Assistant Professor - Biology

Abilene Christian University is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. All qualified applicants for these positions must be professing Christians and be active, faithful members of a congregation of the Churches of Christ and willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of the university.

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The Department of Biology at Abilene Christian University is seeking an energetic and talented biologist for our strong program. We invite applications for a tenure-track/tenured faculty position at the rank of assistant or associate professor. Applicants should have strong skills in mentoring students in classroom and research environments. All candidates with expertise in subdisciplines of biology or related fields will be considered and are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should apply as soon as possible.

All applications and required materials should be submitted on or before November 1, 2026, in order to receive full consideration. Anticipated start date is August 2027.

ACU's Department of Biology has prepared undergraduates for careers in STEM and medicine for more than 65 years. ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. All applicants must be committed Christians and be willing to support and further the Christian mission and purpose of Abilene Christian University. The mission of the Biology Department is to educate students for Christian service and leadership by preparing them to become biological scientists, pre-college teachers, and health-care professionals. We have an excellent heritage of integrating faith with evolutionary biology, as well as being dedicated to Christian care for the environment.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in biology or related field and must be willing to teach introductory biology courses as well as upper-level biology courses. The successful candidate will demonstrate innovative teaching, commitment to undergraduate research, and willingness for Christian service. The faculty members of the ACU Biology Department have a long history of involving students in undergraduate research. The department is housed in a modern science complex that includes state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities in the Halbert-Walling Research Center and Onstead Science Center. The successful candidate is expected to build an undergraduate research program that includes publishing and presenting research with undergraduates at local, state, and/or national conferences. Internal funding is available, and there is institutional support for acquiring external funding.

Applications must include (1) a letter of interest, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) an essay describing your philosophy of teaching and learning and the role of scholarship in teaching and learning, (4) a separate essay describing the relationship of faith and Christian worldview to teaching and learning, (5) a separate essay concerning your personal spiritual journey, (6) copies of transcripts for all academic work, (7) selected copies of papers and publications, and (8) at least three letters of recommendation with the

recommender's contact information. One must be a letter of recommendation from a church leader, and at least two must be academic letters of recommendation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

These letters can be emailed directly from the recommender to the department chair, Jennifer Huddleston (jennifer.huddleston@acu.edu).

Typical Duties:

• Mentor students in classroom, research, and professional environments.
• Effectively teach biology courses throughout the curriculum using instructional methods that reflect evidenced-based pedagogy.
• Work collaboratively with other faculty to develop assessments and deliver the curriculum.
• Develop and sustain an active undergraduate research program that engages students in scientific inquiry and gives them opportunities to disseminate research findings to the broader scientific community.
• Engage in various service and committee opportunities across the university.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in biology, a subdiscipline, or a closely related field.
• Record of effective communication, teamwork, and planning skills.
• Record of or demonstrated potential for effective biology teaching.
• Record of biology research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in biology, a subdiscipline, or a closely related field.
• Ability to contribute to our well-established undergraduate biology research group.
• Classroom teaching experience at the university level.
• Coursework or formal training in biology education pedagogy.
• Experience in course and curriculum development.

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.