Assistant Professor & Curator of Ichthyology

Internal Applicants | External Applicants

Position Overview 

The Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and the Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota invite applications for a 9-month academic tenure-track position as ichthyologist and Curator of Fishes. We welcome applicants working in any area of ichthyology with a focus on organismal biology, fish diversity, or fish conservation. We seek outstanding candidates who employ innovative approaches to gain insight on the behavior, biogeography, conservation, ecology, evolution, or systematics of fishes. Competitive applicants will have interests in developing a research program that integrates different approaches, such as computation, experimentation, field studies, genomics, morphometrics, modeling, natural history collections, or phylogenetics, among others.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will develop a strong, extramurally funded research program in ichthyology; lead curation of the Fish Collection and the Mollusk Collection at the Bell Museum; contribute to the teaching mission of the Department, including a course in ichthyology; advise undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; and participate in professional service. The interest and ability to be engaged in public outreach is essential. We are especially interested in a candidate who will collaborate on interdisciplinary research initiatives with faculty across departmental units and beyond. The University of Minnesota is committed to diversity and cultural inclusiveness. Women and members of systematically excluded groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

We expect the successful candidate to:

  • Contribute to efforts fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Department, College, University, and profession at large.
  • Teach a course annually in ichthyology and occasional seminar courses
  • Develop successful grant proposals and work with interdisciplinary research teams, drawing upon
  • expertise in ichthyology, organismal biology, and fish collections.

Required Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant biological sciences discipline
  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals of diverse identities and underrepresented groups
  • Demonstrated research emphasis in the biology of fish
  • Strong publication record in disciplines related to the position
  • Evidence of potential to initiate and sustain extramurally funded research
  • Evidence of ability to teach at the undergraduate level
  • Evidence of collections-based research experience and/or curatorial experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Post-doctoral or faculty experience
  • Experience in public outreach and engagement with community, governmental, and/or non-governmental organizations
  • Record of interacting creatively, collaboratively, and productively with other scientists
  • Record of providing research or educational opportunities to underrepresented groups

Salary/Benefits:

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a 9-month appointment with the opportunity to obtain summer salary from research and/or educational grants or other funding sources for up to 2.75 months. Benefits include employee health, dental, and faculty life/disability insurance; social security; generous faculty retirement contributions; and opportunities for professional development, including sabbatical and semester leave opportunities. Benefits are described at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/index.html.

The University of Minnesota offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Competitive wages, paid holidays
  • Low cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
  • Health care and dependent daycare flexible spending accounts
  • Excellent retirement plans with generous employer contribution and immediate vesting
  • Employer paid disability and life insurance
  • Wellbeing program with reduced insurance premiums
  • Tuition reimbursement opportunities for employees covering 75% of eligible tuition
  • Opportunities for sabbaticals and other professional leaves
  • Opportunities for growth and promotion
  • Employee Assistance Program

For more information regarding benefits, see Summary of Benefits.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online at http://employment.umn.edu/ (search for Job Opening ID 348972). Candidates should include all of the required application materials combined into a single PDF document. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Appointees must have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. or equivalent by the date of appointment, with a preferred starting date of August 30, 2023. For fullest consideration for this position, please submit your application on or before October 15, 2022.

Required application materials to be uploaded in a single PDF:

  • Letter of application/intent summarizing interest or experience in research, teaching, curation, public engagement, and commitment to providing opportunities to underrepresented groups in organismal biology (maximum of 3 pages)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • 1 - 2 page research statement
  • 1 - 2 page teaching statement
  • 1 - 2 page diversity statement (please see further instructions below)
  • Names, addresses, and email contact information for three (3) professional references that will be contacted if you are deemed a candidate after the first round of evaluation

The research, teaching, and diversity statements should highlight accomplishments, experience and your vision for future efforts in these areas.

For questions regarding this position, please contact search committee chair Dan Larkin ([email protected]).

Instructions for Diversity Statement (include with application materials)

Applicants are required to submit a 1 - 2 page diversity statement for this position. CFANS values and is actively invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all of our academic programs. Please review the CFANS definition of diversity and the DEI strategic plan for the college.

Please provide a diversity statement that details your professional experiences in DEI. Experiences may include:

  • Working with diverse communities or local organizations
  • Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into curriculum
  • Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into research
  • Your own educational experiences, such as courses or workshops you have participated in, and how you plan to incorporate what you have learned in your future work

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

Employer Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to report complete vaccination against COVID-19 or submit documentation requesting a medical or religious exemption on their first day of employment. To learn more, please visit the University's COVID-19 Response webpage.

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College Overview

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 13 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers that span the college, the university, and the globe. CFANS offers thirteen undergraduate majors and thirteen graduate majors, three pre-major/pre-professional programs and 23 minors for undergraduate students. Undergraduate enrollment in the college is about 2000 students. CFANS students are well-prepared for a diverse, multicultural workforce through the college’s emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning; internships and global perspectives. 

At CFANS, we aim to inspire minds, nourish people, and enhance the natural environment, and we believe that's only possible if everyone feels seen, heard and respected. Our College embraces equity and diversity and prioritizes purpose-driven scientific discovery in order for us to build a better tomorrow, together. We align with the University of Minnesota in providing equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Department Overview

The Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (FWCB) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) provides a world-class education through classroom and experiential teaching paired with cutting-edge research. We recognize that structural and institutional barriers exist that prevent the inclusion and equal participation of people in our work. We believe that recognizing who is missing, and working to include them, is a first step to becoming a better department. Although this work is challenging, it will improve the quality of our research, enhance our science, expand our reach, and foster more effective teaching. Join us so that we reflect the society we serve.

We include 17 faculty members, 14 staff members, 13 postdoctoral associates, 54 graduate students, and 240 undergraduate majors in our effort to foster a high-quality natural environment and respond to societal needs for information and education pertaining to the conservation and management of biodiversity. We work with the Bell Museum and UMN Extension to bring our work to the public and key stakeholders, and are home to United States Geological Survey (USGS) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Additional affiliated research and outreach facilities include the Cloquet Forestry Center, the Lake Itasca Biological Station, the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center, and the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. The campus is located in the heart of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, which is rich in cultural and natural attractions. FWCB is located on the Saint Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. 

The department is dynamic, and UMN offers many opportunities for professional development. You will join a team dedicated to excellence and developing the next generation of fisheries and aquatic biologists, wildlife scientists and managers, and conservationists. Thank you for applying.

About the Museum

As a museum with a mission to ignite curiosity and wonder, explore our connections to nature and the universe, and create a better future for our evolving world, the Bell Museum is Minnesota’s official natural history museum and a unit of the University of Minnesota and CFANS. For 150 years, the Bell Museum has served the general public, schoolchildren, university students, and others in active exploration of the natural world. Innovation is a hallmark of the Bell Museum, with examples including:  modernizing classical nature dioramas that inspire a sense of place, with developing the first hands-on nature discovery room in any U.S. natural history museum, installing the first seamless planetarium dome in North America, and more. A new public museum facility, opened in mid-2018, serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and provides a dynamic platform for public engagement with the research and researchers of the University of Minnesota.

The scientific collections of the Museum include more than 1.2 million specimens representing 37,000 species from throughout the world. Nearly half of the collections, including 250,000 images, are publicly available through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas. Dating from the 19th century, the Fish Collection is completely cataloged and includes more than 41,000 lots of specimens. It is focused on fishes of Minnesota, but also includes significant historic holdings from the Philippines and Hawaii, as wellmas extensive marine material from the Pacific Northwest, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic coast.

The Curator of Fishes will have the opportunity to interact with six faculty curators and collections situated in three academic departments including FWCB. The Bell also offers considerable support for graduate student research within and beyond the Museum.