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.
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.
To apply
Applicants should submit the following via Interfolio (ADD LINK): (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.
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.
