Assistant Professor of Biology--Anatomy & Physiology

The Department of Biology at Pacific Lutheran University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning September 1, 2027. The successful applicant will have an expertise in human anatomy and physiology. The position carries a teaching load of 6 courses per year with both lecture and lab sections counting toward that total. The individual’s annual teaching responsibilities will include participation in the human anatomy and physiology sequence, including the use of cadaveric specimens. In addition, the successful candidate will teach small, engaging upper-division courses in anatomy and/or physiology and will have the opportunity to develop courses aligned with their areas of expertise. We also seek a candidate who will maintain an active scholarship program that complements and broadens the department’s existing strengths while providing opportunities for undergraduate student participation. Scholarship may include disciplinary research, pedagogical research, or other scholarly activities appropriate to the candidate’s area of expertise. Interdisciplinary collaborations with other academic units, including Kinesiology, are welcomed. The biology department is a vibrant, student-centered academic community committed to helping students understand the complexity and diversity of life while developing the skills to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and engage in scientific discovery. Our faculty represent a broad range of biological disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, ecology, and evolution. We emphasize learning biology by doing biology , with hands-on laboratory and field experiences, undergraduate research, and close faculty-student mentoring woven throughout the curriculum. Our students pursue diverse pathways into health professions, graduate and professional programs, research, environmental science, education, and other careers in the life sciences. We are looking for an individual who identifies first and foremost as an educator and is dedicated to using effective and inclusive teaching methods and practices. Our students come from various backgrounds with different values and beliefs. Many of them are first-generation college students, non-traditional students, students of color, and LGBTQ students. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who can facilitate discussions across diverse perspectives and who share our commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in their teaching approaches. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Teach assigned courses at the undergraduate level, which includes upper-division courses. Engage undergraduates in their scholarship. Hold regular student hours. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong background in anatomy and physiology. Knowledge of effective and inclusive teaching and learning strategies. Commitment to working effectively with a diverse faculty and student body. Demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching at the undergraduate level within a liberal arts setting. Ability to communicate effectively. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in biology or related field. ABD will be considered, but Ph.D. must be in hand by September 1, 2027. Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with cadavers. Other Information: Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2024–25 academic year, 40.6 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 48.0 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant–eligible. Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,700 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Siegesmund at View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr Pacific Lutheran University