Assistant or Associate Professor of Ecosystem Ecology

The Institute of Arctic Biology and the Department of Biology and Wildlife at the University of Alaska Fairbanks invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in terrestrial ecosystem ecology relevant to boreal forest ecosystems. This is a 9-month (full-time) tenure-track faculty position with a 3-month appointment extension supported by external funding (if available). The position duties will consist of 40% teaching, 50% research and 10% service. The rank of hire is open to Assistant or Associate Professor, commensurate with experience and leadership interest. Candidates should have expertise in terrestrial ecology, including fire ecology, isotope ecology, modelling, plant physiological ecology, or northern peatlands, with an interest in researching the boreal forest. We are interested in candidates who are integrative with their research, collaborative, and work in research teams. Candidates who are interested in engaging with the leadership of the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research program are especially encouraged to apply. 

The position will be jointly appointed with the Department of Biology and Wildlife in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics and the Institute of Arctic Biology. The successful candidate will initially teach two courses per year in the Department of Biology and Wildlife, build and sustain a ongoing, externally-funded research program through the Institute of Arctic Biology involving mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students, and provide service to the university, profession, and general public.

To thrive in this position, the successful candidate will excel in balancing teaching, research, and service. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the curricula of Biology and Wildlife Department’s Biological Sciences and Wildlife Biology programs through excellence and innovation in teaching across undergraduate and graduate levels, in-person and online courses. We seek candidates who can teach in general ecology, ecosystem ecology, areas of ecology related to specialized expertise, and courses that incorporate undergraduate research experiences. For research, the successful candidate will be expected to maintain an externally funded research program addressing ecologically relevant topics, especially those related to boreal forest ecosystems and of relevance for the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research program. The successful candidate will contribute to service to the department and institute, the university, their profession, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:
PhD in Biological Sciences or related field. Postdoctoral experience is preferred, but not required.
To be considered for an Associate rank, the applicant must have experience commensurate with 5 years of experience as an Assistant or Associate Professor.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are NOT eligible.

Position Details:
This position is located on the Troth Yeddha’ campus in Fairbanks, AK. This is a full-time, 9-month base appointment, FLSA exempt faculty position complete with a competitive salary and  full employee benefits package . UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be offered a competitive salary based on education and experience.

Application review will begin on November 9, 2026. Applications received prior to this date will receive priority consideration; however, the recruitment will remain open until filled.

*Finalists invited to an on-campus interview/visit will be required to give a research presentation during the visit. Feedback from faculty, staff and students will be considered.

REQUIRED application documents:
-Cover Letter
-Resume or Curriculum Vitae
-Teaching philosophy, experience and interests statement (1-2 pages)
-Research Statement including experience, research agenda and how your research will be relevant to Alaska (1-2 pages)
**Combine the Teaching and Research statements into a single document for upload

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Sheri Hall, CNSM HR Manager, at View email address on careers.alaska.edu or View phone number on careers.alaska.edu

This position is represented by United Academics-AAUP/AFT (UNAC).

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at View email address on careers.alaska.edu .

The  University of Alaska () is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a  policy of non-discrimination () against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

* Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

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