving undergraduate students and M.S. graduate students. This includes publishing peer reviewed scholarly work and disseminating results in academic venues.

Service: Participate in service activities within the department, college, and university, as well as in professional organizations. Service duties include committee work, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment, and community outreach. The faculty member will contribute to the governance and strategic initiatives of the department and may also engage in service to the broader profession.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field


• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

• PhD in Biology or related field


• Teaching experience is broadly defined i.e. teaching assistantships, mentoring, participation in course lectures, etc. Please clarify in your teaching statement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate classes in area of expertise.


• Effective written and oral communication skills.


• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.


• Demonstrated potential to establish an independent and productive research program.


• Demonstrated ability or potential to work effectively in collaborative environments and engage constructively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral research experience is preferred, but strong candidates lacking postdoctoral experience will be considered.

Applicants must apply by October 19, 2026 for full consideration.

WSU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position - Frequent 60-90%; Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators - Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement:

Must also have the ability to perform work under field conditions as necessary.