Assistant/Associate Professor in Integrative Shellfish Biology

Assistant/Associate Professor in Integrative Shellfish
Biology

College/School/Unit: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Department of Marine Science

Posted: Aug 28, 2026

Apply By: Open until filled

Description

The Department of Marine Science and Marine Science Institute at
The University of Texas at Austin (UTMSI) is seeking an assistant
or associate professor in the field of Integrative Shellfish
Biology. Fields of study can include, but are not limited to,
physiology, functional biology, ecology and evolution, reproduction
and development, disease, and host-pathogen interactions, as well
as fisheries science and mariculture.

We seek to fill this position in coordination with the development
of a new state-of-the-art oyster mariculture research facility that
will be located at the University of Texas Marine Science
Institute's Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory in Port Aransas,
Texas. In doing so, UTMSI is building the capacity to advance
commercial oyster mariculture activities in the state of Texas,
which includes facilities for broodstock husbandry, spawning,
larval rearing, and spat production. As such, we are most
interested in candidates that can make use of these facilities and
contribute to the broader mission of the facility, but we strongly
encourage applicants with both fundamental and applied research
portfolios to apply.

The Department of Marine Science is housed in the College of
Natural Sciences and is home to an expanding group of 15 faculty
who are engaging in research across a broad range of marine science
disciplines. The successful applicant is expected to establish an
internationally recognized, extramurally funded research program
and mentor research personnel, teach at the graduate and
undergraduate levels, and contribute to departmental service.

The position is located at the University of Texas Marine Science
Institute in Port Aransas, Texas, which is located 3.5 hours from
Austin but holds strong collaborative ties to the research
community on the university's main campus, including the Department
of Integrative Biology and the Jackson School of Geosciences. The
Institute is home to the Department's graduate degree program and
has state-of-the-art laboratories and seawater-supplied facilities
for experimental research. The Institute is also in close proximity
to a variety of marine habitats that include near-pristine to
anthropogenically altered estuarine ecosystems (oyster reefs,
seagrasses, mangroves, saltmarshes, microbial mats, open water),
with salinities ranging from oligohaline to hypersaline, as well as
near- and offshore habitats of the Gulf of Mexico. The Institute
hosts the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve,
Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research program,
Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory complex, and the Center for
Coastal Ocean Science. The Institute also houses full-service core
analytical facilities, a fleet of research vessels, and will take
ownership of a new 78-ft All American Marine research vessel in
spring 2027. This vessel will be fully equipped and specifically
designed to support diverse research activities, including
biological, geological, biogeochemical, and physical
oceanography.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD in marine science, biology, fisheries
science, or a closely related field at the time of appointment.
Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience is expected.
Candidates must demonstrate the potential to establish (Assistant
Professor) or an established record of (Associate Professor) an
independent, externally funded research program in shellfish
biology or a related discipline, along with a commitment to
graduate and undergraduate teaching and mentorship.

Appointment Rank

The rank of appointment (Assistant or Associate Professor) will be
commensurate with the candidate's experience and record.
Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor requires a record of
scholarly accomplishment, funding, and teaching sufficient to meet
the University of Texas at Austin's criteria for tenure.

Application Instructions

To apply

Applicants should submit the following via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/192523):
(i) a cover letter, (ii) a current CV, (iii) a research statement
(up to 2 pages), (iv) a teaching, mentoring, and service statement
(up to 2 pages), (v) contact information for three to five
references (letters will be requested for top candidates), and (vi)
three reprints of representative publications. Applications
received prior to 15 October 2026 will receive full consideration.
For additional information about the Institute and Department, see
https://marinescience.utexas.edu
and https://www.utmsi.utexas.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all
applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and
affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of
equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability,
religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and
activities, and admissions.

To apply, visit https://faculty.utexas.edu/career/190768

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