Assistant Professor Vertebrate Functional Morphologist

University of California San Francisco; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in California is seeking an Assistant Professor in Vertebrate Functional Morphology. Responsibilities include teaching introductory and specialized biology courses, mentoring students, and establishing a funded research program. Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in Biology, teaching experience, and a strong publication record. This role is vital for enhancing student engagement and academic outcomes in biology. Applicants should be familiar with Southern California's vertebrate collections.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biology or closely related field.
• Experience teaching at college or university level.
• Strong publication record, including first-authored papers.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in introductory biology and specialty.
• Develop a collections-based research program.
• Engage students in research experiences.

Skills

In-person teaching experience

Mentoring graduate and undergraduate students

Publication in peer-reviewed journals

Research in functional morphology

Curatorial experience in ornithology/mammalogy

Education

Ph.D. in Biology or a closely related field

Job description

Assistant Professor Vertebrate Functional Morphologist

Biology

The Department of Biology at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member to serve as a Vertebrate Functional Morphologist at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate may teach courses in introductory biology for majors (BIOL 106) and in the candidate’s specialty, which may include field-based courses in Avian Ecology (BIOL 414) and/or Mammalogy (BIOL 415), or develop a new senior/graduate-level course in Vertebrate Functional Morphology. The candidate’s teaching portfolio will complement existing courses in the department, including upper-division organismal and field courses, ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, biometry, and computational modeling. The successful candidate will demonstrate the potential to develop an independent externally funded research program that engages undergraduate and graduate students in authentic research experiences. The successful candidate will also be familiar with the birds and/or mammals of Southern California and develop a collections-based research program that uses and grows the department’s vertebrate collections and serves as the Curator of Ornithology and/or Mammalogy. The successful candidate will seek opportunities for collaboration with other Biology faculty and peers from other institutions and state and federal agencies.

In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, participation in assessment of student learning, and service to the department, college, and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the College of Science and Mathematics and Department of Biology for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department of Biology achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biology or a closely related field from an accredited institution
• At least six months of postdoctoral research experience or one year as an assistant professor at an accredited institution
• Experience in college or university-level, in-person teaching
• Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in research
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, including first-authored papers
• Record of acquiring extramural research funds to support the candidate’s research
• Research experience in functional morphology of birds and/or mammals excluding humans and traditional model organisms (e.g., domestic poultry, lab rodents)
• Research experience that is at least partly collections-based
• Museum collections experience with ornithology and/or mammalogy specimens (e.g., curator, collections manager, curatorial assistant, preparator)

Application

Preferred application deadline is March 15, 2026, and applications received after this date may be considered on an as needed basis. However, the position will remain open until filled.

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Robert Espinoza at 818-677- 4980 or [e-mail].