Natural Sciences Department
| Position Available: | Academic Year |
|---|---|
| Hourly Rate or Pay Range: | Commensurate with education and experience |
| Application Deadline: | Position open until filled. |
Northland College is accepting applications for a 9-month tenure-track appointment in natural resources and biology with a focus on fisheries. The anticipated start date is August 2023.
Applicants should have interests and expertise in fisheries science and a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching. Ideally, applicants will also demonstrate how previous experiences have prepared them to integrate the Lake Superior region’s rich fisheries resources into their teaching and research.
Natural resources is the College’s largest major. Our students enjoy opportunities to blend classroom learning with field trips and experiential, applied learning. Our students have access to diverse internship and research opportunities through our broad network of partners in natural resource agencies and organizations. Our campus provides easy access to one of the world’s leading sustainable commercial fisheries, as well as opportunities to collaborate with fisheries biologists, managers, and aquatic scientists across the region. Northland College’s Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation also offers opportunities for collaboration. Institutional support for research and teaching includes opportunities to apply for annual professional development funding and short-term endowed professorships, use of the Forest Lodge Educational Campus on the shores of nearby Lake Namekagon as well as the College-owned Mabel Cora Maxwell Nature Study Area, access to equipment support provided by the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute’s Logistical Support Center, and access to small motorboats and a fleet of vans for course travel.
Our faculty enjoy working in a collegial and vibrant department and appreciate living and recreating in an area rich with water and public lands. Summers on the south shore of Lake Superior are often considered idyllic, and there is much to enjoy and explore through all seasons. This is truly a fantastic place for a professional in fisheries to live and work.
About Northland College
Founded in 1892, Northland College is located in northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior. Adjacent to the Apostle Islands and over a million acres of national forest, the College’s distinct setting has inspired its commitment to explore the fundamental interconnections of nature, place, and people.
The College believes that understanding and addressing complex environmental and social issues requires learning from an array of perspectives, actively participating in community, and engaging in research centered on the most important questions of our time. Our commitment to offering an experiential education rooted in the environmental liberal arts readies Northland graduates for personal and professional success. We aim to provide students with the tools to pursue meaningful lives and prepare them to act with courage in a rapidly changing world.
About Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland, Wisconsin, is located on Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay and near the tourist destinations of the scenic Bayfield Peninsula. The region provides farmer’s markets, orchards, live music, art festivals, theater, and ample outdoor recreation options (e.g. cross country skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, hiking, water sports). There are nearly 8,000 residents in Ashland, and we enjoy a cost of living 11 percent lower than the state average and 17 percent lower than the national average (Economic Research Institute data). Duluth, Minnesota, is the nearest metro (population of the metro area was just over 270,000 at the 2020 Census) and the location of an international airport just one hour and thirty minutes from Ashland; the Ironwood, Michigan, airport is forty-five minutes away and offers direct flights to Chicago and Minneapolis.
Responsibilities and Qualifications
Responsibilities
The position is primarily teaching-focused, and the teaching load includes six in-person courses per academic year (two 15-week semesters and a 4-week May-term). Courses include Ichthyology, Fisheries Science and Management, and a field-based fisheries techniques course. Depending on the candidate’s strengths, other possible courses include limnology, ecology, policy, introductory statistics, an introductory environmental science course, or a course that the applicant designs to benefit curricular needs and the mission of the College. The successful applicant will also be expected to serve on faculty and College committees after their first year, engage in scholarly activities involving undergraduates, and serve as a mentor and academic advisor for students.
Qualifications
- Completed PhD in biology, natural resources, or a related field associated with fisheries by August 2023 (we will also consider ABD with the expectation of degree completion within a year). Academic rank is open and contingent on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Broad interests in or demonstrated skills/experience in various components of aquatic ecology, fish or aquatic biology, fisheries science, fisheries monitoring, fisheries management, recreational fisheries, natural resources field skills, etc.
- The ability to deliver undergraduate courses using diverse pedagogical approaches, including active and experiential learning
- Interest in mentoring undergraduates on research or providing them with access to applied experiences
- Demonstrated ability to work well on teams and to communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and external partners
- A valid driver’s license and ability to obtain van-and-trailer certification (we provide the certification training)
- Experience driving a small motor boat (we can provide training)
- We are especially interested in candidates who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
Department Details
Natural Sciences Department
How to Apply
Review of applications will begin on January 1, 2023, but this position will remain open until filled. Applications will still be accepted after January 1 until an appointment is made.
Please submit a completed online application consisting of:
- A cover letter that includes a discussion of how your teaching, research, and/or service would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at Northland College
- Curriculum vitae
- A statement of teaching philosophy
- A list of three references including contact information
Position open until filled. Apply Online
Contact: Office of Human Resources humanresources@northland.edu