Director and Tenured Associate Professor/Professor of Oklahoma Biological Survey

The University of Oklahoma, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences seeks an Organismal Biologist to serve as the Director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey (OBS) at the level of Associate or Full Professor (Tenured). The successful candidate will run an active research lab, train graduate students, and teach one course per year that pertains to their area of expertise. In addition, they will lead our research unit toward fulfillment of its mission (see below) by forging partnerships, raising funds, and coordinating research efforts within the OBS. Due to recent and imminent retirements, the new OBS director will have an exciting opportunity to hire new personnel and thus guide the trajectory of our organization.

The OBS is both a state office and a research unit affiliated with the new School of Biological Sciences at the University of Oklahoma. Established in 1927, our ongoing mission is to consolidate expertise and information on biodiversity with an emphasis on the plants and animals of the state of Oklahoma. Through coordinated research and monitoring, the OBS compiles detailed information on biological communities in the state and surrounding regions while enhancing our general understanding of ecology and natural history for the benefit of the scientific community, elected officials, and the public. The OBS is home to the Bebb Herbarium, the largest plant collection in the state, the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory which documents and tracks species of concern, and the Oklahoma Natural Registry program that partners with landowners to advance conservation efforts. The OBS contributes to the scientific community of the University of Oklahoma and beyond through innovative research that advances a multitude of areas within the biological and environmental sciences while bringing external funding to the university and fostering expertise needed to confront present and future challenges.

This position is a 12-month appointment, and it offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience as well as a startup package and generous benefits including paid leave, health coverage, life insurance, and retirement funds. Starting date is expected to be in the August of 2025 or January of 2026.