Assistant Professor Animal Ecology or Wildlife Biology

Updated: 2 months ago
Location: Fairbanks, LOUISIANA
Deadline: ; Open until filled

As a tenure-track faculty member, the successful candidate will have a tripartite appointment. They will:


1) be expected to contribute to classroom instruction at the undergraduate and graduate level and advise graduate students,


2) maintain an active, extramurally funded research program, and


3) contribute to university, departmental, public, and professional service. Courses taught will be negotiated with the Department of Biology and Wildlife and depend upon the individual expertise and departmental teaching needs. Key gaps in our ability to teach our current suite of courses include Ornithology, Wildlife Nutrition, Nutritional Ecology, Wildlife Diseases, Conservation Genetics, and Mammalogy, and the successful candidate may also develop a new course based on their expertise that complements current course offerings.

Anyone with expertise in a subdiscipline of animal ecology is encouraged to apply, including but not limited to population/conservation genetics, disease ecology, mammalogy, ornithology, wildlife biology, and conservation biology in either marine or terrestrial animals. Applicants with experience working in, or well-developed plans to work in, Arctic or boreal biomes are preferred. In addition, the ability to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into your teaching or research is highly desirable. Service duties will include committee work, participation in curriculum review and development, service to the profession, and science outreach or other public service. We would like for the successful candidate to start at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester, but the start date is negotiable.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in ecology, wildlife ecology, conservation, or a related field.
  • Evidence of, or clear potential for, acquisition of extramural funding for research support.
  • Lead author on at least three peer-reviewed publications when the application is received (in press or published).
  • Postdoctoral experience preferred.
  • Experience teaching graduate or undergraduate courses preferred

Position Details:

This position is located on the Troth Yeddha’ campus in Fairbanks, AK. This is a full-time, Fair Labor Standards Act-exempt tenure-track faculty position with a competitive salary and employee benefits package including retirement options, annual leave, paid holidays, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental, and vision care coverage. New hires will be offered a competitive salary based on education and experience.

In addition to a start-up package, numerous UA programs offer additional support. For example, the Alaska INBRE program, an NIH infrastructure program focusing on One Health, offers research funding opportunities through pilot awards, undergraduate and graduate student fellowships, and travel grants for biomedical and environmental health research.

Numerous laboratory facilities and field stations are available for research and teaching; these include Toolik Lake Field Station, the Bonanza Creek LTER, and state-of-the-art animal holding facilities with specialized chambers for studying mammalian hibernators. There are also opportunities for collaborations with state and federal agencies, such as the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, USGS, and USFWS.  Additional details about our faculty, programs, and facilities are available on the Institute of Arctic Biology (www.uaf.edu/iab ) and Department of Biology & Wildlife ( www.uaf.edu/bw ) websites. 

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the state’s major research institution and has been ranked in the top 25 best small universities in the United States by Times Higher Education. The university serves 5,300 students, 90% of which are undergraduates. Over 20% of the student body identifies as Alaska Native and 30% as ethnic minority. Fairbanks is a small culturally diverse city of approximately 100,000 with a strong sense of community and vibrant arts scene. Fairbanks offers unparalleled year-round outdoor opportunities with its vast network of trails, surrounding national and state recreational areas, and easy access to Denali National Park.  

1st review of applications will begin March 25, 2024.To ensure consideration, submit all required documents (below) before 11:59 pm AKST on March 24, 2024.

Required Documentation

- Cover Letter detailing qualifications for this position, including your research experience and experience teaching ecology or related courses (e.g., ecology, animal behavior, genetics, animal physiology, population ecology, etc.) at the college level.

- Curriculum Vitae

- Research statement detailing past and current research projects, future research plans, and how those plans relate to research priorities in Alaska and how that work complements and strengthens UAF’s research capacity (~2-3 pages).

- Teaching Statement / Philosophy.  A 1-2 page statement describing your teaching experience, approach, and philosophy.

- Statement of commitment to and/or experience with improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in ecology, wildlife, and conservation communities (1-2 pages). Please upload under Supporting Documents on the application form.

-  The names and contact information for three to five professional references.

This position is represented by United Academics-AAUP/AFT (UNAC). http://www.unitedacademics.net/


The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.


UA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, educational institution, and provider that prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination .


The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.


Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.


If you have any questions regarding this position, please get in touch with Greg Breed, Animal Ecology Search chair at [email protected] .

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If you have any questions regarding the hiring process, please contact Ruth Dinardi, Arctic Biology HR Manager, at [email protected] or 907 474 6466.


Advertised:22 Feb 2024 Alaskan Standard Time
Applications close:Open until filled