Assistant Professor

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Job description

Position Number: 937611
Full Time or Part Time: Full Time
Anticipated Recruitment Range: Commensurate with Qualifications
Position Type: Faculty (Teaching)
Job Category: Faculty (Teaching)

Organizational Unit Overview:

East Carolina University (ECU) (https://www.ecu.edu), a member of the 17-campus University of North Carolina System, is committed to being a national model for student success, regional transformation, and public service. Through excellence in education, research, health care, community engagement, and cultural enrichment, ECU enhances the quality of life for our students, our state, and beyond. Located in Greenville, North Carolina (population ~92,000), ECU enrolls approximately 27,000 students each year, including ~ 5,500 students pursuing graduate and professional degrees. ECU is classified as a Carnegie R1 University and is part of a vibrant regional center for education, health, and the arts. Greenville, situated 80 miles east of Raleigh and within easy reach of the Atlantic coast, offers a college-town atmosphere and exceptional quality of life. The city is affordable to live in and features a lively Uptown district with restaurants, breweries, and shops. Greenville provides abundant recreational opportunities, including access to the Tar River, over nine miles of greenways, nearly 30 parks, and a thriving arts scene. Greenville is located in the most recently recognized global biodiversity hotspot, the North American Coastal Plain.

The Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences (https://thcas.ecu.edu/) is home to 15 academic departments, multiple research centers-including the Center for Survey Research, ECU Center for Geographic Information Science | Center for Geographic Information Science | ECU, and Water Resources Center-and a number of interdisciplinary programs (https://thcas.ecu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/). Harriot Colleges vision is to be an engine of access, knowledge, and opportunity for all learners through transformative education, innovative research and creative activities, and meaningful community engagement. The College fosters a welcoming environment that supports the recruitment and success of students, faculty, and staff. It is deeply committed to increasing access to higher education by building a culture of care, belonging, and opportunity.

The Department of Biology (https://biology.ecu.edu) serves more than 1,400 undergraduate majors (BS and BA in Biology; BS in Biochemistry) and teaches over 17,000 students annually. Faculty provide high-impact research training for undergraduate, Masters (https://biology.ecu.edu/graduate-studies/), and Doctoral (https://idpbbc.ecu.edu/ and https://coastal.ecu.edu/integrated-coastal-sciences/) students. The department encompasses a broad range of biological disciplines and promotes integrative approaches that draw from across the natural sciences. Faculty and students collaborate widely across campus, including with the Department of Earth, Environment, and Planning; the Water Resources Center; the Brody School of Medicine; and the Coastal Studies Institute. Beyond ECU, we have important collaborations with Sylvan Heights Bird Park and with campuses and research centers in the research triangle and along the NC coast. In partnership with private industry, ECU is developing Intersect East (Warehouse District | ECRIC | ECU), an innovation hub on its Millennial Campus that will expand opportunities for collaboration and applied research. The Department of Biology and many of its research facilities-including microscopy, genomics, and vivarium suites-are housed in the new Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building, a gateway to ECUs dynamic downtown district. Additional research and instructional spaces for the department are located in Howell Science Complex and the Science and Technology Building. Howell Science Complex is undergoing a major renovation with one wing of spaces, including teaching labs for courses in organismal biology, opening in Spring 2026. The university also provides access to a range of cutting-edge shared research resources, including advanced imaging and sequencing technologies.

Job Duties:

The Department of Biology at East Carolina University (http://www.ecu.edu) seeks to fill a tenure-track faculty position (9-month appointment) at the Assistant Professor rank with expertise in evolutionary biology to begin August 2026.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous, externally funded research program in evolutionary biology that actively engages undergraduate and graduate students. Strong candidates will address fundamental questions in evolution; applied aspects to a candidates research program, for example in evolutionary medicine or conservation, would also be advantageous. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate students effectively in the area of evolutionary biology, such as the Biological Evolution course required of most majors. Successful candidates will become a part of a collegial, collaborative Biology Department and will be expected to participate fully in Departmental, College, and University activities.

Contingent upon availability of funds.

Minimum Education/Experience:

1) A Ph.D. in Biology or Evolutionary Biology or another closely related field (including but not limited to Genetics, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology)

2) A minimum of one year post-doctoral experience or equivalent training and a record of scholarly achievements.

Qualifying degrees must be received at the time of consideration from accredited institutions.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:

None

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

None

How to apply

Application materials should be submitted online at www.jobs.ecu.edu using the position number 937611. Applicants must submit the following documents as pdf files:
(1) cover letter describing interest in the position;
(2) curriculum vitae;
(3) detailed statement of teaching philosophy (1 pages max) that includes the applicants vision for incorporating student training in the applicants research program and for creating a learning environment in which all students feel engaged and included;
(4) statement of research accomplishments and goals (2 pages max);
(5) contact information for 3-5 current references.

References for top candidates will receive a link to submit reference letters through PeopleAdmin within 7 days of notification. Official transcripts and official reference letters are required upon employment.

Inquiries regarding this position may be directed to Jeffrey McKinnon ([email protected]), Search Committee Chair, or Malik Page ([email protected]), Administrative Associate.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Instructions to Applicant:

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

Job Close Date: 11/28/2025
Open Until Filled: No
Initial Screening Begins: 11/29/2025

To be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation, East Carolina University: • Uses innovative learning strategies and delivery methods to maximize access; • Prepares students with the knowledge, skills and values to succeed in a global, multicultural society; • Develops tomorrow’s leaders to serve and inspire positive change; • Discovers new knowledge and innovations to support a thriving future for eastern North Carolina and beyond; • Transforms health care, promotes wellness, and reduces health disparities; and • Improves quality of life through cultural enrichment, academics, the arts, and athletics. We accomplish our mission through education, research, creative activities, and service while being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.