Application Deadline:

Open until filled. Review of applications will begin September 26, 2024.

Position Details:

This full-time faculty position is on-campus and in-person.

The TCU Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the areas of ecology or environmental biology at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2025. Applicants should have a PhD in the biological sciences or related field, a minimum of two years of post-graduate research experience (e.g., post-doctoral training, government, or industrial research), a strong record of achievement in ecology-related research, and a commitment to excellent teaching. The Department and the University are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working and learning environment, and individuals who are committed to furthering these causes are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome applicants from groups traditionally underrepresented in the biological sciences.

The successful candidate will be expected to engage in 40% teaching, 40% research, and 20% service. Specifically, the new faculty member will: 1) contribute to existing courses and develop upper-level undergraduate/graduate courses in their area of expertise; 2) develop and maintain an externally-funded research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students (MS and PhD); and 3) contribute to departmental service needs. This on-campus, in-person position will begin in August 2025. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with education and experience.

Review of applications will begin September 26, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

Specific application directions, a complete job description, and information about the Department and TCU can be found below.
For further inquiries please contact the chair of the search committee Dr. Matt Hale (m.c.hale@tcu.edu).

Department Details:

Collegiality and teamwork are a hallmark of our department. Our department’s curriculum and faculty-related policies have been developed with consultation of the faculty. We work together as a team, with the utmost respect and appreciation for all types of contributions to our students and their success.

The TCU Department of Biology offers a rigorous, science-based curriculum grounded in evolutionary theory to undergraduate and graduate students across all areas of biology. We are committed to the teacher-scholar model and teaching is central to our department’s mission. We hire faculty who are passionate about teaching and highly trained in their area of teaching specialty. We strive to provide equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities and create inclusive learning environments.

Research plays a major role in the professional life of our tenure-track faculty. Our faculty regularly publish in high-quality journals, present their work at national and international conferences, and contribute their research expertise through professional service and outreach. Our research programs support our teaching mission and allow us to expose students to the process of science when they conduct research in our labs. Faculty have access to a variety of research-related equipment (https://cse.tcu.edu/biology/student-experience/facilities.php). TCU’s library, including on-line resources and personnel, is considered a strength by the Biology faculty.

To learn more about the Department of Biology, visit our website at https://cse.tcu.edu/biology/index.php.

School/College Description:

The TCU College of Science & Engineering (CSE) encompasses 10 departments (Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nutritional Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology) as well the Ranch Management Program, which offers both an undergraduate degree and a one-year certificate program. The College is also home to the Pre-Health Professions Institute, the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, the Institute of Behavioral Research, and the Institute for Ranch Management. The College is the second largest at TCU in terms of both undergraduate enrollment and number of majors. CSE contains a disproportionate percentage of high achieving students, as evidenced by the fact that almost one-half the students in the Honors College have majors in the College of Science & Engineering. Research opportunities abound for undergraduates, with over 40 percent of majors engaging in a substantive experience during which they work one-on-one with their faculty mentor. The College also has five doctoral programs and 16 master’s programs as well as two graduate certificate programs. The College faculty are true teacher-scholars, for whom instruction and research are viewed as complementary activities.

University & Fort Worth Description:

ABOUT TCU

Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University sits on 302 acres nestled in a primarily residential part of Fort Worth, just minutes away from downtown. The University includes seven schools and colleges, in addition to the John V. Roach Honors College and the Burnett School of Medicine.

Currently, TCU enrolls more than 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. Twenty-eight percent of students self-identify as a member of a minority group, five percent are international students, and forty-five percent are from out-of-state. Our students are supported by more than 2,200 faculty and staff. The University has more than 700 full-time faculty members and is a top 100 National University as classified by US News and World Report and has a Carnegie Classification of R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity.

At TCU, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are an educational imperative directly tied to the University mission, vision, and strategic plan. Fulfilling TCU’s mission to develop ethical leaders and critical thinkers in a global community depends on the University’s ability to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. A diverse and inclusive campus leads to innovation, broadened perspective, and understanding—values that are foundational aspects of higher education. For the fourth consecutive year, TCU has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which highlights ongoing commitment to build a comprehensive DEI strategy that aligns with core values and creates a campus culture where everyone is respected and included.

ABOUT FORT WORTH

Like TCU, Fort Worth has the approachable, friendly charm of a smaller town, but offers the amenities, cultural activities, diversity and unique personality of a much larger city. Fort Worth, Texas, is the 13th largest city in the United States with an ever-growing population nearing 1 million. Fort Worth and TCU have grown together in a nearly 150-year relationship. You’ll find that many Horned Frogs remain here after graduation, thanks to the region’s thriving job market. Fort Worth is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, and the number 1 tourist destination in Texas. In 2018, bizjournals.com ranked Fort Worth the 7th most affordable city to live and work in the United States and U.S. News and World Report named Fort Worth one of the Best Places to Live. Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington all rank among the top 25 most diverse cities in the country.

Fort Worth is known for its vast array of cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. The city boasts three world class art museums—the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Bass Performance Hall is one of the premier performance venues in the country. Concerts, film festivals and other events are held regularly at Sundance Square, Panther Island and Near Southside venues.

Required Application Materials & Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter indicating their qualifications for this position, 2) a CV, 3) a statement of research experience and future research plans, 4) a statement of teaching philosophy that addresses how the candidate’s teaching will contribute to TCU’s mission, and 5) the contact details (i.e., name, affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number) for three academic references (we will contact the references for letters). Applicant evaluations will begin September 26, 2024 for an August 2025 start date. Additional application instructions are provided in the research and teaching sections below.

TCU uses an online application protocol administered by Human Resources. All application materials must be submitted electronically at: https://jobs.tcu.edu/jobs/search.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE POSITION
A. START DATE: August 2025.

B. RESEARCH
The successful candidate’s research will strengthen existing areas of ecological, evolutionary, and/or environmental research in the Department, including but not limited to aquatic ecology, conservation biology, invasion biology, ecotoxicology, microbial ecology, urban ecology, and/or restoration ecology. The successful candidate is expected to develop an extramurally-funded research program that engages both undergraduate and graduate students in the process of research and results in the dissemination of new knowledge via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific meetings. If applicable, the research statement should indicate how the candidate’s research would complement the current lines of research within the Department. In addition, the research statement should address the major infrastructure needs required to carry out the candidate’s proposed research (e.g., space, major lab or field equipment, and/or animal requirements), and the candidate’s plans for obtaining extramural funding. A start-up package will be offered to allow the successful applicant to engage in productive research.

C. TEACHING
The Department thrives on the teacher-scholar model in which faculty leverage their research expertise to inform their teaching and vice versa. Thus, the successful candidate will contribute to the teaching of a sophomore-level Ecology and the Environment course and develop additional undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in their area of expertise and commensurate with departmental needs. Additionally, the candidate will contribute to the teaching mission of the department through the training and mentorship of undergraduates and graduate students in research. The Biology Department typically phases in the teaching loads of new faculty members over a period of two years to provide the time needed to establish their research labs while developing rigorous and stimulating courses. The cover letter should indicate how the candidate plans to contribute to current courses offered in the Department, as well as new courses they propose within their areas of expertise.

D. SERVICE
The new hire will have the opportunity to participate in service activities at the Department, College, or University levels depending upon their interests and the needs of these units.

AA/EEO Statement:

As an AA/EEO employer, TCU recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.