Assistant Professor Bird or Mammal Biologist - Department of Biology #27-22

CSU Careers • Northridge, CA

20d

About The Position

The Department of Biology at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor who specializes in extant birds or mammals and will serve as curator of the corresponding bird or mammal collections. The position is effective August 19, 2027, subject to budgetary approval. The anticipated hiring range is $83,349 to $92,610, depending on qualifications.

The successful candidate will teach introductory biology for majors and courses in their specialty, including Avian Ecology or Mammalogy with laboratory and field components, as well as potentially other senior- or graduate-level courses. They will develop an independent, externally funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students in authentic research experiences. The candidate should be familiar with the natural history and biology of Southern California’s extant birds or mammals and build teaching and research that leverage and grow the department’s vertebrate collections. Collaboration with Biology faculty, other institutions, and regional, state, and federal agencies is encouraged.

The role also includes weekly office hours, faculty meetings, student-learning assessment, and service to the department, college, and university. Teaching may occur on weekdays, evenings, weekends, or online. The candidate will contribute to equitable academic outcomes through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service, and will be held to the College of Science and Mathematics and Department of Biology standards for tenure and promotion.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• By the time of hire, at least one year of postdoctoral research experience, or one year as an assistant professor or museum curator at an accredited institution.
• Experience teaching in person at the college or university level.
• Ability to teach upper-division avian ecology or mammalogy focused on extant taxa, including laboratory and field components.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research.
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record, including first-authored papers.
• Record of obtaining extramural research funding to support research.
• Research focused on the biology of extant birds or mammals, excluding humans and traditional model organisms such as domestic poultry and laboratory rodents.
• Museum collections experience with bird or mammal specimens, such as as a curator, collections manager, curatorial assistant, or preparator.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of effective engagement with, or potential to engage with, a diverse student body.
• Experience using culturally responsive pedagogy that leads to equitable outcomes for all students.
• Experience creating a student-centered learning environment, including evidence of teaching effectiveness and/or training in pedagogical strategies.
• Research experience working with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience adopting inclusive approaches to student mentoring.
• Ability to teach an introductory biology-majors course focused on core principles in ecology and evolutionary biology.
• Research program and complementary teaching interests focused at the whole-organism, population, or taxon level, such as systematics, biogeography, evolution, ecology, morphology, biomechanics, physiology, or behavior.
• Ability and commitment to serve as curator and contribute to maintenance and growth of the bird or mammal collections.
• Ability to establish collaborations with departmental or institutional colleagues and/or evidence of prior collaborations with peers at other institutions or state or federal management agencies.

Responsibilities

• Teach introductory biology for majors and courses in the candidate’s specialty, including avian ecology or mammalogy with laboratory and field components; potentially teach other senior- or graduate-level courses.
• Develop an independent, externally funded research program that engages undergraduate and graduate students in research experiences.
• Serve as curator of the bird or mammal collections and contribute to their maintenance and growth.
• Develop teaching and research that leverage the department’s vertebrate collections and reflect familiarity with Southern California’s extant birds or mammals.
• Pursue collaboration with Biology faculty, peers at other institutions, and regional, state, and federal agencies.
• Hold weekly office hours, attend faculty meetings, participate in assessment of student learning, and provide service to the department, college, and university.
• Support equitable academic outcomes through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.
• Teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree