Visiting Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Visiting Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Salary

$65,000.00 - $75,000.00 Annually

Location

DSU Main Campus, 1200 N Dupont Highway, Dover

Job Type

9 Month Faculty

Job Number

2025-00437

Division

CAST

Opening Date

08/03/2026

• Description
• Benefits

General Description of the Position

THIS IS A 100% GRANT FUNDED POSITION

The Visiting Assistant Professor in Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, and Aquaculture is a full-time position related to coastal environmental and water resources research at Delaware State University (DSU), College of Agriculture, Science and Technology. The position is a yearly appointment at the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor with 60% of time devoted to research and 40% of time devoted to teaching and student experiential learning coordination efforts for both EPSCOR and NOAA LMRCSC Programs. This is a non-tenured professional staff position. The Visiting Assistant Professor supports the project director for EPSCOR and NOAA LMRCSC programs, focusing on coastal water quality monitoring, nutrient dynamics, ecological assessments of the various estuarine and coastal research sites, and environmental microbiology. Proficiency in both field and laboratory research is required, including coordination with the research team (technicians, scientists, and students). The Visiting Assistant Professor has knowledge working with aquatic species (i.e. fish, oyster, crab), background proficient with environmental sampling, water and soil nutrient testing, as well as analytical skills and knowledge in environmental microbiology.

Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

• Help with planning and organizing field research activities.
• Monitor, collect, and properly store environmental samples.
• Analyze water, sediment, oyster, and fish samples.
• Use and calibrate field and laboratory tools and equipment.
• Prepare stock and working solutions in the laboratory for water quality and other environmental microbiology and ecological assessments.
• Study environmental and spatial characteristics of Delaware and Maryland coasts.
• Possess the background to understand the relationship between physical, biological, and chemical water quality analyses in relation to land use activities.
• Assist with ordering laboratory supplies and managing the laboratory.
• Capable of troubleshooting problems that occur during experiments.
• Assist the project director with student training and mentoring.
• Assist the project director with data analysis and statistical assessment.
• Involve in literature collection and writing scientific publications and project reports.
• Assist the project director with public outreach activities related to both programs.
• Assist the project director with laboratory hands-on training activities of the students.
• Assist project director with mentoring students in the field testing and analyses.
• Teach one course per academic semester in the expert field.
• Coordinate both EPSCOR and NOAA LMRCSC program students with various research plans, field and lab sampling.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:

• Prior field experience, especially working on boats and/in estuarine systems or other water bodies. The incumbent must work well in a group, as well as individually.
• Experience in physical and chemical water quality, using and calibrating environmental sonde highly sought, and must be familiar with the laboratory techniques for environmental microbiology.
• Good computer and troubleshooting skills are beneficial as well. Experience with laboratory nutrient sampling technique and oyster/fish/crab is requirement.
• Enthusiastic about the long-term position and willingness to learn new research techniques is admirable. The research requires long hours of sampling during the field season and requires flexibility in availability.
• Must know how to drive and have a proven experience working on the boat and in the field.
• Demonstrated coursework in research methodology, particularly in experimental design, survey student progress tracking, or related experimental methodologies.
• Strong interest in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
• The ability to work on campus at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware as well as other research locations in Kent and Sussex counties.
• Demonstrated potential to contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills and proficiency with statistical software.
• Strong communication skills appropriate for multiple audiences (e.g., technical, non-technical, students)
• Demonstrated potential to contribute to interdisciplinary teams.

Qualification Standards

Education: Ph.D. degree in the field of Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries, Marine Biology, Aquaculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or related field.

Performance Standards & EEO Statement

The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Quality of Work
• Productivity and Efficiency
• Knowledge and Skills
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Compliance and Professional Conduct

EEO Statement

Delaware State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship or disability, veteran or military status, gender identity or genetic information. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. The University is committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, career advancement, and all other employment practices.

Equal opportunity employer/program and "auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

To learn more details, visit the Delaware State University Benefits Page and the State of Delaware benefits page.

Employer Delaware State University

Address 1200 N. Dupont HWY

Dover, Delaware, 19901

Phone (302) 857-6261

Website https://www.desu.edu/about/administration/human-resources