EVE Plant Evolutionary Biology Assistant Professor

University of California; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Davis invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology. We seek a plant evolutionary biologist whose work spans broad scales and uses empirical, computational, and theoretical approaches.

The successful candidate will develop an independent, funded program, contribute to teaching in biology courses, and mentor a diverse student body across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Ph.D. at time of appointment.
• Demonstrated research excellence in plant evolutionary biology with peer‑reviewed publications.
• Ability to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels and mentor students.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an extramurally funded, independent research program.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and supervise students and postdocs.
• Foster an inclusive and collegial environment within UC Davis.

Skills

Plant evolution

Collaborative research

Education

Ph.D. in Biological sciences (or related)

Job description

The College of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications and nominations for a 9-month, tenure-track position in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the ASSISTANT PROFESSOR level. The Department of Evolution and Ecology is seeking a plant evolutionary biologist with interests in the evolution of plants at any taxonomic, geographic, organizational, or evolutionary scale. Candidates must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in the biological sciences, evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, or a related field, and will be expected to complement and build upon existing faculty strengths in the Department of Evolution and Ecology and across UC Davis.

We welcome applicants working on any group of plants and using empirical, computational, experimental, and/or theoretical approaches. Possible areas of study are broad, and include macroevolutionary research on plant diversification, trait evolution in a phylogenetic context, major evolutionary innovations, comparative genomics, and evolutionary developmental biology, as well as research focusing at or below the species level including population biology, quantitative genetics, adaptive evolution, speciation, biogeography, and the evolution of life histories or species interactions.

The Department of Evolution and Ecology is home to a collaborative and internationally recognized community of evolutionary biologists and ecologists, with close ties to the Center for Population Biology, the UC Davis Genome Center, and the graduate groups in Population Biology, Integrative Genetics and Genomics, and Ecology. The successful candidate will join a vibrant intellectual community with exceptional opportunities for collaboration across departments, colleges, and organized research units at UC Davis. Most notably, UC Davis is also home to a world-renowned cadre of plant biologists across campus departments and units, including the Departments of Plant Biology, Plant Sciences, Plant Pathology, Environmental Science and Policy, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the graduate groups in Plant Biology, Horticulture and Agronomy, Ecology, and Integrative Genetics and Genomics. These campus-level strengths in plant biology will position the new faculty member to collaborate across departments and colleges while reinforcing our department’s central role in the study of evolution.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a strong, extramurally funded, independent research program, teach effectively in undergraduate and graduate programs, and mentor a diverse community of undergraduate and graduate students. Depending on expertise, this faculty member could contribute to teaching in the introductory biology series (BIO 1, 2, or 3), upper-division courses in evolution (EVE 100) or genetics (BIS 101), and could teach existing or develop new upper-division courses in plant evolution or organismal biology. We seek a colleague committed to fostering an inclusive and collegial environment consistent with the UC Davis Principles of Community.

Minimum qualifications

Candidates must possess a Ph.D. (or equivalent) at the time of appointment and have demonstrated outstanding potential in plant evolutionary biology, evidenced by published research in peer-reviewed journals.

Additional qualifications

• Excellence in research that complements or extends existing research strengths in the Department.
• An exciting program of future research with strong potential to attract extramural funding.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching. Must demonstrate potential or evidence of ability to perform well at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses or seminars.
• Commitment to excellence in mentoring and training the next generation of scientists
• Commitment to the UC Davis Principles of Community

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit materials online at: Browse Open Recruitments or Log In - AP Recruit. Please include a cover letter; curriculum vitae; a statement of current and projected research (3 pages max); a statement of teaching interests, philosophy, and experience (2 pages max); and up to three representative publications. Applicants are also requested to provide three letters of recommendation at the time of application. For full consideration, applications must be completed by October 17, 2026; however, the position will remain open until filled through June 30, 2027. Please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra at [e-mail] with any questions about the search or position. The administrative contact is Coty De Anda ([e-mail]). For more information on the Department and UC Davis in general, please visit: Evolution and Ecology.

UC Davis supports family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age. UC Davis and Family Friendly Recruitment Practices.

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) and Capital Resource Network (CRN) are services designed to support departments and Deans’ offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. Eligibility for POP services is limited; for full program details, please visit Partner Opportunities Program (POP). For questions regarding how these policies/programs affect academic appointees, contact Assistant Vice Provost Binnie Singh at [e-mail].

• A Ph.D. (or equivalent) at the time of appointment in the biological sciences or a related field.
• Demonstrated research accomplishments via publication of plant evolutionary biology research in peer-reviewed journals.