Assistant Professor - Zoology & Physiology (Biometrician)

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At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:

- Generous Retirement Contributions:  The State contributes over 15% of your gross salary. With your mandatory employee contribution, the total contribution toward your retirement plan exceeds 19%.

- Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage:  Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs (https://www.uwyo.edu/hr/employee-benefits/health-life-benefits/index.html).

- Paid Time Off:  Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.

- Tuition Waiver:  Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.

- Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs:  Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

At the University of Wyoming , we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary .

JOB TITLE:

Assistant Professor, Strickland Family Fish and Wildlife Biometrics Endowed Professorship

JOB PURPOSE:

The Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming invites applications for the Strickland Family Fish and Wildlife Biometrics Endowed Professorship at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek an innovative individual who addresses fundamental and applied questions in areas such as hierarchical modeling, statistical study design, population estimation and modeling (e.g., capture-mark-recapture, occupancy, survival) or other quantitatively rigorous area of wildlife and fisheries ecology, or the statistical analyses of complex ecological datasets – with a focus on terrestrial and/or aquatic vertebrates. We are particularly interested in candidates that are highly collaborative and will facilitate cross-disciplinary projects that provide the quantitative backbone for in-depth, interdisciplinary inquiries across the Department of Zoology and Physiology, while elevating the statistical and analytical support and training of our undergraduate and graduate students. The synergy brought by the position will enrich our undergraduate programs (including our popular Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management degree) and broaden the impact of our research and education related to wildlife and fisheries across the state of Wyoming and beyond.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an innovative and externally-funded research program addressing questions in areas such as hierarchical modeling, statistical study design, population estimation and modeling (e.g., capture-mark-recapture, occupancy, survival) or other quantitatively rigorous area of wildlife and fisheries ecology, or the statistical analyses of complex datasets – with a focus on terrestrial and/or aquatic vertebrates. Importantly, we seek a colleague who moves fluidly between developing new statistical methods, asking fundamental ecological questions, and applying them to pressing wildlife and fisheries management problems or questions at the local (i.e., state of Wyoming), regional, and/or international levels. We seek a colleague who is highly collaborative and committed to participating in the community through teaching, research, service, and undergraduate and graduate student mentoring. The individual will be expected to contribute to the academic and teaching missions of the Department of Zoology and Physiology, our Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management degree, the interdepartmental Ph.D. Program in Ecology and Evolution (PiEE), and more broadly to the University of Wyoming. Teaching responsibilities may include undergraduate and graduate courses such as ecological statistics, research study design, quantitative methods for wildlife and fisheries (including the development and application of innovative approaches to analyzing ecological data), core courses within the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management major, and/or a new course in the successful applicant’s specialty. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to inclusive, evidence-based teaching and effective mentoring of students from a range of backgrounds and knowledge.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS:

The candidate will be expected to participate in appropriate service activities including, but not limited to, serving on departmental, college, and university committees, serving on graduate committees, and providing statistical innovation and support on collaborative grants and research. These service functions are expected in addition to discipline-related service activities at the national and international levels.

COMPETENCIES:

- Innovation

- Initiative

- Collaboration

- Analysis/problem identification

- Technical/Professional knowledge

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

- PhD in Applied Statistics, Biological or Ecological Statistics, Wildlife or Fisheries Ecology (with clear emphasis on developing innovative statistical methods), or related field

- Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals

- Experience or demonstrated interest in teaching undergraduate- and graduate-level courses

- Demonstrated history or strong interest in conducting research in one or more of the following areas: hierarchical modeling, statistical study design, or another quantitatively rigorous area of wildlife and fisheries ecology (e.g., population modeling)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- Experience in developing innovative statistical or modeling approaches

- Experience collaborating with other researchers or practitioners in the statistical design and analysis elements of data or research

- Experience and commitment to excellence in research through multiple first-author publications, including in high-impact journals

- Experience or commitment to effective teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels

- Experience or commitment to effective mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students

- Evidence or demonstrated potential to secure external funding

- Experience or commitment to engagement with research sponsors, scientists, collaborators, students, or stakeholders representing a spectrum of backgrounds, knowledge, and disciplines

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Complete the online application. Review of applications will begin December 14, 2026; applications received by December 13, 2026 will receive full consideration. In the application, please provide a single PDF file that includes 1) a cover letter (max 2 pages), 2) research statement (max 3 pages), 3) teaching statement (max 2 pages), 4) CV, and 5) contact information for three references. The University of Wyoming conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jerod Merkle ([email protected]).

WORK LOCATION:

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work on campus.

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email  [email protected] .

ABOUT LARAMIE:

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website .

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/