The Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track professor at the Associate or Full Professor Rank, with expertise in Developmental Neurobiology and related diseases or conditions. We are seeking candidates that share our commitment to research and teaching. Qualified candidates should demonstrate prior success and future potential to maintain an externally funded research program that will support graduate (PhD, MS) and undergraduate student training. The new hire will contribute to existing courses and develop new courses within their expertise, including experiential learning opportunities. In the application materials, candidates should demonstrate and articulate how they plan to contribute to the growth of biomedical research capacity at Boise State University through individual and/or collaborative research. Candidates should describe how their research will utilize existing shared research core facilities, will align with existing institutes/centers, and will contribute to future research programs and infrastructure growth. The new hire will have the opportunity to recruit graduate students through several interdisciplinary graduate programs including Biomolecular Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Computing, Materials Science, and Ecology, Evolution & Behavior as appropriate for their research program. The position will be provided with dedicated research space and access to shared research facilities.
This position is supported by the Obenchain Endowment for Developmental Biology, and will receive permanent supplemental funding from this endowment to support research activities. Preferred areas of research include, but are not limited to:
- Regulation of early cranial and spinal embryogenesis including neural tube closure and notochord contributions
- Contribution of neural crest cells and neural stem cells during embryonic development
- The role of vertebral somites and cranial rhombomeres during the embryonic development of the craniospinal anatomy
- Mechanisms underlying neuronal migration and innervation of the dorsal root, ventral horn, commissures, and pallial cortex
- Developmental embryological events underlying congenital abnormalities
- Other related areas of research
Department overview:
The Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University holds a strong commitment to research, teaching and service. Our department serves over 600 students majoring in biology, and many more students taking biology courses for other degree programs. We share teaching experiences and strategies in order to improve the experiences of our students. Our faculty members contribute to several graduate programs at the PhD and Masters level and we take pride in mentoring our graduate students within these programs. Our department is committed to the success of our faculty and provides both informal and formal mentoring to support career development. Research in our department spans all levels of biological sciences creating numerous opportunities for collaboration and growth. In addition, our faculty frequently collaborate with faculty in other departments and colleges. The Department of Biological Sciences offers a flexible workload policy that allows a balance of research and teaching that is appropriate for career stage and interests. Faculty with high levels of research activity typically teach the equivalent of 1 class each semester (1:1 teaching workload). In the first year, faculty are typically offered a reduced teaching and service workload.
About Boise State:
Boise State University, powered by creativity and innovation, stands uniquely positioned in the Intermountain west as a metropolitan research university of distinction. Learn more about faculty careers at Boise State and the City of Boise. Boise is a great place to live and has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the #2 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025.
Faculty have access to a state-of-the-art rodent vivarium and zebrafish facility, the Biomolecular Research Core (BRC), shared spaces in the Department of Biological Sciences, and additional core facilities across campus. Two distinct NIH funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), one in Matrix Biology and one in Convergent Engineering and Biomolecular Sciences (CEBS), are located within the Biomedical Research Institute. Research core facilities have full-time dedicated staff to maintain instrumentation, provide training, and perform services.
Boise State University is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, staff, students, and academic program offerings and to strengthening a sensitivity to diversity throughout the institution. Boise State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. We are a welcoming campus that supports diversity and inclusion.
Minimum qualifications:
- A PhD and postdoctoral experience in a field related to the Biological Sciences
- A record of research and scholarship related to Developmental Neurobiology
Preferred qualifications:
- A history of research accomplishment described in the Research Statement. Evidence should include peer reviewed publications, extramural funding, and research mentoring (undergraduate, graduate, or postdoc) appropriate to the career stage.
- A future research agenda described in the Research Statement that includes topics relevant to the Obenchain Endowment for Developmental Biology (see above). The agenda should include a short term (3-5 year) plan that addresses funding potential from the NIH and other extramural funding sources. Additionally, the research agenda should describe long-term plans for contributions to Boise State’s growing biomedical research strengths, including participation in research centers/institutes, core facilities, or other programmatic efforts.
- A commitment to effective teaching as described in the Teaching Statement. Effective teaching may be demonstrated by evidence of student attainment of learning outcomes, responsiveness to learning barriers, monitoring and improving teaching methods, professional development activities, flexibility and collaboration in teaching assignments, or peer and student evaluations of teaching.
- A plan for delivering an undergraduate Developmental Biology course as described in the Teaching Statement. The plan should describe an approach to design, delivery and assessment.
- A commitment to creating inclusive research and teaching environments where all students are capable of learning, as articulated in both the Research Statement and Teaching Statement.
Required application materials:
1) Cover Letter that explicitly states the candidate’s potential contributions to the Department of Biological Sciences;
2) Curriculum Vitae, which includes employment history (include dates of employment), experience with grant writing, publications, courses taught, leadership roles and responsibilities, mentorship of students, and professional activities including service;
3) Research Statement (two pages maximum) that addresses the “Preferred Qualifications” above. This includes research interests, future plans related to developmental neurobiology, and plans that include pursuit of extramural funding to support research. The statement should outline how the research plans will advance research programs at Boise State University. Plans to utilize research core facilities and contribute to the future growth of research infrastructure should be addressed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to describe how their research complements existing research at Boise State University;
4) Teaching Statement (two page maximum) that addresses the “Preferred Qualifications” above including a description of the candidate’s teaching and mentoring experiences, and plans for a future course;
5) Publications - please provide a merged pdf with copies of three publications that are representative of your research accomplishments and potential related to Developmental Neurobiology.
Please note, our application system will allow for a maximum of five (5) document uploads. Please consolidate your materials accordingly.
Closing Date:
Position will remain open until filled. Applications are being reviewed as they are received.
For questions regarding this position, please contact Dr. Eric Hayden (erichayden@boisestate.edu) and Dr. Julie Oxford (joxford@boisestate.edu).
Salary and Benefits:
Starting salary: Commensurate with experience.
Our standard faculty contract is a 9-month contract (unless otherwise noted) with pay and benefits spread over 12 months. This is a yearly, renewable contract, unless noted that the position is temporary. More information about faculty contract and work days is available here.
Boise State University provides a best-in-class benefits package, including (but not limited to):