Visiting Assistant Professor of Plant and/or Spatial Ecology

Biological Sciences: Plant and/or Spatial Ecologist

Position details: Coe College invites applications from dynamic, student-centered individuals for a one-year position of Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology to begin in the Fall of 2026 for the entire 2026-2027 academic year.

Primary responsibilities include: teaching undergraduate courses in Ecology and/or GIS for Biology majors. Additional duties across the 2026-2027 academic year would also include: 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. The normal course load typically includes two lecture courses and two labs per semester.

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.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States
• 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.

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.

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.

College profile: Coe College is a selective private liberal arts college known for strong sciences, research experiences for undergraduates, internships, and career connections. Coe's location combines superior academics with exciting co-curricular activities in Iowa's second-largest city. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly-supportive campus environment. With roughly 1,200 students, Coe's attractive campus is located in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a vibrant metropolitan area of 275,000 residents in Iowa's Creative Corridor, providing a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities. Coe is also only hours from major cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.

Instructions to Applicants:

Applications can be submitted at the link below and should include:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial)
• Statements on both research interests and teaching philosophy

Review of applications will begin on 5/11/2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Coe is committed to fostering a nurturing environment and encourages applications from individuals who will help fulfill that goal. We value the input of our faculty and staff and aim to create an academic community that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual curiosity. Coe College is an equal opportunity employer.