Assistant Professor of Biology

Bates College; Topsham (ME); On-site; USD 87,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Start-up packages

Pre-tenure leave

Internal grants

Travel funding

Inclusive Teaching Center

Job summary

Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Marine Biology, to begin July 1, 2027. The successful candidate will lead undergraduate teaching with a productive marine biology research program focused on Gulf of Maine ecosystems.

The teaching load is five courses per year, with a 2-3 or 3-2 split across two terms, or a 2-2-1 distribution across two semesters and Bates Short Term.

Qualifications

• PhD completed by July 2027.
• Outstanding teacher-scholar with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts context.

Responsibilities

• Teach and mentor undergraduates within the Biology Department across the curriculum, including a 100-level CURE, 100-level Marine Science, BIO 206, an upper-level Marine Biology course, First-year Seminar, and a field-based Short Term course.
• Mentor undergraduate research projects as part of a broader independent research program and participate in shared governance and academic advising.

Skills

Teaching

Mentorship

Marine biology research

Undergraduate teaching

Education

Ph.D.

Job description

Bates College: Faculty Position: Biology

Location

Lewiston, Maine

Open Date

Aug 07, 2026

Description

The Biology Department at Bates College invites applications for a full-time, tenure track position at the rank of assistant professor in Marine Biology, to begin July 1st, 2027. We seek an outstanding teacher-scholar with strong commitments to excellent undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts context. The successful candidate will have demonstrated a productive research program in marine biology applicable to or with a focus on ecosystems within the Gulf of Maine. The position carries a standard five-course teaching load either as a 2-3 or 3-2 across two semesters, or as a 2-2-1 across two semesters and the Bates Short Term . The duties of the position include the three main areas of faculty work: teaching, professional achievement, and governance and engagement. The standards of excellence for faculty at Bates are articulated in Article II of the Faculty Handbook , and include a commitment to inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, impactful professional work, and contributions to the broader Bates community. Teaching responsibilities will include contributions, with varying frequency, to the biology and general education curricula, including a 100-level course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), a 100-level Marine Science course, BIO 206 (Evolution and Interactions of Life), an upper-level Marine Biology course, First-year Seminar, and a field-based Short Term course. As with all tenure-track and tenured members of departments, the candidate will mentor research projects with undergraduates as part of a larger independent research program. We also expect the candidate to take part in our system of shared governance and academic advising.

Given the wide range of backgrounds of Bates students, we seek candidates who are committed to each student’s success. As part of the submitted statements, we ask that candidates share plans for helping all students succeed, and share evidence of relevant preparation or experience. This can be integrated into the teaching and research statements. We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances.

Bates College is a residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community roughly 45 minutes from the state’s largest city , 2 ½ hour north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal. Faculty scholarship and creative work at Bates are robustly supported by start-up packages, a paid pre-tenure leave, support for post-tenure sabbaticals, internal grants, professional travel funding, and a well-staffed external grants office . Community-engaged learning —with community partnerships facilitated by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships —and study abroad are both broadly encouraged and institutionally supported. Pedagogical development and innovation is further buttressed by our highly engaged Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning . Additional interdisciplinary opportunities at Bates are available through the new Immersive Media Studio , funded by a grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, the Digital Media Studios , the Visualization Lab , and a high-performance computing cluster . Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission and our faculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment .

Qualifications

Candidates must have completed their Ph.D. by July 2027.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $87,000 to $91,000, commensurate with rank, experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors.

R eview of applications will begin on October 7th, 2026. Applications should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement that describes how the applicant meets Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, and a research plan that speaks to the current and future promise of a candidate’s professional work with the involvement of undergraduates. The search committee will request letters of recommendation from three referees for short-listed candidates. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of terminal degree.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Bates College is committed to equal opportunity and to providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.

Inquiries concerning the college’s policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to the Title IX Officer, Gwen Lexow at 207-786-6445 or [e-mail].