Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Marine Invertebrate Zoologist

About the role

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander‑Serving Institution (AANAPISI). CSULB earned the Seal of Excelencia in 2023 for its commitment to Latine/x student success. The university supports the Black Excellence Collegium and El Concilio for Latinx Success, and the President’s Equity and Change Commission works toward inclusive excellence. The Beach 2030 University Action Plans focus on engaging all students, expanding access to higher education, promoting intellectual achievement, building community, and cultivating resilience. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers a student‑centered instructional and research environment that fosters equity, diversity, and access; mentors students for lifelong success; creates scientific knowledge through research; and promotes science and mathematics in the community. The Department of Biological Sciences has a strong record of graduating underrepresented and underserved students, supported by extensive federal and state grants. Facilities include a dedicated research laboratory, departmental field vehicles and small boats, dive facilities with compressor and fill station, biological collections, and shared molecular, imaging, and computational instrumentation. The CSULB Marine Biology Lab features two temperature‑controlled recirculating seawater systems (6,000‑L and 8,000‑L), a 24,000‑L seawater storage tank, cold‑room, aquaria, and associated infrastructure. CSULB is a member of the Southern California Marine Institute, providing access to the Port of Los Angeles marine lab, wet‑lab spaces, waterfront docks, and the 75‑foot research vessel RV Yellowfin. The campus is two miles from the ocean in the Los Angeles metropolitan area (population 18.5 million).

Responsibilities

• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the core biology curriculum, core marine biology curriculum, courses in ecology and evolution, and/or other courses in their area of specialty. Teaching mode is at the discretion of the department (in‑person, hybrid, online, or any combination).
• Contribute to efforts to diversify the scientific workforce by effectively training students both inside and outside the classroom.
• Develop and sustain an independent externally funded research program in marine invertebrate zoology that involves undergraduate and graduate (M.S.) students and leads to peer‑reviewed publications with student co‑authors.
• Participate in service to the department, college, university, and community.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in marine biology, zoology, ecology, evolution, or a related field.
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Research experience in marine invertebrate zoology.
• A record of research productivity commensurate with experience level.
• Demonstrated potential for effectiveness and excellence in teaching and related areas such as research, scholarly and creative activities.
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a diverse student population, including low socioeconomic and first‑generation students.

Qualifications

• At least two years of postdoctoral research experience or equivalent.
• Research experience (field and laboratory) studying marine invertebrate ecology; topics may include behavior, conservation biology, development, evolution, fisheries, genomics, physiology, and systematics.
• Demonstrated potential for establishing an externally funded research program.
• Demonstrated potential for developing an integrative research lab that studies regional or local fauna and ecosystems.
• Demonstrated interest in increasing the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields through teaching and mentoring.