BIOLOGY PROFESSOR JOB DESCRIPTION

A Biology Professor is a faculty member accountable for course delivery, student development, and disciplinary scholarship within a college or university department. Nine-month appointments are standard. The role carries responsibility for undergraduate instruction across courses such as anatomy and physiology, genetics, and microbiology, often within departments governed by accreditation continuous improvement processes. Faculty governance expectations - including committee service and curriculum review - distinguish this role from laboratory or research-only positions and place it at the center of a department's academic integrity.

You will own undergraduate course delivery, student advising, and an active research agenda, serving as the Biology Professor who anchors a department's instructional capacity and scholarly output. The position operates within a biology department reporting to a department chair, contributing to curriculum development, faculty governance, and accreditation processes across fall and spring semesters.

Career Impact: Teaching genetics, molecular biology, and anatomy and physiology at the undergraduate level builds a durable record of instructional breadth that strengthens a faculty member's standing in academic hiring markets and promotion reviews.

Business Impact: A department's student retention rates, graduation outcomes, and accreditation standing depend directly on the instructional consistency and advisement quality this role delivers each semester.

Growth Opportunity: Faculty who establish a wet-lab research program and secure external grant funding open a pathway toward tenured associate professor appointments and expanded graduate mentorship responsibilities.

• Teach undergraduate biology courses including lecture and laboratory sections across general biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, and microbiology each semester.
• Design instructional activities spanning lecture, class discussion, demonstration labs, and project-based learning to meet diverse student needs.
• Establish and maintain an active research program with a wet-lab component that supports undergraduate student participation and produces peer-reviewed publications.
• Advise assigned student majors on academic progress, course selection, and career planning throughout each academic year.
• Mentor undergraduate research assistants and guide independent study projects from proposal through completion.
• Contribute to curriculum development, course material selection, and departmental committee assignments as designated by the department chair.
• Submit external grant applications and collaborate with institutional and external research partners to sustain scholarly productivity.

• Master's degree in biology or a closely related field, or equivalent post-secondary academic experience, required at time of hire.
• Two or more years of undergraduate teaching experience, with demonstrated effectiveness across lecture and laboratory formats.
• Demonstrated commitment to student-centered instruction at the freshman, sophomore, and upper-division levels.
• Ability to advise and mentor students from diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds effectively.
• Strong written and oral communication skills sufficient for classroom instruction, scholarly publication, and faculty governance participation.
• Ability to manage multiple course preparations, advising caseloads, and committee responsibilities within standard academic calendar deadlines.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with distance learning or hybrid instructional delivery.

• PhD in biology or a closely related field such as biochemistry, cell physiology, or molecular biology.
• Post-doctoral research experience with a record of externally funded projects or peer-reviewed publication in a biology subfield.
• Grant writing experience with federal or private agencies supporting biological research.
• Background in computational, data science, or systems approaches applied to biological research problems.

• Course sections taught per semester relative to assigned contact hour load, ensuring full instructional coverage.
• Number of undergraduate advisees meeting satisfactory academic progress benchmarks each term.
• Peer-reviewed publications produced per academic year from the active research program.
• External grant applications submitted and funded as a percentage of annual research output goals.
• Student course evaluation scores reflecting instructional clarity and laboratory preparedness.
• Undergraduate research assistants mentored through to poster presentation or co-authorship within the appointment year.

• Base Salary Range: $55,000 to $90,000 per year depending on degree level, rank, and institution type.
• Bonus: Supplemental pay for overload sections or summer instruction at per-credit rates.
• Equity: Not typical in higher education; some institutions offer tenure as long-term employment security.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard at most four-year and community college institutions.
• PTO: Faculty typically receive winter and spring breaks plus summer recess aligned with academic calendar.
• Common Perks: Tuition remission, professional development funds, library access, and research seed grants at many institutions.

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Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request during the hiring process. Final offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background screening. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States prior to the start of employment.

vThe Biology Professor owns a nine-month faculty appointment within the engineering, mathematics and sciences division, reporting to the dean and department chair, life sciences, with responsibility for delivering 15 contact hours of biological science courses per semester across general biology, zoology, botany, and anatomy and physiology. The role shapes student success through accessible advising, curriculum development, and committee service, ensuring the college's instructional programs meet the academic needs of a diverse undergraduate population.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach 15 contact hours of biological science courses per semester including general biology, zoology, botany and anatomy and physiology lectures and laboratories.
• Maintain office hours to be accessible for student conferences.
• Assist in curriculum development and selection of instructional materials.
• Advise student majors as assigned by the dean and department chair.
• Assume committee assignments and other responsibilities designated by the dean or department chair.
• Perform day, afternoon, evening and weekend assignments as required.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree with at least 18 graduate semester hours in biology required.
• Post-secondary teaching experience highly preferred.
• Strong background in use of multimedia applications and critical thinking processes in lecture and laboratory settings required.
• Good written and oral communication skills required.
• Interpersonal skills reflecting commitment to student development in all college activities required.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students required.

Embedded within a biology department committed to scholarly excellence, the Biology Professor delivers lecture, seminar, laboratory, and small group discussion courses while contributing to curriculum development and student advising. Working closely with undergraduate students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, the role advances academic quality and supports student-centered learning across health science, genetics, and microbiology disciplines.

Core Functions

• Deliver lecture, seminar, small group discussion and laboratory courses effectively.
• Develop curriculum and contribute to course design and instructional materials.
• Advise students and support their academic and professional development.
• Prepare examination questions and grade courses or portions of courses.
• Promote adequate standards of linguistic expression in writing and speech.
• Maintain intellectual integrity and strive for academic excellence in teaching.

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in biology or a related field required at time of hire.
• Teaching experience required, with preference for backgrounds in health science, genetics, microbiology and related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds and identities.
• Demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching and student-centered learning.
• Experience working with students of various ages and cultural, socio-economic and educational backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required.

Reporting to the biology department chair, the Biology Professor teaches at least four undergraduate courses and labs per semester spanning anatomy and physiology, cell biology, genetics, and microbiology, while mentoring students in independent study projects. Partnering with faculty colleagues and student recruitment teams, the role strengthens departmental curriculum development and contributes to ongoing professional development in biology and the teaching profession.

Primary Duties

• Teach at least four undergraduate courses and labs per semester across required and advanced biology topics.
• Plan instructional activities including lecture, class discussion, demonstration labs and projects.
• Mentor students in independent study projects and provide academic advisement.
• Participate in student recruitment activities related to programs requiring biology.
• Serve on college committees and contribute to curriculum development efforts.
• Participate in ongoing professional development in biology and the teaching profession.
• Support distance learning through understanding and experience in online instruction.

Skills and Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in biology required.
• Some teaching experience at the college level required.
• Funded research and grant writing experience a plus.
• Proficiency in Canvas and Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook required.
• Strong analytical skills required.
• Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks with frequent urgency or sensitivity required.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues in a team environment required.
• Strong interpersonal skills in both written and oral communication required.
• High level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings required.

Sitting at the intersection of undergraduate biology education and departmental service, the Biology Professor teaches lecture and laboratory sections of microbiology while maintaining student availability and contributing to course preparation and instructor meetings. Operating across instructional and administrative functions within the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Biology Department, the role ensures continuity and quality in undergraduate science education for the duration of a full-time visiting appointment.

Duties

• Teach undergraduate biology courses including lecture and laboratory sections of microbiology.
• Complete tasks related to teaching for the department as assigned.
• Maintain availability for student access outside the classroom.
• Participate in instructor meetings.
• Prepare course materials and contribute to course delivery and preparation.

Education and Experience

• Master's degree or equivalent in biology or a closely related field from an accredited institution required.
• Prior teaching experience required.
• Preference for hands-on laboratory experience.
• Demonstrable skills in oral and written communications required.
• Strong commitment to undergraduate education required.

A key member of the University of Houston-Clear Lake biology faculty, the Biology Professor teaches nine credit hours per semester across undergraduate and graduate courses while establishing an externally funded research program in a biology-related area involving both student levels. Collaborating across university committees, external partners such as NASA, and professional organizations, the role advances the Biology program's research capacity and supports graduate thesis advising and accreditation processes.

Accountabilities

• Teach nine credit hours per semester comprising undergraduate and graduate courses within the candidate's specialization area.
• Develop additional courses to meet biology program needs aligned with the candidate's teaching strengths.
• Establish a research program in a biology-related area involving undergraduate and graduate students.
• Submit research and other grants to external agencies and collaborate with external partners such as NASA.
• Advise master's level graduate students on theses and projects and supervise undergraduate research.
• Contribute to university and departmental committees, professional organizations and accreditation processes.

Technical Qualifications

• PhD in biology or a closely related field required.
• Demonstrated experience teaching across various areas of biology required.
• Demonstrated experience developing externally funded and publishable research studies required.
• Ability to establish a research program engaging undergraduate and graduate students required.
• Ability to teach effectively in an active learning environment with focus on theoretical and applied experimental biology required.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills required.

Sustained excellence in undergraduate molecular biology education depends on the Assistant Biology Professor, who teaches 15 credit hours per year across molecular biology, genetics, and introductory core sequence courses while running a wet-lab research program that actively involves undergraduate students. Based within a biology department, the role serves as a primary source of academic and career mentoring for 15 to 25 students annually and contributes to departmental and disciplinary service.

Key Deliverables

• Teach 15 credit hours of courses per year including molecular biology with lab, genetics with lab and introductory core sequence courses for majors.
• Establish a research program in molecular biology with a significant wet-lab component supporting undergraduate participation.
• Mentor and oversee undergraduate research assistants and communicate results through peer-reviewed papers and presentations.
• Provide academic and career advising and mentoring to 15 to 25 undergraduate students per year.
• Support the department, university and discipline through service and other forms of academic citizenship.

Professional Experience

• PhD in biology or a related discipline required.
• At least one year of post-doctoral research experience in a related field required.
• At least one year of experience teaching undergraduate students required.
• Molecular biology research program with a significant wet-lab component supporting undergraduate research required.
• Demonstrated skills and ability with computational, data science or systems approaches in molecular biology research required.
• Evidence of engaging and inclusive teaching practices at the undergraduate level including molecular biology, genetics and introductory courses required.
• Evidence of effectiveness in teaching and mentoring students with diverse backgrounds and identities required.