Job Description

Francis Marion University and the Department of Biology invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position. We are seeking candidates who have a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and research at a comprehensive liberal arts institution.

Faculty Responsibilities

1. Teaching:

• Teach a conservation biology lecture and lab to biology and environmental science undergraduate majors once per academic year.
• Additionally, teach introductory biology and environmental science courses as needed by the department.
• Develop a 300–400-level organismal biology course aligned with the candidate’s area of expertise, such as ornithology, botany, or mycology.

2. Service:

• Contribute to the department, university, and discipline through activities such as academic advising, student recruitment, faculty governance, and professional service (e.g., organizing conferences, serving on editorial boards, or participating in scientific societies).

3. Scholarship:

• Develop and maintain an active research program within one’s biological discipline that actively engages undergraduate students in collaborative inquiry and contributes to the broader scientific community.

The position is a standard nine-month, tenure-track contract with a teaching load of 7 courses/year (21 contact hours, lab hours fully count). Academic rank and salary will be commensurate to qualifications and experience. There is also potential to teach additional courses during the summer for additional compensation. Generous internal funding is available on a competitive basis to support travel, research, and undergraduate scholarship.

FMU Requirements: An earned doctorate in biology or a related discipline from an accredited institution. ABD candidates will be considered but must have completed their degree before their contract starts. Some demonstration of teaching human anatomy at the undergraduate level is preferred.

Expected start date: August 16, 2026.

The following application materials are required :

1. Letter of Interest (referencing position number 26-11).

2. Curriculum vitae.

3. Teaching Statement expressing teaching experience and philosophy.

4. Research Statement describing research interests and long-term research objectives and how the work would involve undergraduate researchers.

5. Copies of all transcripts (official transcripts will be required of the successful candidate).

6. Names and contact information for at least three references.

7. FMU Faculty Application.

To obtain a Faculty Application please click here

Send Application Materials to:

Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion UniversityP.O. Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547. Or email to: hrassist@fmarion.edu , or FAX to: (843) 661-1202

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

About the Biology Department: The new hire would join a vibrant and collaborative department of 22 faculty that span a wide range of disciplines. We strive for academic excellence within our comprehensive programs using creative teaching, insightful research, and collaborative and impactful service. To learn more about Francis Marion University’s Department of Biology, please visit: . Any questions regarding this position can be directed to the Department Chair, Dr. Vernon Bauer ( vbauer@fmarion.edu ).

About Francis Marion University: FMU is a state-assisted, regional university sitting on over 800 acres and serving approximately 4,200 students in Florence, SC. FMU is an adamant supporter of academic freedom. The institution takes a strong faculty governance approach with an active AAUP chapter. The campus is within easy driving distance of the state capitol Columbia, as well as other areas of interest including Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Charlotte, Asheville, and Savannah. In addition to facilities on the main campus, FMU also owns Wildsumaco Biological Station, a field station on the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador, and the Freshwater Ecology Center (FEC), a research facility located 15 minutes from campus with 146 acres of old wood forest and wetlands and a 20-acre lake.

Francis Marion University has been recognized for its excellence in education by several national ranking agencies. US News and World Report named FMU as one of its top regional universities in the south for more than a decade. FMU was named as “The Chronicle's Great Colleges to Work For” 2013-2025.

About Florence: Florence, SC, the heart of the Pee Dee region, serves over a quarter million people in the larger metropolitan area. Over the past several years, Florence has experienced major revitalization and rebirth to the downtown area and FMU has been at the forefront of those efforts. In addition to the construction of two health science buildings in the downtown area, we are currently building a medical campus in collaboration with the University of South Carolina Medical School, McLeod Regional Medical Center, and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. FMU has also contributed to making Florence a center for the arts and culture in the region with the Steven F. Gately Art Gallery and the FMU Performing Arts Center: home to the Florence Symphony Orchestra and host to many high-profile musical and theatrical performances each year. To find more information about this growing and vibrant community, please visit: .

As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission and encourages applications by women and minorities

Applicants honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces, who meet the minimum training and experience requirements, are given employment preference by all State agencies and higher education institutions in South Carolina.

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