Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology - Utah State University

The Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a full-time (9-month), tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology. The position's responsibilities will be distributed as follows: 90% teaching and 10% university/professional service. The position will be based at USU’s main campus in Logan, Utah, with a start date of August 2026.

We seek an engaging, student-centered educator with the ability to teach, and, where appropriate, develop courses across a broad suite of aquatic science disciplines. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate instruction (2000–6000 level) in any of the following areas: aquatic ecology, fish ecology, fisheries science, limnology, marine ecology, and aquatic macroinvertebrates. Teaching may involve delivering established departmental courses or designing new offerings that expand and strengthen our aquatic curriculum. Courses typically blend classroom instruction with laboratory and field-based learning, and the position offers additional opportunities to create innovative field or study-abroad experiences.

 

As a teaching-focused tenure-track position, the successful candidate will also help build departmental teaching capacity by developing new courses and curricular pathways (e.g., certificates, emphases) and by engaging with current pedagogical research and best practices.

 

Other preferred characteristics include proficiency in Python and/or R, strong skills in quantitative analysis and data visualization, excellent written and oral communication, and experience working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and external partners.

Responsibilities

 

The expected teaching load will be 6–7 courses (~18 academic credits) per year. This may include several large-format undergraduate (2000–3000 level) courses that serve both majors and non-majors, as well as one or two upper-level undergraduate/graduate courses. We are particularly interested in candidates who can offer advanced instruction in fish habitats, macroinvertebrate ecology and identification, stream ecology, data analysis techniques, and/or quantitative fisheries science. Some courses may be delivered in short-course formats (e.g., 1–2 intensive weeks or partial semester blocks) and/or online asynchronous format, as appropriate.

The successful candidate is also encouraged to engage undergraduates in research experiences through directed studies, undergraduate theses, or course-based research projects. Promotion to Associate Professor with tenure is based on demonstrated excellence in the primary role area (teaching) and effectiveness in secondary roles (service).

 

The candidate’s expertise should complement the strengths of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and the newly integrated department formed from the current Departments of Wildland Resources and Watershed Sciences, which will commence in 2026. This restructuring brings together long-standing and highly collaborative faculty in ecology and natural resources, creating a unified home for aquatic and terrestrial ecology teaching and research.. Through collaborations with departmental faculty, colleagues across campus, and extension personnel, the appointed faculty member is expected to become an integral part of the highly productive team of State University.

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

1. An earned Ph.D. in aquatic ecology, fisheries science, limnology, ecology, biology, environmental science, or a closely related field.

2. Demonstrated experience in teaching aquatic ecology or closely related subjects (e.g., fisheries, stream ecology, limnology, macroinvertebrate ecology).

3. Evidence of the ability to develop and deliver new courses that expand and strengthen the department’s teaching portfolio.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Relevant postdoctoral or equivalent professional experience in teaching and/or curriculum development.

2. A demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative, evidence-based teaching methods (e.g., active learning, field-based instruction, inclusive pedagogy, or course-based research experiences).

3. A demonstrated ability or strong potential to contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning (e.g., pedagogical publications, presentations, or funded education projects).

4. A strong record of, and clear commitment to, promoting access, inclusion, and success for students from diverse backgrounds in STEM fields.

 

For more information about the position, the department, the university or any other informal enquiries don't hesitate to get in touch with either edd.hammill@usu.edu (department head) or trisha.atwood@usu.edu (search committee chair).

 

 

All application materials must be submitted electronically through the USU Human Resources “jobs” website https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/9782/job

 

Please submit the following:

1. Complete curriculum vitae.

2. Names and e-mail addresses of three references.

Please upload the following documents under “Other Documents 1–10”:

1. Cover Letter summarizing your motivation for applying, your qualifications, and your career goals.

2. Teaching Vision Statement (up to two single-spaced pages) describing your relevant teaching experience and articulating a vision for the courses, programs, and student experiences you would like to develop in the Department of Watershed Sciences.

3. Examples of Communication to Target Audiences – links or PDFs of materials (e.g., websites, social media, video, podcasts, outreach materials, fact sheets, flyers, etc.) that demonstrate your ability to communicate scientific concepts in aquatic ecology or related fields to non-specialist audiences.

4. Links to any scholarly profiles, e.g., ResearchGate, Google Scholar, ResearcherID, ORCID

 

Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Research I (Extensive Doctoral) land-grant institution with over 29,000 students, 47 departments, 6 academic colleges, a School of Graduate Studies, and diverse research programs. The main campus is located in Logan, a community of 100,000 people approximately 85 miles north of Salt Lake City in Cache Valley. The area offers abundant recreational opportunities with nearby lakes, rivers, mountains, and ski resorts, contributing to a high quality of life. The overall cost of living is close to the national average.

 

For more information about Logan, visit http://www.tourcachevalley.com.