Assistant/Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Assistant/Associate Curator of Recent Invertebrates, Tenure Track/Tenured

Description

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNM) and the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invite applications for a full-time 12-month tenure-track/tenured split position as Assistant Curator (0.59 FTE)/Assistant Professor 0.41 FTE) or Associate Curator/Associate Professor with a start date of Fall 2025.

 We seek an innovative, creative and collaborative colleague with a record of collections-based research in invertebrate biology (including entomology) who will establish a discipline-leading, student-involved, cross-disciplinary and externally funded research program; build collaborations within and outside the University; and work with colleagues and students toward OU’s Lead On Strategic Plan.

 

The ideal candidate will perform collections-based research in any subfield of Invertebrate Biology, including but not limited to the following: Systematics, Phylogenetics, Comparative Genomics, Landscape/Population Genetics, Biodiversity, Geographical Ecology, Global Change Biology, and/or Evolutionary or Conservation Biology, and have experience working with museum collections. We are especially interested in candidates who use genetic or genomic tools and datasets in combination with innovative computational, ecological, behavioral and/or comparative approaches to address questions within the context of one or more of the four SBS research initiatives.

 

The successful candidate will: (1) develop and maintain an extramurally-funded research program; (2) grow and curate the collection of invertebrates; (3) contribute to museum exhibit development and support; (4) develop and contribute to museum education and community outreach; and (5) contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, including instruction of one course per year in Entomology, Invertebrate Biology, Animal Behavior, Biogeography, Genetics, Evolution, Ecological Modeling, or Bioinformatics.

 

The Sam Noble Museum is a Provost-direct unit and the designated museum of natural history for the State of Oklahoma. The museum has an outstanding curatorial, collections, education, exhibits and support staff that serve the museum’s mission from research to preservation to education. The School of Biological Sciences was recently established through the integration of the departments of Biology and Microbiology & Plant Biology to align programs and research with faculty strengths and the OU Norman Research Strategic Verticals.

 

The University of Oklahoma invests in its faculty by providing resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and Vice President for Research and Partnerships. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through mentoring, new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational support. We encourage candidates to apply who are seeking to work in a university-based museum and a rapidly growing college with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units.

 

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: Norman, Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. OU enrolls over 32,000 students and has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members in 21 colleges.

The Norman Community

Norman is a vibrant university town of more than 130,000 inhabitants with a growing entertainment and art scene. With outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living, Norman is a perennial contender in “best place to live” rankings. Visit http://soonerway.ou.edu for more information. Within an easy commute, Oklahoma City features a dynamic economy and outstanding cultural venues adding to the region’s growing appeal.

 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Invertebrate Biology, Entomology or other related field at the time of application.
• Established record of high-quality research and publications.
• Demonstrated record of or clear potential for strong extramural funding.
• Familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range