Tenure Track (Open Rank) Professor Aquatic Ecotoxicology

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Tenure Track (Open Rank) Professor Aquatic Ecotoxicology.

Position Details
Location	Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 39564 United States
Division	Coastal Sciences
Position Type	Faculty
Employment Status	Full Time
Grant Funded	No
Pay Grade	Generic Grade
Posting Close Date	Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants
Applications
must be submitted online (https://jobs.usm.edu). For full consideration, application
materials should be submitted by October 31, 2025. A completed application will
include: (1) letter of interest; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) statement of
research interests, accomplishments, and plans; (4) statement of teaching
philosophy; (5) PDFs of three representative publications, and (6) contact
information for three references. Academic transcripts will be required for
candidates who are invited for on-campus interviews. For additional information
contact Search Committee Chair Dr. Eric Saillant ([email protected]).

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the
United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The
University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary
The Division of Coastal Sciences (COA) in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering
(SOSE) at The
University of Southern Mississippi (USM) invites qualified applicants for a
full-time, 9-month, tenure-track faculty position in Aquatic Ecotoxicology at
the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level, to begin in Fall 2026.

We seek a
scientist with a focus on aquatic ecotoxicology who investigates questions
related to organismal responses to current and future anthropogenic stressors
and contaminants. Potential areas of research include but are not limited to
molecular, biochemical, and organismal responses to contaminants (e.g., metals,
pesticides, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and/or emerging contaminants);
mechanisms of toxicity; and multi-stressor experimental research. The
successful candidate will be expected to use a custom-built, state-of-the-art
11,000 ft2 biosafety level 2 toxicology facility. This facility contains two aquatic exposure
chambers and is supported by an in-house aquaculture lab, molecular biology
lab, and instrumentation lab. It is capable of precise flow-through control of
a wide range of environmental variables and toxins. Additional information on
the facility can be found at https://www.usm.edu/gulf-coast-research-laboratory/aquatic-toxicology.php.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Develop a strong, nationally recognized and externally funded research program;
Publish in peer-reviewed literature;
Mentor graduate students and undergraduate students;
Deliver engaging instruction, contributing to the educational mission of COA and SOSE by developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses related to aquatic ecotoxicology and broader coastal/marine sciences;
Engage in service activates to COA, SOSE, and USM;
Foster collaborations across USM's diverse academic units. Evaluation of applications will consider the potential of candidates to develop collaboration with other USM academic units including the Division of Marine Science.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional
Information:
SOSE offers graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate
degree programs in Coastal Sciences, Marine Science, Hydrographic Science,
Marine Biology, and Ocean Engineering, and a certificate program in Uncrewed
Maritime Systems. The faculty and staff of SOSE leverage its location on the
Gulf Coast and expertise in marine and coastal science, engineering, and policy
to address challenges facing coastal and marine environments regionally,
nationally, and internationally. SOSE has significant research infrastructure
and facilities across four principal sites spanning the Mississippi Gulf Coast:
the NASA Stennis Space Center, the Gulf Park Campus at Long Beach, the Roger F.
Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the Port of Gulfport and the Gulf Coast
Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. This position will be located in Ocean
Springs at the Gulf Coast
Research Laboratory, a marine laboratory featuring comprehensive research
programs in coastal and marine biological sciences. Research program support
includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation; a fleet of
small and large research vessels; the GCRL Museum collection; facilities at the
Center for Fisheries Research and Development (CFRD) and Thad Cochran Marine
Aquaculture Center (TCMAC); and the NSF I/UCRC Science Center for Marine
Fisheries. Ocean Springs is known for its beauty, natural resources, and arts
community. It is home to galleries, restaurants, and schools that are ranked
among the best in the state.

Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience in a relevant discipline.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Collaboration: the ability to effectively and efficiently collaborate with others in a group
Engagement: takes initiative to be proactive and responsive in communicating with the university community and participating in school, college, university research and service.
Intelligent risk-taking/Problem Solving: the ability to weigh potential benefits and disadvantages of exercising one's choice or action to assume calculated risks; the ability to determine the cause of a problem by identifying prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution and then implementing a solution.
Flexibility: the willingness to change or compromise according to the situation
Professional Commitment: the desire to stay current by acquiring new knowledge and seeking explanations- even when the applications for that new learning are not immediately apparent; the ability and desire to continually improve their mastery of discipline/Academic field, their excellence in pedagogy, and their active participation in the university’s mission
Academic Perseverance: the drive to persist based on the belief that projects will result in better learning for students and improvements beyond one's own institution; the drive to engage in goal directed behavior in order to see projects through from implementation to completion.
Enterprising: the ability to initiate and leverage available resources to further a goal.
Leadership: the ability to motivate or persuade others to act to achieve a goal by communicating a vision, communicating and supporting the vision of the organization, and inspiring trust; the ability to lead students through mentoring and pedagogically sound educational experiences.
Communication: the ability to convey information in numerous ways at different levels such that it is understood by different audiences (students, colleagues, stakeholders, general public) and delivered in a sensitive and inclusive manner.
Technology Proficiency: the ability to use technology to communicate effectively and professionally, organize information, produce high-quality products, and enhance thinking skills; the desire and ability to achieve proficiency in technological tools and devices through experience and instruction.

Preferred Qualifications
Publication in peer-reviewed literature and a record of scholarship, service, and grant development appropriate for the applicant’s rank.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern
Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing
students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students
in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the
Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We
are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of
the nation's leading research institutions.

Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in
polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing
language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national
leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography,
nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.

We produce graduates ready to enter
fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such
as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of
business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by
producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of
excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation
accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our
student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and
persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu.

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. EOE/VETS/DISABILITY.