Assistant Professor of Biology

bsu; Muncie (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ball State University Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Botany. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in plant biology and biodiversity, and will develop an externally funded field-based research program involving undergraduates and graduates.

The position emphasizes field experiences, collaboration with existing faculty, and a strong scholarly record, with a nine-month, benefit-eligible workload and

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in Botany, Plant Biology, Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, or a closely related field by the date of appointment.
• At least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in plant biology and related subjects.
• Develop an externally funded, field-based research program involving undergraduates and graduates.
• Engage field experiences and experiential learning in appropriate courses.

Skills

Teaching experience

Field teaching

Mentoring students

Peer-reviewed publications

Education

Doctorate in Botany/Plant Biology/ Biology / Ecology / Evolutionary Biology

Job description

Position Title

Assistant Professor of Biology

Compensation

$70,000 - $80,000

Department

Biology

Start Date

08/16/2027

About this opportunity

The Department of Biology at Ball State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Botany. This is a full-time, on-campus, nine-month, benefit-eligible position offering a competitive salary and a generous start-up package. The anticipated start date is August 2027. Employer will consider sponsorship.

What you’ll do and what you will bring:

Position Function

• The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses broadly within plant biology and biodiversity, including Botany, Dendrology, Aquatic Botany, Forestry, and Plant Taxonomy/Systematics, as well as an upper-level or graduate course in the candidate's area of expertise. The candidate will be expected to incorporate field experiences and experiential learning into appropriate courses.
• The successful candidate will also develop an externally funded, field-based research program that engages undergraduate and graduate students while complementing and collaborating with current faculty in the Department of Biology. We seek a plant biologist whose work addresses fundamental or applied questions about plants in natural systems, from individuals and populations to species, communities, and ecosystems. A substantial field component must be central to the candidate's research program.
• We are deliberately broad with respect to subdiscipline. Plant ecologists, evolutionary biologists, ecophysiologists, systematists, conservation and restoration scientists, and researchers studying plant interactions with other organisms are all encouraged to apply.
• Field botany, zoology, and wildlife biology and conservation are important areas of strength within the department. Accordingly, we are especially interested in candidates who can engage and motivate students through field-based teaching, research, mentoring, and experiential learning.
• The strongest candidates will have a record of accomplished teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, demonstrated evidence of outstanding scholarship through peer-reviewed publications, a well-defined field-based research program, experience mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate researchers, and strong potential for external funding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in plant biology. The teaching assignment will include Botany, Dendrology, Forestry, Aquatic Botany, and Plant Taxonomy/Systematics, together with an upper-level or graduate course in the candidate's area of expertise. Typical load is (2-3 courses per semester / 18 credit hours per year).

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in Botany, Plant Biology, Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, or a closely related field by the date of appointment.
• At least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience in botany or related plant biology courses using student-centered approaches.
• Experience taking students into the field as part of coursework or mentored research.
• A defined field-based research agenda that can generate publishable results with undergraduate and master's-level researchers.
• A record of peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations, postdoctoral research, or comparable scholarly accomplishment.
• Evidence of grant-seeking; successfully funded proposals are an additional strength.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate researchers.
• A research program that complements or extends existing departmental strengths and opens collaborative possibilities.
• Effective written and oral communication.

Department, Facilities, and Support

The Department of Biology comprises 30 full-time faculty and offers the BA/BS in Biology, the MS in Biology, and the PhD in Environmental Sciences. The successful candidate will have access to: Collections and growing facilities. The Ball State University Herbarium; a teaching and research greenhouse holding roughly 2,000 living specimens from more than 100 plant families; and the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, which houses over 2,000 orchids. Christy Woods. A 17-acre natural area on campus, available for both coursework and long-term research. Field properties. Cooper Farm, Ginn Woods, Skinner Field Area, Donald E. Miller Wildlife Area, and the Juanita Hults Environmental Learning Center for field-based teaching and research.