The Department of Biology invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor in Botany specializing in specimen–based research, with an emphasis on vascular plants, to begin on August 1, 2026. We seek a colleague who will develop a research program integrating fieldwork, herbarium curation, and modern analytical approaches to advance plant systematics, ecology, physiology, or related disciplines while maintaining excellence in undergraduate and graduate (M.S.) instruction. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s strengths in organismal biology and biodiversity, while also engaging undergraduate and graduate students (M.S.) through teaching, research, and mentorship. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

• Contribute to the department’s core curriculum, and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in botany, plant biology, plant systematics, and related topics. 
• Develop and engage a sustained and substantive research program centered on botanical specimens, with a primary focus on vascular plants that can effectively involve undergraduate and graduate (M.S.) students. 
• Curate and expand the department’s botanical collections, contributing to herbarium growth and integration into teaching and research. 
• Advise biology majors, aid in curriculum development, mentor graduate students (M.S.), and provide service to the Department, College, and University. 
• Research space and resources within the department include APSU Herbarium with over 140,000 specimens, APSU Native Plant Teaching and Research Garden, APSU Greenhouse research facility, and proximity to a wide variety of natural areas. 
• Engage in professional service to the department, university, and scholarly community. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Demonstrated ability to integrate molecular, ecological, and/or computational approaches with specimen-based research. 
• Experience in herbarium curation and management. 
• Experience mentoring students in research settings. 
• Potential for securing external research funding. 
• Commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching. 

Physical Requirements 

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 

Required Minimum Qualifications 

• Ph.D. in Botany, Plant Biology, Biology, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment. 
• Post-doctoral experience is preferred. 
• Documented record of scholarly achievement and demonstrated ability to develop an extramurally funded research program 
• Experience in mentoring students from diverse backgrounds, and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to underserved populations to graduate and professional programs is preferred.