Visiting Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences

Roompact LLC; Ellensburg (WA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life and disability insurance

Tuition assistance

Retirement plan

Employee discounts

EAP (wellness)

Job summary

Central Washington University invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences in Ellensburg, WA. The role focuses on face-to-face teaching for biology majors and health-related sciences with a commitment to rigorous, student-centered instruction.

The position is non-tenure-track, a 9-month appointment with potential renewal, offering a competitive salary and CWU benefits, including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement, and tuition assistance

Qualifications

• Earned Master’s Degree by Sept 15, 2026 in Human Biology or Genetics.
• Excellent teaching abilities and willingness to teach a wide range of courses.
• Prepared to contribute to CWU's commitment to engaging students from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Teach face-to-face courses for biology majors and health-related sciences.
• Contribute to rigorous, student-centered instruction across introductory biology, genetics, and anatomy & physiology.
• Position is non-tenure-track, 9-month with potential renewal.

Skills

Excellent teaching

Broad course range

Student diversity

Education

Master's degree by Sep 15, 2026

PhD by Sep 15, 2026 (preferred)

Job description

Visiting Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences

Central Washington University is recruiting a Visiting Assistant Professor to join our Biological Sciences team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-basedposition, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find robust academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator .

The Role:

The Biology Department at Central Washington University seeks to fill a non-tenure track Visiting Assistant Professor position. Responsibilities include face-to-face teaching in courses primarily serving biology majors and students interested in health-related sciences, including the majors introductory biology sequence, genetics, and anatomy and physiology for majors. The successful candidate should be prepared to teach across these areas and contribute to the department's commitment to rigorous, student-centered instruction. This is a 9-month position with the possibility of renewal.

Minimum Qualifications

In your cover letter, please explain how you meet the following qualifications:

• Earned Master's Degree by September 15, 2026, in one of the following fields:
  • Human Biology
  • Genetics
• Excellent teaching abilities
• Willingness to teach a wide range of courses at all levels and modalities
• Preparation to contribute to CWU's commitment to the engagement of students from a variety of backgrounds through teaching, research, service, or other experience

Preferred Qualifications (please address in your cover letter:)

• Earned PhD by September 15, 2026
• Experience or interest in biological sciences
• College or university teaching experience
• Experience working in a collaborative environment and/or utilizing a variety of teaching methods designed for broad student success.
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote student success.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through teaching and/or mentoring activities.
• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Dont meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!

Pay & Work Schedule

Annual Salary: $56,000 - $66,000,based on a full-time, nine-month appointment
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position

Appointment: Temporary, Non-Tenure-Track, 9 Month Appointment. Additional Summer teaching may be available. Central Washington University is on the quarter system with appointments from mid-September through mid-June.

NOTE: Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Conditions of Employment

Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

The conditions of employment with Central Washington University are set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Central Washington University and United Faculty of Central, University policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal laws.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University's policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance , 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone [phone]; or email [e-mail].

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.