Assistant Professor in Paleontological Vertebrate Evolution

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, based on position, which includes:

For detailed information on benefits and eligibility, please visit: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.

The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences ( SEBS) and the Department of Ecology,
Evolution and Natural Resources at Rutgers University-New Brunswick invite applicants for a
tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level beginning January 1, 2026.

We seek a scholar-teacher studying the evolution of the aquatic to terrestrial transitions in
zoological evolution using paleontological, morphological, and biomechanic modeling data from
living and extant vertebrates. The successful candidate will be able to quantitatively and
qualitatively investigate broad evolutionary questions using field and laboratory studies of extinct
and extant species and museum specimens, and perform animation and modeling approaches
and phylogenetic analyses. We are particularly interested in candidates who have existing or want
to develop strong connections to collections in natural history museums at Rutgers and in New
Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.

The successful candidate is expected to develop an externally funded, innovative research
program that will broaden SEBS' existing strengths in evolutionary biology and biodiversity. The
successful applicant will align with our values of inclusivity, interdisciplinary excellence, and
scholarly relevance. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to innovative and
effective teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses aligned with their background and
departmental needs. They will also be committed to student research mentoring and engaging with the broader scientific community and general public.

Preferred candidates have a PhD and two years of postdoctoral experience relevant
to paleontological vertebrate evolution and have a demonstrated ability to conduct research,
engage in grantsmanship, teach at the collegiate level, and mentor students.

Rutgers-New Brunswick is a public land grant university located in the Northeast Corridor that hosts one of the most diverse student bodies in the United States. Our institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI), including our priority of diversifying our faculty ranks is outlined in the Rutgers DEI strategic plan ( https://diversity.rutgers.edu/university-plan). We especially encourage applications from backgrounds underrepresented in ecology. "For guidance on preparing a diversity statement, see: "https://execdeanagriculture.rutgers.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/diversity-statement-instructions.php"> https://execdeanagriculture.rutgers.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/diversity-statement-instructions.php."

Applicants should provide:
1.) Cover letter
2.) CV
3.) 2-page statement of research interests
4.) List of contact information for three professional references
5.) 2-page statement of teaching philosophy and interests
6.) Statement of values that outlines how the candidate has and will continue to
advance the values of Rutgers University