What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Professor of Plant or Spatial Ecology position at Coe College?
Assistant Professor of Plant or Spatial Ecology
Position details:
Coe College invites applications from dynamic, student-centered individuals for a full- time tenure-track position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology to begin in the Fall of 2027.
Primary responsibilities include:
Teaching undergraduate courses in Ecology and/or GIS for Biology majors. Additional rotating duties across semesters would likely also include: designing and teaching both an upper-level elective with lab in the candidate’s field of expertise, as well as teaching the organismal and ecologically-focused lecture with lab, which is part of the sequence for first year biology majors. The ability to teach courses such as Spatial Statistics, Field Botany, Evolution, Invertebrate Biology,
Environmental Studies or similar topics is also desirable. When course rotations allow, participation in interdisciplinary and First Year Seminar teaching is also expected. The normal course load typically includes two lecture courses and two labs per semester. Non-teaching responsibilities include student-faculty research, student advising, prospective student recruitment, and committee work.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Ecology, Plant Biology, Botany or a related field, with post-doctoral and GIS experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrate a commitment to excellent teaching, including the use of inclusive pedagogies along with strong mentoring and academic support of undergraduate student populations of diverse backgrounds.
- An active research agenda that can be modified for undergraduate research, with a publication record in appropriate scientific journals in the candidate’s field of expertise. Previous experience working with undergraduates is also strongly preferred.
- Must be currently authorized to work in the United States as Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
- Successful completion of a background and drive check in accordance with Coe College policy.
The Department is interested in applicants who will complement our commitment to undergraduate education, and who will enhance and expand the expertise and experiences represented through the faculty. This position will grow the Environmental Science side of our department and is open with respect to sub-specialty. https://www.coe.edu/academics/majors-areas-study/biology
Department Profile:
The Department of Biology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in pre-health, environmental science, molecular biology, or neuroscience also available. The department graduates approximately 35 biology majors per year, making it one of the largest majors on campus. The department also offers courses in service for the college’s nursing and kinesiology programs, as well as for general education. There are 7 full-time faculty with expertise in a wide variety of disciplines, as well as a full-time laboratory manager. Additional faculty and professionals in other departments within the College as well as other nearby research institutions provide excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Our modern, renovated building (Peterson Hall) is shared with the chemistry and physics departments and contains space for coursework and the College’s natural history collections. The department also houses significant laboratory space that include dissection hoods, a greenhouse, and excellent analytical and molecular equipment. The College’s off-site Wilderness Field Station is located about 12 miles north of Ely, Minnesota in the 2 ½ million-acre Superior National Forest on remote Low Lake. Groups paddle directly by canoe from the field station into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, expanding the field station "classroom." This area is part of the largest and most pristine wilderness area east of the Rocky Mountains. https://www.coe.edu/academics/coe-difference-centers-and-programs/off-campus-study/wilderness-field-station
Instructions to Applicants:
Submit the following materials online at https://www.coe.edu/why-coe/discover-coe/human-resources/careers/employment-opportunities:
Submit the following materials online at https://www.coe.edu/why-coe/discover-coe/human-resources/careers/employment-opportunities:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Statements on both research interests and teaching philosophy
Review of applications will begin on 12/19/2026 and will continue until the position is filled.