Assistant Professor of Biology

Location: Walla Walla, WA | Start date: August 2027

About the role

The Department of Biology at Whitman College seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in ecology. This position begins August 2027 and requires a Ph.D. at the start date. The successful candidate will join a collaborative department and contribute to the College’s interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program.

Responsibilities

• Teach five courses annually, including lecture and/or lab courses in ecology, non-majors environmental biology, introductory biology, and courses fulfilling general education requirements.
• Mentor students in senior thesis preparation and offer research opportunities for undergraduates.
• Sustain an active scholarly or creative research agenda.
• Participate in faculty governance, mentorship, or other service aligned with personal interests and talents.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in ecology or related field (required at the start of the position).
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in teaching and research.
• Experience or potential to teach undergraduates at all levels, including majors and non-majors.

Application requirements

• Cover letter addressing teaching philosophy, research interests, and how your practices advance equity and inclusion.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Teaching statement outlining approaches to lecture/lab courses and student mentorship.
• Research statement proposing undergraduate-feasible projects.
• Graduate transcripts.
• Contact information for three references (contacted only for interviewed candidates).

Review of applications begins September 15, 2026.

Pay

Salary range: $71,000 – $78,000.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance (with optional voluntary coverage).
• 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with employer matching after eligibility.
• Tuition remission for dependent children (after eligibility) and employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Relocation stipend for new faculty based on distance.