Academic Jobs Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
in: AcademicJobSearch

Changes: Ecology (includes organismal and environmental science)

Back to page
Edit
m (5 revisions)
m (5 revisions)

Revision as of 00:10, 6 March 2009

 Add all entries ALPHABETICALLY

 Important Information and Updates

  • Please read and follow the instructions for this wiki.
  • The table formatting is very important for correct sorting.
  • Please take the time to get it right, it is as simple as copying and pasting for new entries!!


2007-2008 Archive

  • This is the wiki for all jobs with a deadline after July 1, 2008.
  • Jobs with application deadlines prior to July 1, 2008 should be updated at the archived wiki page.
  • The archived 2007-2008 ecology job wiki is available HERE.


Jump to Schools Starting with the Letter...

Example A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z





 Surveys

ABOUT YOU
Update to help keep track of how many people use/edit this site
  • On the market: 99
  • Administering a search: 1
  • Lurking: 2
 If "on the market" now, what is your current position?
  • ABD graduate student: 6
  • Postdoc, primarily research: 68
  • Postdoc, dual research/teaching: 5
  • Federal Postdoc or Term Postion: 2
  • Academia (adjunct or non-tenure-track, primarily research): 3
  • Academia (adjunct or non-tenure-track, primarily teaching): 12
  • Academia (tenure-track, untenured): 6
  • Academia (tenured): 0
  • Private sector or Government: 3
  • Other: 0
 How many years total have you been actively on the market?
  • 1 (this is my first year): 24
  • 2: 37
  • 3-4: 22
  • 5-6: 3
  • > 6: 0
 Sex
  • Male: 63
  • Female: 42
  • Decline to answer: 0
YOUR JOB SEARCH
How many jobs did you apply for this year?
  • 1-3: 18
  • 4-6: 20
  • 7-9: 11
  • 10-15: 32
  • 16-20: 15
  • 21-30: 4
  • > 30: 4
 Phone Interviews
  • no interview so far: 5
  • 1 interview so far: 12
  • 2 interviews so far: 2
  • 3 interviews so far: 3
  • 4 interviews so far: 1
  • 5 interviews so far: 2
  • 6-7 interviews so far: 0
  • 8-10 interviews so far: 0
  • > 10: 0
 Campus Interviews
  • no interview so far: 54
  • 1 interview so far: 31
  • 2 interviews so far: 11
  • 3 interviews so far: 6
  • 4 interviews so far: 1
  • 5 interviews so far: 0
  • 6-7 interviews so far: 1
  • 8-10 interviews so far: 0
  • > 10: 0
 Are you searching with a spouse/partner also looking for an academic ecology/evolution/environmental position?
  • Yes: 8
  • No: 79
  • Yes academic, but not a biologist 11
  • Yes biologist, but not academic 1
 Job Search Results
  • Multiple offers, one accepted: 0
  • Single offer, accepted: 10
  • Offer made, but not accepted. Try again next year: 2
  • No offers. Try again next year: 17
  • No offers. Done searching for an academic job: 4
YOUR PUBLICATIONS
How many total publications do you have (e.g., including author #10 out of 20)?
  • None at all: 0
  • None but some in review: 0
  • 1-3: 9
  • 4-6: 19
  • 7-9: 35
  • 10-12: 18
  • 13-15: 14
  • 16-50: 9
  • > 50: 2
 How many first-author publications do you have?
  • None at all: 0
  • None but some in review: 0
  • 1: 1
  • 2-3: 20
  • 4-5: 32
  • 6-8: 31
  • 9-10: 11
  • 11-25: 8
  • 26-50: 1
  • > 50: 1
 How many first-author publications did you have at the time you earned your PhD?
  • None at all: 6
  • None but some in review: 6
  • 1: 20
  • 2-3: 40
  • 4-5: 18
  • 6-8: 9
  • 9-10: 1
  • > 10: 3
  • > 20: 1


 Instructions

  • Please follow the formatting and order of entries in the example row.
  • For correct sorting of tables, please format dates as YYYY-MM-DD (two digits for month and day, e.g., 01 for January).
  • If Javascript is enabled, you should be able to sort the tables by school or dates, just click on the arrows in the column header..
  • The final column for updates allows for lots of flexibility and a variety of entries. If any entry categories are missing, please add them to the example row...


EDITING EXISTING ENTRIES

For EXISTING entries, change the date of most recent news and add your updates as a bullet point in the final column.

  • Do not erase any existing information.
  • All updates are bullet points on a new line starting with an asterisk *. For each university, add the new updates to the END of their respective updates list.






 Job Table

University

(alphabetical order)

Job Title Specialty - Department

(# of positions if >1)

Date of Most Recent News

Application Deadline (always first)

Updates (date - update)

Other Job Details

! Example - do not erase !

AAA University of Brilliant Thoughts

! Example - do not erase !

Thinker -
Dept. of Random Thoughts
(2 positions)

! Example !

YYYY-MM-DD

! Example - do not erase !

  • YYYY-MM-DD - Application deadline (job posting on dept. website, Science Careers, etc)
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Application deadline extended (original 2998-01-01, new 2999-01-01)
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Short/long list made or contacted by email or telephone
  • YYYY-MM-DD - References contacted by email or telephone
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Phone interviews scheduled (May 2-4, 10 candidates)
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Campus interviews scheduled (late May, 4 candidates, job talks)
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Rejection letter (notified by snail mail or email, 100+ applicants)
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Search canceled, failed, or deferred to next year
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Offer made, rejected, or accepted

 

  • Open until Filled
  • Tenure-track (assistant or associate professor)
  • Lecturer or non-tenure track (one semester, 10 months, 2 years)
  • Appointment (8, 9, 10 or 12 months)
  • Teaching load (2 classes/semester, 4hrs/wk)
  • Jane Smith hired (background in environmental policy)

 

  • Applied: 1 of 112 (1 wiki applicant out of 112 known applicants)
  • ShortList: 1 of 10 (1 wiki applicant short-listed out of 10 known short-listed applicants)
  • PhoneInt: 1 of 5 (1 wiki applicant interviewed out of 5 total phone interviews)
  • CampusInt: 1 of 3 (1 wiki appplicant invited for campus interview out of 3 known invitees)
  • Offered:

Adelphi University Biology 2009-01-05
  • 2008-11-10 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-17 - Received Rejection Letter stating I didn't make short list
  • 2009-01-05 - Campus interview scheduled for early March
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:2
  • PhoneInt:2
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Albright Ecophysiology 2009-01-22
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-04 - Short list made - Notices (rejection letters) not going out until search is closed.
  • 2008-11-16 - First round of interviews.
  • 2008-12-01 - Offers being made
  • 2009-01-22 - Rejection letter by mail received
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Alfred University Environmental Science 2009-03-05
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-02-02 - Email scheduling phone interviews: 2/3-2/5
  • 2009-02-04 - Campus interviews scheduled for week of Feb 16th
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:2
  • PhoneInt:2
  • CampusInt:3
  • Offered:
Arcadia Biology 2009-01-02
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-02 - Short list notified by email. However, search may not continue due to budget constraints.
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Arkansas State University Aquatic Ecology 2009-02-21
  • 2008-02-20 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 4 of 36
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Austin Peay University Aquatic Biology 2008-12-18
  • 2008-11-10 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-08 - scheduling phone interviews for Dec 15-17.
  • 2008-12-18 - Plan to schedule/complete on-campus interviews early in the spring semester.
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Baylor University Environmental Science 2009-02-06
  • 2008-10-03 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-14 - Phone interview
  • 2009-02-06 - Spoke to SC, 2 candidates have been interviewed but no contract agreement has yet been signed. Search remains open.
  • Tenure-track, assistant professor
  • Applied: 5
  • ShortList: 5
  • PhoneInt: 4
  • CampusInt: 0 of 2
  • Offered:
Benedictine University Organismal Biology -
Dept. of Biological Sciences 		2009-01-20
  • Open until Filled
  • Tenure-track, Assistant Professor
  • 2008-10-20 - Phone interviews scheduled for week of 10/20
  • 2008-10-23 - Rejection email received
  • 2009-01-20 - Rejection email received. Successful candidate selected.
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Boston College Biology (4 positions) 2009-02-24
  • 2008-12-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-26 - Letters requested
  • 2009-01-30 - HR self-identification form received: "Your application is being processed"
  • 2 Non-tenure track appointments with 3 yr renewable contracts
  • Applied:3
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:n/a/ for non-TT
  • CampusInt:1 for non-TT
  • Offered:
Boston University Marine Biologist /Evolutionary Ecologist 2009-01-15
  • 2008-12-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-15 Rejection letter received by email- 75 applications total
  • Tenure-track, assistant professor
  • Applied:8 of 75
  • ShortList:2
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Boston University Carbon Cycle Science, Geography & Environment 2009-03-04
  • 2008-12-15- Application deadline
  • Tenure-track, assistant professor
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList: Dec. 23
  • PhoneInt:none
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:1
Bradley University Biology 2009-03-05
  • 2008-11-14 - Application Deadline
  • 2009-01-20 Campus interviews first two weeks of Feb
  • Visiting Instructor Position, teach ecology and genetics
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:not conducted
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:2, exploding deadline excluded 1st choice
Brock University Ecology/Evolution 2009-02-06
  • 2009-01-12 - Application Deadline
  • 2009-02-06 - Dept web site states "Due to pre-emptive budget cut-backs, this position has been put on hold."
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Brown University Center for Environmental Studies 2008-12-30
  • 2009-01-15 - Application Deadline [1]
  • 3 year Visiting Assistant Professor, teach environmental studies
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Bryant University Biology 2009-02-03
  • 2008-11-04 - Open until filled
  • 2009-02-03 - Called Human Resources, and I was informed that they are currently interviewing candidates. Search Chair did not respond to email.
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Bryn Mawr Ecology (modeling) 2008-12-27
  • 2008-09-24 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-20 - Shortlisted applicants emailed to ask for additional information
  • 2008-10-31 - Interview offers emailed
  • 2008-12-27 - Position filled
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

California State University, Stanislaus Marine Biologist - Department of Biological Sciences 2008-12-01
  • 2008-11-14 - Application deadline higheredjobs
  • 2008-11-14 - University president has placed a hiring freeze on the campus.
  • 2008-12-01 - Official letter from the search chair confirming hiring freeze
  • Applied:5
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Aquatic Ecosystems 2009-01-15
  • 2008-09-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-01 - Reference letters requested
  • 2008-12-12 - Campus interviews scheduled for January
  • 2009-01-15 - Rejection letter
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: n/a
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
Case Western Reserve University Plant Community Ecology -
Biology Dept. 		2008-12-16
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline AcademicCareers
  • Phone interviews requested
  • Rejection via email (post phone interview)
  • Campus interviews requested
  • Appointment at the Assistant Professor level is preferred, but more senior appointments will be considered.
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 2
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Castleton State College Botany -
2009-01-22
  • 2008-12-31- Application deadline
  • 2009-01-22- Notification of application receipt via snail mail
  • 2009-01-22- Phone interviews scheduled
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Chatham University Conservation Biology 2009-03-05
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-19 - Field narrowed to approximately 10 (email)
  • 2009-02-17 - According to HR, they are still accepting applications. Re-advertisement went out recently.
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList: 0 of 10
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:3
  • Offered:1
City College of NY (CCNY/CUNY) Molecular Ecologist 2008-12-01
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • Applied:3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
The Claremont Colleges Dean of Joint Science 2008-12-14
  • Open Until Filled (search to be completed by March 2009) Chronicle
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Clark University Vertebrate Biology 2008-12-16
  • 2008-10-22 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-16 - Search canceled due to poor economy
  • Applied: 4
Coastal Carolina University Animal Physiologist - Department of Biology 2009-02-14
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-13 - Search suspended until January due to budgetary constraints
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Coastal Carolina University Marine Biologist– Department of Biology 2009-02-13
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline [2]
  • 2008-12-30 - Search suspended until mid-January due to budgetary constraints
  • 2009-02-13- Official letter from search chair stating the position will not be filled this year and the search is suspended indefinitely due to budget cutbacks in the state of SC
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
College of the Atlantic Botany 2008-12-12
  • 2008-11-07 - Review of applications begins
  • 2008-12-12 - Received letter in mail indicating the search has been suspended "until we have a clearer sense of how this crisis will affect our budget for the next academic and fiscal year"
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
College of New Jersey Organismal Biology -
Department of Biology 		2009-02-19
  • 2008-09-15 - Review of applications begins
  • 2008-10-20 - Phone interviews scheduled for week of 20 October.
  • Rejection letter via email - on-campus interviews are completed
  • 2008-12-20 - Offer accepted - search complete
  • 2009-02-19 - Received email today stating that "in light of the excellent pool of candidates we obtained we are now in a position to potentially hire a second organismal biologist"
  • 2009-02-19 - They had two other searches going, so my guess is that one (or both) of them failed and they're going back to the organismal search with the freed up funds. It sounds like a great place so good luck to those in the running!
  • 2009-02-19 - They are doing the same thing with the geneticist position that they advertised and filled. It looks like their search for a Biology Education position may have failed, since they're now looking for someone to teach interdisciplinary science courses for the elementary education majors, among other things. My guess is they're hoping to pull from the Organismal and Genetics pools to fill this one position.
  • Applied:7
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:1
College of William and Mary Conservation Biology - Department of Biology 2008-12-15
  • 2008-11-01 - unofficial Application deadline
  • 2008-11-08 - search is reportedly on hold for budget reasons
  • 2008-12-12 - Campus interviews scheduled for late Jan/early Feb
  • 2009-02-18 - Top candidate has been offered position
  • Applied: 8
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1 of 3
  • Offered:
College of William and Mary Marine Invertebrate Zoology - Department of Biology 2009-01-15
  • 2008-10-27 - Application deadline
  • search is apparently going forward, in spite of budget
  • 2008-12-11 - Phone interviews scheduled
  • 2008-12-31 - Campus interviews scheduled for late Feb/early Mar
  • 2009-01-15 - Received rejection email
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 2
  • CampusInt: 1 of 4
  • Offered:
Colorado College Animal Biologist 2008-11-03
  • 2008-09-30 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-27 - Phone interview
  • 2008-11-03 - Scheduling campus interviews
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Connecticut College Plant Physiology 2008-11-19
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-20 - First cut made
  • 2008-11-19 - Interviews began last week
  • 2009-01-12 - Offer made, declined
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList: 2
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered: 1
Cornell University Center for a Sustainable Future, Climate Change Initiative, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2009-02-09
  • 2009-02-09 - Application deadline
  • Two assistant or associate professor positions-open department
  • Atmospheric Science and Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
  • Applied: 1 (BGC)
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Cornell University Dept of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology 2008-11-15
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Senior Marine Scientist I 2009-02-11
  • 2008-12-15 - Application deadline [3]
  • 2009-02-11 - References contacted by email; Letters requested
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
DePauw University Ecologist - Biology 2008-12-17
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-17 - Invited for campus interview in early Feb
  • 2009-2-22 - interviewed on campus Feb 5,6; final candidate was supposedly Feb 9,10;
  • Applied: 6
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Eastern Connecticut State University Assistant Professor - Ecology 2008-12-31
  • 2008-10-10 - Application deadline (EcoLog)
  • 2008-10-29 - Phone interviews scheduled
  • 2008-11-26 - 4 candidates invited for campus interviews
  • 2008-12-31 - Offer made and accepted
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1 of 4
  • Offered:
Eastern Connecticut State University Assistant Professor - Invertebrate Zoology 2009-01-23
  • 2008-12-18 - Ad posted online; "open until filled" HigherEd Jobs
  • 2009-01-23 - Email stating that due to a hiring freeze on state agencies in Connecticut the search has been terminated; Applications will be kept on file for a year in the hopes that the position will be restored.
  • Applied:2
Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Professor - Aquatic Invertebrate Zoology 2009-03-04
  • 2009-01-14 - Application deadline
  • 2009-02-03 - References contacted
  • 2009-02-04 - Phone interviews
  • Hiring freeze: According to Search Chair, this position has been approved by admin.
  • Campus interviews are on hold until Botany search is completed. Will start bringing candidates to campus week of March 2nd.
  • 2009-03-04 - still interviewing
  • ShortList: 2 of 6
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 0 of 3-4
  • Offered:
Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Professor - vertebrate morphologist/physiologist 2009-02-03
Emory University Assistant Professor - Environmental studies 2008-12-12
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-05 - Reference letters requested
  • 2008-11-13 - Rejected by email
  • 2008-11-14 - Finalists notified, but also told search is indefinitely on hold for budgetary reasons
  • 2008-11-19 - Rejected by email
  • 2008-12-12 - Search canceled for the year due to economy
  • Applied: 3
Endicott College Assistant Professor - Science 2009-02-02
  • 2008-12-16 - Open until filled
  • Applied: 3
  • 2009-02-02 - Called Human resources - People already invited for interviews.
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Evergreen State College Regular Faculty Member - Sustainable Agriculture 2008-12-31
  • 2009-01-08 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-18 - Came home from a trip abroad to find a letter stating search canceled due to economic crisis.
  • Applied: 1

Florida Atlantic University Wetland Plant Ecologist 2009-03-04
  • 2009-02-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-03-04 - Reference letters requested
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Florida International University Population Geneticist 2009-01-16
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-05 - Letters requested from references
  • 2009-01-16 - email invitation for on-campus interview
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Florida International University Tropical Plant Conservation 2009-02-20
  • 2009-01-15 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-29 - Letters requested from references
  • 2009-02-20 - campus interviews being scheduled
  • Applied:3
  • ShortList:3
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Franklin & Marshall College Evolution/Population Biology/Ecology -
Biology Dept. (2 positions) 		2008-08-08
  • 2008-08-08 - Application deadline (EcoLog)
  • Visiting assistant professor positions starting spring semester 2009
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO Biologist/Environmental Health-
 2008-12-08
  • 2008-11-19 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-08 - Phone Interviews Dec 9-11 (interviewing 6)
  • 2009-12-08 - Campus Interviews 2nd week of January (3 invites)
  • Assistant professor -ecosystem ecology, toxicology, environmental remediation, pollution ecology
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:


George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences; Molecular Biology and Evolution of Organismal Interactions 2009-01-23
  • 2008-11-17 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-17 - Application review will begin and continue until the position is filled.
  • 2009-01-23 - Search committee has made a "long list" of 12 people.
  • 2009-02-19 - 3 candidates being interviewed, end of Feb thru beginning of March
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences; 2 positions: Phylogenetic Biogeography/Co-evolution and Molecular Systematics 2009-01-24
  • 2009-01-02 - Application deadline
  • Applied:3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Grand Valley State University Quantitative Ecologist 2009-03-02
  • 2008-10-20 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-31 - Letters Requested
  • 2009-02-25 - First round of campus interviews failed to produce suitable candidate. Now doing short phone "conversations" prior to a campus interview
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:1 (2nd time round)
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:

Hofstra University Plant Biology 2008-11-24
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-21 email rejection letter - short list made
  • 2008-11-24 email rejection letter
  • Tenure track, assistant professor
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Harvard University FAS Systems Biology- Microbial evolution and ecology 2009-01-14
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • Tenure track, assistant professor
  • 2009-01-14 - FAS-wide hiring freeze eliminated this position- notified by email
  • Applied:
Humboldt State University Associate Dean for Marine Sciences 2008-12-14
  • 2008-12-19 - Application deadline Job Ad
  • Tenured Position
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Humboldt State University Assistant Professor Environmental Resources Engineering 2008-12-05
  • 2008-11-07 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-05 - Had phone interview, never heard back
  • Full time, tenure-track
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Illinois Wesleyan University Vertebrate Biology -
Department of Biology 		2008-10-30
  • 2008-10-01 - Review of applications begins
  • 2008-10-20 - Phone interviews scheduled for Oct. 20 & 24
  • 2008-10-30 - Campus interviews scheduled for November
  • Offer made and accepted
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Iowa State University Ecological/Evolutionary Theorist -
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology 		2009-01-05
  • 2008-10-01 - Review of applications begins
  • 2008-10-24 - Candidates invited for interviews in November
  • 2008-11-10 - Interviewing candidates listed on website
  • 2008-12-10 - Offer made
  • 2009-01-05 - Offer accepted
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

King's College Biology -
 2009-02-11
  • 2008-10-17- Application reviews begin
  • Tenure-Track Assistant professor
  • Phone interviews scheduled 17-19 November
  • On campus interviews first week of December
  • 2009-01-29 - Offer made
  • 2009-02-11 - Offer declined
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered: 1
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Conservation Biology -
Biology 		2009-02-17
  • YYYY-MM-DD - Application deadline (Chronicle)
  • 2008-12-01 - Campus interviews 1st & 2nd week of December
  • 2009-02-17 - Received rejection letter by mail informing me that they have conducted interviews and will offer the position to one of the three interviewee's. Letter was dated Jan 14th and wasn't post marked until Feb 12th!
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:

Lafayette College Conservation Biology 2008-12-16
  • 2008-10-27 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-11 - campus interviews scheduled for February
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: n/a
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
Lake Forest Ecology 2008-11-30
  • 2008-10-21 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-07 - phone interview scheduled
  • 2008-11-25 - scheduling campus interviews for mid-January
  • Applied: 9
  • ShortList:2
  • PhoneInt:2
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Lindenwood University Biology 2009-02-19
  • 2008-11-01 - Application review begins
  • 2008-12-12 - Phone interview
  • 2008-12-12 - Campus interviews in early January
  • 2009-01-29 - Offer Made
  • 2009-02-17 - Offer Accepted
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:1

Marine Biological Laboratory- Ecological Genomics and Molecular Evolution
 2008-12-10
  • 2008-11-01 Application Due
  • 2008-12-10- scheduling campus interviews
  • Assistant/ Associate/ Senior Scientist
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Marlboro College Animal Biology -
 2009-03-05
  • 2008-11-17 Application Due
  • 2008-12-22 - First cut; phone interviews 12/22-23
  • 2008-12-30 - Scheduling campus interviews; interviews 2/23 -3/6
  • 2009-03-05 - still interviewing, "very happy with the candidates so far"
  • Interdisciplinary teaching position
  • Applied: 5
  • ShortList: 4
  • PhoneInt: 4
  • CampusInt: 2
  • Offered:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Civil and Environmental Engineering (multiple positions) 2008-12-05
  • 2008-12-01 - Application Due MIT Job Listing
  • All areas of CEE (includes microbial evolution/ecology)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
McDaniel College Invertebrate Biologist - Department of Biology 2008-12-22
  • 2008-10-27 - Application deadline
  • Interviews being scheduled
  • 2008-12-02 - In process of interviewing candidates through the end of this week
  • 2008-12-22 - Position filled
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Miami University, Ohio Ecosystem Ecology 2008-11-14
  • 2008-12-01 - Application reviews begin
  • 2008-11-14 - Heard from secretary that position is "frozen" and will not be filled this year
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied:1
Michigan State University Sustainability of Rural Landscapes -
Kellogg Biological Station
Dept. of Sociology 		2008-11-16
  • 2008-12-15 - Application reviews begin (Job Ad)
  • 1 assistant professor, 1 associate/full professor
  • scholarly focus is environmental science and the relationships among ecology, technology, social change and policy
  • areas of emphasis include: socio-ecological issues of agricultural landscapes and production systems, policy issues relevant to ecosystem services (biodiversity and introduced species), coupled human and natural systems, and the sustainability of bio-based economies, including alternative energy
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Michigan State University Plant Ecologist -
Dept. of Plant Biology 		2009-01-16
  • 2008-11-17 - Application reviews begin (Science Careers)
  • Interviews in January/early February
  • 2009-01-16 - Rejection via email
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
Michigan State University Grazing Ecologist for Pasture Systems -
Kellogg Biological Station 		2008-08-27
  • 2008-09-02 - Application reviews begin (Job Ad)
  • Assistant or associate professor
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Michigan Technological University Aquatic Ecologist 2008-11-29
  • 2008-12-01 - Application reviews begin, open until filled (Job Ad)
  • 2009-01-29 - Short Listed candidates contacted for phone interview
  • 2009-01-30 - Phone interviews with short-listed candidates
  • 2009-02-14 - On-campus interviews scheduled with 3 finalists for end of Feb/early Mar
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied:6
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:1 of 3
  • Offered:


Michigan Technological University Wildlife Ecologist 2009-01-16
  • 2008-11-01 - Application reviews begin, open until filled
  • Assistant professor
  • (Job ad)
  • On campus interviews for 3 candidates occurred during first two weeks of January.
  • 2009-01-16 Received rejection letter
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 3
  • Offered:
Mississippi State University, Dept of Biological Sciences Broad search -- molecular ecologist, etc 2009-02-11
  • 2009-01-15 - Application reviews begin
  • 2009-01-23 - Phone interview scheduled for the week of Jan 26th.
  • 2009-02-11 - Campus interview scheduled for February / March.
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
Montclair State University, NJ Aquatic Ecologist 2008-11-19
  • Open until Filled
  • 2008-10-29 - Phone Interviews 10-29 & 10-30-2008
  • 2008-11-19 - Campus interviews 1st & 2nd week of December
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList: 4
  • PhoneInt: 4
  • CampusInt: 2
  • Offered:

Nevada State College Biology 2009-01-02
  • 2008-10-15 - Original application deadline - Deadline has been extended
  • 2009-01-02 - Search cancelled due to budget constraints
  • Teaching school - microbiology, genetics, evolution
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied:3
New Mexico State University Ecologist 2009-01-23
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-23 - Email sent to short-listed candidates asking for letters of reference to be sent and 2 PDFs of publications
  • Applied: 26
  • ShortList: 8 of 20
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
The New School Ecology, with a focus on urban ecosystems -
Science, Technology & Society program of Eugene Lang College 		2008-08-01
  • Open until Filled (Herc)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
North Carolina State University Multiple positions in biology 2009-01-28
  • 2008-11-14 - Application deadline (SCB)
  • 2008-11-25 - References contacted for letters, including some ecologists
  • 2008-12-09 - Over 800 applications received
  • 2008-12-11 - From the search chair: a long list of 30 has been made and a short list of 10 will be made tomorrow (12/12). (I'm not on either list, so I don't know if the long/short list candidates have been notified; just figured I'd pass along what I heard when I enquired about the search status)
  • 2008-12-18 - Interviews scheduled (8 candidates for 3 positions)
  • 2009-01-04 - Surprising given the above, I just received an email stating that I made the short list of 48 out of a pool of nearly 800 applicants (!) and that they hope to finalize their interview list by the end of the month
  • 2009-01-28 - Rejection by email
  • - Were you on the shortlist?
  • - No
  • Applied: 26 of 800+
  • ShortList: 4 of 48
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Northeastern Illinois University Biology - Ecologist 2008-12-10
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline (University website)
  • 2008-12-10 - Phone interviews scheduled for Dec. 17 & 18
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Notre Dame Clare Boothe Luce Professorship for Women in Science and Mathematics 2008-12-05
  • 2008-12-05 - Application deadline
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Pace University Biology 2008-12-12
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline (higheredjobs)
  • 2008-12-12 Received >100 applications, and will be reviewing them over next two months.
  • Tenure-track, assistant professor
  • Applied: 4 of 100+
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Penn State Abington Ecologist 2008-08-24
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Point Loma Nazarene University Biology -
Department of Biology 		2008-09-27
  • Open until Filled (Science Careers)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Portland State University Ecology- Biology Dept 2009-02-10
  • 2009-01-09 - Application deadline
  • Assistant professor (PSU)
  • 2009-01-22 - Letters of recommendation requested by SC
  • could you explain this last update? The letters were required with the application so I'm not sure what you mean when you say that they were requested... Did you not submit them originally?
  • 2009-01-23 - I got the email asking for letters, too. I already sent my letters, and I know all 3 were sent (my letter writers are very responsible). So I am not sure what's going on.
  • 2009-01-23 - PSU advertised in several locations. At least one of the ads asked for references to send letters, and another ad did not ask for reference letters. This is why there is a discrepancy between posts.
  • 2009-01-29 - phone interview requested
  • 2009-02-09 - rejection letter received by mail
  • 2009-02-10 - scheduling campus interviews
  • Applied: 23
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 2
  • CampusInt: 2 of 3
  • Offered:
Portland State University Environmental Science and Management Dept 2008-12-19
  • 2009-02-20 - Application deadline (PSU)
  • Assistant professor
  • search open, but with preference for environmental modeling, statistics, hydrology, management and/or global climate change
  • Applied: 8
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Biology 2008-12-04
  • Open until Filled - review of applications upon receipt
  • Assistant, associate, or full professor
  • Search on hold because of hiring freeze. Might re-open in spring. (email)
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Rider University Environmental Science -
Dept. of Geological, Environmental, and Marine Sciences 		2009-01-15
  • 2008-09-15 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Tenure-track (assistant or associate professor)
  • Teaching load (six sections (18 contact hours) per year)
  • 2008-10-03 - 1st cut made
  • 2008-11-18 - In the process of interviewing top 4 candidates
  • 2009-01-15 - Offer accepted; >70 applications
  • Applied: 6 of 70+
  • ShortList: 3
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1 of 4
  • Offered:
Rutgers University Post Doctoral Researcher - Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources 2008-10-11
  • Open until Filled - (lab announcement)
  • focus in mathematical modeling of epidemiology and evolutionary sociobiology
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Salem College Biology 2008-10-20
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • Assistant Professor
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
San Jose State University Vertebrate Ecology 2008-12-01
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • Assistant Professor
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego Multiple Positions: Oceans & Atmosphere Section (1-2), Earth Section (1-2), Biology Section (1) 2009-01-05
  • 2009-01-15 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Shippensburg University Botanist 2008-12-16
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-16 - Phone interviews requested
  • Assistant/Associate Professor of Biology
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Simon Fraser University Liber Ero Chair in Coastal Studies - Faculty of Science 2008-08-29
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Smith College Terrestrial Plant Biology -
 2008-12-17
  • 2008-10-31 - Application reviews begin
  • 2008-12-17 - Campus interviews requested
  • Tenure-Track Assistant professor
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Southern Utah University Biology (2 positions) 2008-11-04
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • Assistant/associate professor
  • 2008-10-23 - Phone interviews scheduled for Vertebrate Biology position
  • 2008-11-07 - Rejection letter received
  • 2008-11-04 - Campus interviews scheduled for Vertebrate Biology position
  • 2009-01-28 - Offer extended for Vertebrate biology position, offer accepted.
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered: 1
St. Ambrose University Ecology -
Biology 		2009-02-24
  • 2008-11-14 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered: Offer accepted 2-4-2009
St. Mary's College Environmental Studies 2008-12-02
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-02 - ". . . regretfully, I must tell you that the position has been frozen because of the economic situation. I received word of that from our Provost last week . . . We are disappointed but have hopes that the search can be re-opened next year."
  • Applied: 1
St. Mary's Univsersity Biological Sciences 2009-02-11
  • 2009-02-11- Open Until Filled (HigherEdJobs0
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
St. Joseph College Biology 2009-02-04
  • 2009-02-04 - Application deadline Jan 27 - Tenure track assistant professor
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Stony Brook University Ecological/Evolutionary Statistics & Plant Ecology (2 positions) 2008-12-05
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Searches have been cancelled due to the bad economy but they are still accepting applications just in case
  • 2008-12-05 Plant Ecology search officially canceled
  • Applied: 7
SUNY New Paltz Aquatic Biology 2008-11-10
  • 2008-09-30 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-16 - phone interviews scheduled
  • 2008-11-07 - campus interviewees invited (interviews late Nov & early Dec)
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:

Temple University Ecology 2008-11-08
  • Open until Filled
  • 2008-11-08 Interviews being scheduled for late January, but applications still being accepted
  • Open rank
  • Applied:6
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1 of 4
  • Offered:
Texas A&M International University Assistant Professor Positions in the Areas of Environmental Biology, Botany, and Genetics (3 Positions) 2009-02-20
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline (HigherEdJobs)
  • Applied:1 (Environmental Biology)
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Towson University Assistant Professor Position in Biotechnology 2009-02-20
  • 2009-01-26 - Application deadline
  • 2009-02-02 - e-mail regarding status (completeness) of application (rare!!)
  • 2009-02-07 - Shortlist notification via e-mail
  • 2009-02-13 - Phone interview
  • 2009-02-20 - e-mail regarding on campus interview, during 2nd week of March
  • Applied: 1/77
  • ShortList: 1/12
  • PhoneInt: 1/12
  • CampusInt: 1/3
  • Offered:
Trent University Professorship in Aquatic Science 2009-02-22
  • 2009-03-01 - Application deadline [4]
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Trinity University Biology (2 positions, animal behavior and evolutionary biology) 2008-12-05
  • 2008-10-10 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-10 - interviews scheduled (Nov 12 - Dec 11, 5 candidates)
  • 2008-12-05 - Contacted for an interview for Evolution position in January
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied:5
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Tufts University International Energy and Environmental Policy -
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy 		2008-08-01
  • 2008-08-01 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Tulane University Ecology or Evolution (3 positions) 2008-11-10
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline (Science magazine)
  • 2008-10-22 - Letters requested from references (Comp ecol/evol search)
  • 2008-11-10 - interviewees invited (Comp ecol/evol search)
  • Applied: 14
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:

Unity College Wildlife Biology 2008-12-31
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Alaska Southeast Biology and Marine Biology 2009-02-23
  • 2009-01-16 - Application deadline (Chronicle of Higher Education)
  • 2009-02-12 - rejection letter received via email - stated hire had been made
  • 2009-02-23 - rejection letter received via email: "you were not advanced to the next stage of the selection process."
  • 2009-02-25 - request for phone interview
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:2
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Arizona Environmental/Evolutionary Genomics 2009-01-17
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-17 - Short list of 6 candidates, interviews scheduled
  • Applied:3
  • ShortList: 0 of 6
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Arkansas Little Rock Animal Physiological Ecology -
Dept. of Biology 		2009-02-20
  • 2008-08-15 - Application deadline (ESA)
  • 2009-02-20 - notified by committee chair that the positions was in limbo and they may start moving on it in March. Still might get frozen out.
  • 2009-02-20 - This position was just re-advertised in the latest Science.
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of British Columbia 3 positions: Molecular/Biochemistry/Ecology -
Dept. of Botany and Zoology 		2009-01-15
  • 2009-01-15 - Application deadline
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of California, Davis Terrestrial Vertebrate Conservation Ecology 2009-02-04
  • 2008-12-19 - Application deadline (UCDavis)
  • 2008-11-13 - Letters requested from references
  • 2008-12-02 - Letters requested from references
  • 2009-02-04 - Campus interviews scheduled
  • 2009-02-14 - Campus interview list published http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/
  • Applied: 8
  • ShortList: 2 of 5
  • CampusInt: 2 of 5
  • Offered:
University of California, Irvine Environment Institute: Global Change and Sustainable Resources 2009-01-09
  • 2009-01-12 - Application deadline [5]
  • 2009-02-04 - recommendation letters requested by e-mail to applicant, due 13 Feb
  • Applied:6
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of California, Merced School of Natural Sciences: Disease Ecology 2009-03-01
  • 2008-11-21 - Application deadline - Tenure track assistant professor
  • 2009-03-01 - letters sent out canceling search due to poor economy
University of California, Riverside Evolution/Microbiology 2008-12-19
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline (UCRiverside) (EvolDir)
  • 2008-12-19 - spoke to search chair. hiring freeze; position suspended for this year
  • Applied:
University of California, Santa Barbara Evolution/Genomics 2008-12-09
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline (UCSB) (EvolDir)
  • 2008-11-10 - Letters requested
  • 2008-12-09 - interviews scheduled
  • Applied:5
  • ShortList:2
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of California, Santa Cruz Comparative Vertebrate Physiology - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Dept 2008-11-01
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline [6]
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of California, San Diego Ecology/evolution 2008-12-20
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-09 - Interviews scheduled
  • 2008-12-20 - Top candidate has been offered the job
  • Applied: 18
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Chicago Dept Ecology & Evolution 2009-02-03
  • 2009-01-15 - Application deadline
  • 2009-02-03 - Talked to search chair--search has been cancelled due to hiring freeze
  • Applied: 6
University of Cincinnati Environmental Stress in Integrative Biology 2008-12-15
  • 2008-11-30 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-15 - Interviews scheduled for January. 6 candidates for the two positions (env. stress and dev. biology)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1 of 6
  • Offered: Offer made
University of Colorado, Boulder Plant Systematics/Botany Curator 2009-01-01
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • Assistant or associate professor, joint position in museum and EEB
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Biology 2009-01-13
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-08 - Phone interviews scheduled weeks for 12/8 and 12/15
  • 2008-12-19 - Scheduling in-person interviews for late Jan, early Feb
  • 2009-01-13 - rejection letter received by email
  • Assistant professor, No specialization indicated; teach evolution
  • Applied:5
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Colorado, Denver Evolutionary Genetics 2008-12-10
  • 2008-12-10 - Application deadline
  • Tenure-track, assistant professor
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Denver Global Change Biologist - Department of Biological Sciences 2009-01-15
  • 2008-11-26 - Application deadline (ScienceJobs)
  • 2009-01-15 - Interviews in February
  • Applied:4
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1 of 4
  • Offered:
University of Findlay Population Biology/Animal Biology - Biology Dept. 2008-12-11
  • 2009-01-14 - Application deadline (ScienceJobs)
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered: 10 Feb 09 position offered
University of Hawaii, Hilo Faculty member in Geography and Environmental Studies 2008-11-05
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline
  • tenure-track position
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Hawaii, Honolulu Plant community ecology/Functional plant ecology -
Dept. of Botany (2 positions) 		2008-11-25
  • 2008-08-15 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • 2008-10-15 - Received email indicating search canceled for financial reasons
  • 2008-10-25 - Only one of these searches was canceled, the other (functional plant ecology) is going ahead. Interviews have been scheduled, ending early Nov.
  • 2008-11-25 - Job offer made
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Hawaii, Honolulu Terrestrial Ecology
2008-11-10
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-10 - Funding cut, position cancelled
  • Applied:
University of Hartford Biology 2008-12-31
  • 2009-01-12 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: n/a
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
University of Idaho Fire Scientist, Forest Resources Dept 2009-02-01
  • 2009-01-12 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Kentucky Biogeographer, Landscape Ecologist, Geography Dept 2009-03-05
  • 2009-11-12 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science, Appalachian Laboratory 2-3 positins: climate change science, terrestrial biogeochemistry, social & economic dimensions of land-use change 2008-12-16
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-03 - Letters requested
  • 2008-12-16 - 2 positions filled (3rd cut due to budget); 70 applicants, 21 short-listed, 7 interviewed
  • Applied: 4 of 70
  • ShortList: 2 of 21
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1 of 7
  • Offered:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Sensory Biology - Dept. of Biological Sciences 2009-01-12
  • 2008-12-1 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-12 - Campus interview scheduled (4 candidates, Jan-Feb)
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 4
  • Offered:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Conservation Genetics, Dept. of Natural Resources Conservation 2009-02-17
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-27 - Letters requested from references.
  • 2009-02-17 - Top 5 candidates selected, see comments below
  • Applied: 3 of 60
  • CampusInt: 0 of 5
  • Offered:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Aquatic Ecology/Fisheries Science, Dept. of Natural Resources Conservation 2009-02-17
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-27 - Shortlist made
  • 2009-02-17 - Interviewees invited, interviews last week Feb & first week Mar
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • CampusInt: 1 of 5
  • Offered:
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Assistant or Associate Professor of Biology 2009-02-23
  • 2009-01-15 - Application deadline
  • Applied: 3
  • 2009-02-12: Received form letter indicating not all references sent letters (?) and requesting that all references be submitted by 2/15. Had all refs "resend" letters. As of 3/5 haven't heard anything back from them.
  • ShortList:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Michigan Evolutionary Ecology 2009-01-14
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-16 - Interviews scheduled
  • 2009-01-14 - Rejection letter received
  • Applied: 13
  • ShortList:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 6
  • Offered:
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Behavior -
Dept. of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior 		2009-01-28
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-19 - First (?) cut made and reference letters requested for Behavior position (notified by e-mail)-- 25 applicants on the list
  • 2008-12-23 - The letter to the rejects said that there were 123 applicants
  • 2009-01-25 - Received notification by e-mail that I had made shortlist of 10 but would not be invited for an interview
  • 2009-01-28 - Interviews set for second half of February. List is on the department web page. 5 candidates. [7]
  • Applied: 8 of 123
  • ShortList: 3 of 25
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 5
  • Offered:
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Ecology -
Dept. of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior 		2009-02-10
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-22 - reference letters requested (notified by email)
  • 2009-01-05 - first cuts made (email)
  • 2009-01-05 - Rejection via email, "123 applications rigorously reviewed and discussed by search committee"
  • 2009-02-10 - Interviews set for March. List is on the department web page. 5 candidates. [8]
  • Applied: 7 of 123
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 5
  • Offered:
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Evolutionary Biology
Dept Plant Biology 		2009-01-29
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-22 - Contacted to ask for references to be sent
  • 2008-12-27 - (references requested from 15-20 applicants, <20% of total received)
  • 2009-01-29 - Candidates selected for campus interviews
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:4
  • Offered:
University of Missouri, Columbia Ecological Modeling - Biology
 2008-2-09
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline (Science)
  • 2008-2-09 - Looks like the state imposed a hiring freeze last fall [9]
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Montana, Missoula Aquatic Ecologist - Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences 2009-02-01
  • 2008-12-15 - Application deadline (U Montana)
  • 2009-01-17 - References requested and phone interviews scheduled for late January
  • 2009-02-01 - Campus interviews scheduled for early to mid-March
  • Applied: 5
  • ShortList: 2
  • PhoneInt: 1
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
University of Montana, Missoula Evolutionary/Population Geneticist - Organismal Biology and Ecology 2009-01-23
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-14 - Short/long list made (100 best applicants) or contacted by email or telephone
  • [are you sure it was 100 best applicants? By the wording on my email, it seemed to be that they cut 100, which leaves an unknown number longlisted...]
  • 2008-12-14 - Reference letters requested
  • 2008-12-15 - They cut 100; heard that the list is now ~50
  • 2009-01-22 - Got an email requesting demographic information and stating "the search committee will be meeting soon to select candidates for a phone interview"
  • 2009-01-22 - shortlist of 9 selected for phone interview out of 60
  • 2009-01-23 - rejection letter received by email
  • 2009-02-04 - 4 candidates invited for campus interviews
  • Applied:6 of 150
  • ShortList:3 of 60
  • PhoneInt: 0 of 9
  • CampusInt: 0 of 4
  • Offered:
University of Nebraska Plant Organismal Biologist -
 2009-01-30
  • 2008-10-01 - Application reviews begin
  • 2008-11-30 - interviews scheduled for early December
  • Tenure-track Assistant professor
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList: 2
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 3
  • Offered:1
University of New England Plant Biologist -
 2008-10-28
  • 2008-10-15 - Application reviews begin, but just re-advertised again
  • Tenure-track Assistant professor
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of New Hampshire Earth System Science (terrestrial ecosystems) -
 2008-12-30
  • 2009-02-01 - Application reviews begin [10]
  • Research Assistant professor
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of New Haven Marine Biology/Ecology -
 2009-01-23
  • 2008-12-22 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-23 - 3 people selected for on-campus interviews
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: N/A
  • CampusInt: 1/3
  • Offered:
University of New Orleans Ecology or Organismal Biology (2 positions) 2009-01-30
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline (Science magazine)
  • 2009-01-22 - Talked with member of search committee-UNO's budget was cut, both searches frozen, will probably be canceled.
  • 2009-01-30 - Received email stating that search is suspended but approval has been requested for a budget that preserves critical positions, including this one.
  • (hmm, i applied but got no notification of anything!)
  • 2009-02-14 - I also received an email that the search is "NOT cancelled" but it "on hold" while they work out budget issues
  • Applied: 12
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of North Carolina Asheville Animal ecology, evolution, systematics, or behavior 2009-02-16
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline (UNCA)
  • 2008-11-10 - Phone interview
  • 2009-01-23 - Phone interview (200 applicants for this position)
  • Applied: 10 of 200
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:1
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered & Accepted:1
University of North Carolina Greensboro Department of Biology, looking for Ecologist in Environmental Health 2009-01-20
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-20 - Short list of 10 contacted to set up phone interview
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 0 of 10
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Coastal Plant Ecology -
Dept. of Biology and Marine Biology 		2008-11-17
  • 2008-09-29 - Application deadline (EcoLog)
  • 2008-10-28 - Candidates selected for interviews
  • 2008-10-28 - Rejection letter received (notified by email)
  • 2008-11-17 - Candidate seminar titles available online [11]
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: N/A
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Marine Biology- Department of Biology 2009-01-15
  • 2008-11-10 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-21 - Letters requested from references
  • 2008-12-08 - Rejection letter received (email) indicating interview list is set
  • 2009-01-15 - 3 people selected for on-campus interviews out of a 120-person applicant pool
  • Applied: 7/120
  • ShortList: 4/12
  • PhoneInt: N/A
  • CampusInt: 0/3
  • Offered:
University of North Texas Aquatic Sciences- Department of Biology 2008-12-13
  • 2008-11-17 - Application deadline
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Oregon State University Microbiology 2009-02-21
  • 2009-02-21 Assistant prof, environmental microbiology OSU Ad
  • 2009-03-16 Application deadline
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Oregon Molecular Evolutionary Biologist - Department of Biology 2009-02-02
  • 2008-10-17 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-09 - interviews scheduled
  • 2009-02-02 - Finally received rejection email, 200 apps
  • Applied: 4 of 200
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:3
  • Offered:
University of the Pacific Biology (2 positions: terrestrial vertebrate ecologist & molecular biologist) 2008-12-28
  • 2008-11-20 - Review begins (Chronicle) (Chronicle)
  • 2008-12-08 - Phone interviews scheduled (Ecologist; 13 candidates for phone interviews)
  • 2008-12-19 - rejection e-mail received
  • 2008-12-19 - On-campus interviews scheduled for ecology position
  • Applied:6
  • ShortList:3
  • PhoneInt:3
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
University of Pittsburgh Ecology/Evolution 2008-12-10
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-10 - search has been canceled.
  • Applied: 17
University of Portland Plant Biology -
 2009-01-08
  • 2008-10-10- Application reviews begin
  • 2008-12-12 Letters to the candidates will be mailed beginning Dec. 15th
  • 2009-01-08 Rejection letter via email
  • Tenure-Track Assistant professor
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Richmond Field Evolutionary Ecologist - Department of Biology 2009-01-29
  • 2008-10-17 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-12 - Interviews scheduled for January
  • 2008-12-19 - Received rejection e-mail stating that interview candidtates had been selected, and that notice would be sent out once the search was closed.
  • Applied: 10
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered: 1
University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan Marine Biology - Subtropical Island Sciences 2008-10-01
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of San Francisco Biology, targeted to Developmental Bio. or Ecology -
Dept. of Biology 		2009-03-05
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • 2008-11-25 Email stating "...We had an overwhelming response for this position and processing applications is underway. ... ... it is not possible to provide additional [information]."
  • 2009-01-14 - No news, but the job is no longer posted on the USF Jobs web site and the university has a hiring freeze, so my guess is the search has been cancelled.
  • 2009-01-13 Short list established (don't know if candidates contacted yet though)
  • 2009-03-05 Short list established but candidates have not yet been contacted?
  • Applied:8
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of San Francisco 2 jobs in Environmental Science, including landscape ecology -
Dept. of Environmental Science 		2009-01-22
  • 2008-11-01 - Application deadline (USF Jobs)
  • 2008-12-18 - Phone interviews scheduled for early January
  • 2009-01-22 - Phone interviews were conducted in early January; final list will be determined early February; interviews in late February.
  • Applied: 4
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 2
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of South Alabama Terrestrial Vertebrate Ecologist -
 2009-01-07
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline (Science Careers)
  • 2009-01-07 - Position canceled due to state budget cuts
  • Applied: 2
University of South Carolina Conservation Biology/Ecological Forecasting 2008-12-31
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-07 - Campus interviews scheduled
  • 2008-11-26 - candidates posted on departmental website
  • 2008-12-31 - Position canceled due to University budget cuts
  • Applied: 4
University of South Florida Plant Biologist and Spatial Ecologist (2 positions) 2008-12-12
  • 2008-11-21 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-12 - Interviews being scheduled (spatial ecologist) for Jan
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
University of South Florida Instructor in Integrative Biology Section 2009-02-02
  • 2008-11-21 - Application deadline; non-TT, 1-year contracts, renewable
  • 2009-01-20 - Interviews being conducted in Jan
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:not conducted
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
University of Tampa Assistant Professor - Biological Oceanography 2009-02-10
  • 2009-01-01 - Application deadline
  • 2009-02-03- Top candidates emailed to confirm they still wish to be considered for the position
  • 2009-02-10 - Campus interviews being scheduled (Feb-early March)
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Mathematical/computational biology - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 2008-12-18
  • 2008-11-03 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-15 - Unofficial invitations for campus interviews (official invitations to follow, pending university approval)
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Texas, Austin Behavior 2008-11-24
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-24 - Interviews in progress (list of candidates on dept website)
  • 2009-02-23 - Rejection letter received by postal mail
  • Applied:6
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Texas, Austin Marine Science Institute -
Marine Biogeochemistry, Fish/Fisheries Biology (2 positions) 		2009-01-12
  • 2008-11-17 - Application deadline (Dept website)
  • 2008-12-15 - Campus interviews scheduled for early Jan (Fish position)
  • 2008-12-22 - Candidates and job talks appear to be listed on dept website [12]
  • 2009-01-12 - Rejection letter received by postal mail (did not make cut for campus interview)
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Utah Environmental Biology 2009-01-28
  • 2008-12-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-23 - Spoke with the secretary and she said that the first cut was already made and the second cut was going to be made on 12/31.
  • 2009-01-28 - requested update on status and was told that the interviewees have been selected (not including me)
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
University of Vermont Ecosystem Ecology 2009-01-27
  • 2008-10-01 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-27 - on hold
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Victoria Population Biology - Department of Biology 2009-02-09
  • 2009-02-28 - Application deadline (UVic)
  • Applied: 1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Victoria Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration - School of Environmental Studies 2008-12-23
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-05 - References requested
  • 2008-12-05 - Interviews scheduled (4 finalists)
  • 2008-12-23 - Rejection letter mailed out
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 4
  • Offered:
University of Virgina Developmental Biologist - Department of Biology 2008-12-02
  • 2008-11-10 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-02 - References contacted for letters
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Washington Human dimensions of natural resource management -
College of Forest Resources 		2008-12-01
  • 2008-09-15 - Application deadline (Chronicle Careers)
  • 2008-10-07 - Interviews begin October 9, 2008
  • 2008-12-01 - (from someone at UW, not in the market for this job) -- An offer was made about a week ago to the top-ranked candidate
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Washington Open search in all areas of biology with an emphasis on cell biology, development, and physiology -
Department of Biology 		2008-12-29
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-10-25 - Rec letters requested, including for some ecologists
  • 2008-12-05 - It appears is that because of the economy they have had to scale back the number of positions they can hire this year from 4-5 to 1-2 and are only focusing on cell/development/physiology at this point (ie no ecologists)
  • 2008-12-22 - Interview scheduled for Jan - 9 candidates, talks posted http://www.biology.washington.edu/index.html?sdiv=news&navID=34
  • 2008-12-29 - Received official rejection email (686 applicants!!!)
  • Applied: 11 of 686
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 0 of 9
  • Offered:
University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences
2008-12-01
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 1 tenure-track assistant, 1 associate
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Biology -
Natural and Applied Science 		2009-01-12
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-18 - Phone interviews
  • 2008-12-08 - On-site interview
  • 2009-01-12 - Job offered and accepted
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied: 5
  • ShortList:1
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Plant Biologist -
Biology Department 		2008-12-03
  • 2009-02-01 - Application deadline [13]
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin-Madison Aquatic Ecologist -
Department of Zoology 		2008-12-11
  • 2008-11-12 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-11 - Initial screening rejection email
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Aquatics/BioMath -
Department of Biological Sciences 		2008-11-20
  • 2008-11-19 - Application deadline
  • Assistant professor - interdisciplinary with Math Dept.
  • Applied:1
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Environmental Science -
Environmental Studies Department 		2009-02-02
  • 2008-12-30 - Application deadline (Job add with LOTS of info)
  • 2009-01-13 - received email requesting phone interview
  • Assistant professor- joint appt in Env Studies and either Biology/Chemistry/Geography/ or Geology
  • 2009-02-02 - on-campus interviews scheduled for mid- to late February
  • Applied:2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Wildlife Science & Management -
Natural and Applied Science 		2009-01-27
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-04 Received letter that campus interviews have been scheduled and I did not make short list
  • 2009-01-27 Received rejection letter stating position has been filled.
  • Assistant professor
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:

Vanderbilt University Biogeosciences/Environmental sciences -
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 		2008-12-11
  • 2008-12-22 - Application deadline [14]
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: yes
  • RejLet: yes
  • Offered:

Wake Forest University Ecology (landscape/global) -
Department of Biology 		2009-02-23
  • 2008-10-15 - Application deadline (Science jobs)
  • 2008-12-01 - Phone interviews conducted
  • 2008-12-15 - Campus interviews scheduled for Jan
  • 2009-01-28 - Rejection by snail mail, over 100 applicants
  • 2009-02-23 - Offer made (according to poster in Discussion, see below)
  • Applied: 11 of 100+
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered: 0 of 1
Washington and Lee University Evolutionary Biology 2009-01-05
  • 2008-11-15 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-10 - Phone interview (~10 applicants)
  • 2008-12-19 - Rejection letter received.
  • 2009-01-05 - Campus interviews scheduled (3 applicants)
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList: 1
  • PhoneInt: 1 of 10
  • CampusInt: 0 of 3
  • Offered:
Western Illinois University Mammalian Wildlife Ecology & Management 2009-01-21
  • 2009-01-05 - Application deadline
  • 2009-01-21 - Committee contacting applicants to set up phone interviews for week of 1/26
  • 2009-02-20 - Campus Interviews scheduled (early March)
  • Applied: 2
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: 2
  • CampusInt: 1
  • Offered:
Western Kentucky University Evolutionary Biologist 2009-02-15
  • 2008-11-07 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-26 - Notified by email that they are about to make short list, asked if still interested.
  • 2008-12-03 - spoke with SC chair on phone; 119 applicants
  • 2008-12-08 - Interviews (phone or campus?) will not occur until late Jan-early Feb.
  • 2009-01-15 - On campus interviews being scheduled Jan 25-Feb 13.
  • 2009-02-15 - Contacting selectees in a few weeks.
  • Applied: 5 of 119
  • ShortList: 3
  • PhoneInt: none
  • CampusInt: 1 of 5
  • Offered:
Western New England Ecology/Evolution 2009-01-30
  • 2008-12-01 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-10 - Confirmation of application materials letter received by snail mail
  • 2009-01-30 - 83 Applicants, narrowed to 4. Info from Search Chair.
  • Applied: 8 of 83
  • ShortList: 0 of 4
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Whittier College Biology and Environmental Science/Studies-interdisciplinary major 2009-02-10
  • 2008-10-25 - Application deadline
  • 2008-11-08 - Interviews scheduled
  • 2009-02-10 - Job offered & accepted (rejection letter received by mail)
  • Applied: 3
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • CampusInt:1
  • Offered:
Winthrop University 2 positions: Ecology & Botany 2009-03-06
  • 2009-02-02 - Application deadline
  • 2009-03-06 - final phone interviews
  • Applied: 7
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt: email for phone interview received for ecology Feb 20: 3
  • CampusInt:
  • Offered:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Conservation biology - Biology Department 2009-02-02
  • 2008-10-31 - Application deadline
  • 2008-12-10 - Letters requested
  • Applied:
  • ShortList:
  • PhoneInt:
  • Feb. 2009 CampusInt: several candidates scheduled for interviews
  • Offered:







 Helpful Links & Tips

  • Add useful links here such as places to look up job salaries, academic advice, and other items related to the academic job search.
Website Description Link
Advice for Grads and Postdocs collected by Spencer Hall (Indiana) http://www.indiana.edu/~halllab/grad_resources.html
Universities to Love http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Universities_to_love
Universities to Fear http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Universities_to_fear
Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/
Faculty Median Salaries by Discipline and Rank (2006-07) http://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/salaryDisplay.cfm?SurveyID=6
Faculty Salaries by Institution name http://chronicle.com/stats/aaup/aaupdetail.php?ID=1130
The Venting page http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/The_venting_page
Biology Negotiations Page http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Biology_Negotiations
State Salary Database http://wikifoia.pbwiki.com/State%20Salary%20Database
How to remove wiki paper background A firefox tip, if the "paper" background is bugging you, use adblock to get rid of it... if you have the adblock extension installed, right click on the image on the left hand side of the webpage and block it... https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10
How to track page updates A firefox tip, if you are having trouble finding changes to this page, try the Update Scanner extension which notifies you of updates and highlights them in yellow. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3362







 Discussion

  • Keep newest comments at the top
  • Date your comments
  • Add replies as bullet points - start your reply with an asterisk * and change the date so that updates are easy to find.
  • When you edit a section, use the "Preview" button to ensure you formatted it properly before saving.
DATE
(yyyy-mm-dd) 		CATEGORY
(university, advice, wiki, etc...) 		COMMENT
2009-03-04 Wiki What happened to the Wiki? It seems as if we lost a week's worth of updates (since 2/25), and the table formatting is all off. Anyone know how to fix this?
  • I sent a message to uberfuzzy, the administrator that changed the scratchpad domain to academicjobs letting him know of the problems.
  • It seems to partially fix itself if you open one of the editor sessions and save the page (at least then this thread and some of the most recent updates show up)
  • What the last poster is referring to is the cache'd version. That's a normal issue with the wiki. What's being discussed here is the update that was made to the wiki (i.e. changing the subdomain from scratchpad to academicjobs), whatever routine was run lost all changes from 2/25 to 3/4 (e.g. see University of Vermont - it used to be updated but now reverts back to what it indicated prior to 2/26) and screwed up the table formatting (there's no lines in most of the tables now).
  • This problem appears to have affected all of the academicjobs pages. Please contact someone at wikia to find out how to fix this bug. Anyone know how?
  • Okay, report has been submitted and wiki has acknowledged the problem (see very top of page) - I've marked the page with "Report a Problem" so hopefully all of our updates will be updated...
2009-02-25 Universities HEy, there were only 36 applicants to Arkansas State? Is that right? Or did someone do a typo? That seems way low for a fairly generalized vacancy advertisement.
  • I was wondering the same thing. Where did this "36" come from? Please enlighten us.
  • Someone posted that yesterday (2/24) and I queried the person to confirm the # and he/she indicated that the number was correct. We'll have to wait for that person to indicate their source. Pretty good odds if that number stands!
2009-02-25 Universities Any word on New Mexico State U? UC Irvine? Is it safe to assume that these and other 'no news' schools have canceled their searches?
  • NMSU requested references by 2/6 and UCI by 2/13 - given that only 1-2 weeks have passed, I'd hardly call that 'no news'.
  • I don't know about these two schools but in general it is in fact getting very late in the job season. Most schools have at least scheduled interviews and many have already made their offers. My guess is that any school that is still "reviewing applications" is probably struggling with budget cuts and has either canceled already or is struggling to keep the search alive.
  • To infuse a bit of optimism in this rain of pessimism, 20% of the 192 jobs posted here had a 2009 closing date. So, 1 in 5 jobs have only been closed for about a month (on average).
  • Actually, NMSU requested references in mid-January, but they're probably moving at typical New-Mexican speed, so the month+ that has passed likely means nothing.
  • Actually, NMSU requested references on 1/23 and the recipients were told to have the PDFs and letters of reference in by 2/6 (so, 19 days has passed since the additional info was due).
2009-02-21 Next Year I've been thinking lately about all the talent wasted in this type of environment given low funding rates for research and the lack of future opportunities for advancement given the pool of highly educated people spending huge amounts of time competing for such a limited resource. Any one else had enough and have an exit plan?
  • Even though I finished my dissertation a while ago, this is the first year I've "seriously" gone on the market. Even though I do *NOT* have the strongest CV (I'm trying to do a field switch from my grad school training in anthro and have generally not been a good publisher), I had a first-author pub in Science this year so I thought I would get some interviews -- just one phone interview, then nothing. It does make me think that the market is simply too competitive. I'm thinking that I will, like when one wants to convert to judaism, "ask" 3 times. If by the third serious job search I am still not in a TT job... well, I'll consider the alternatives 2 years from now, I guess. Obama, make me a green job!
  • I did some number crunching based on the survey results here on the wiki. On average, we're looking at one job landed per roughly 100 applications. That's pretty bad, and seems to be in keeping with the data below ("job market"). And I hate to say it, but Obama notwithstanding my guess is that next year will be at least as bad as this one. I think schools will still be in budget crunches, faculty will still be reluctant to retire, and most people who are hunting this year will be in the hunt again next year. Plus there's no end to the new PhDs graduating and wanting jobs. The problem with an exit plan is that the academic system is extremely bad at communicating alternatives to its trainees--most people come out of grad school thinking that if they can't land a TT faculty position, they've basically failed. So it takes a lot of personal courage and creativity to see oneself doing something else. And for as few jobs as there are in the faculty market, there seem to be even fewer opportunities for PhDs in government or NGO environmental/ecology positions, unless you have a very particular set of skills. Or maybe I'm just not creative enough. But I don't have the stomach for more than one more year of this. After that my exit strategy includes waiting tables.
  • No way, man, I am in it to win it!
2009-02-21 job market So how bad is the market this year? Here are the rankings based on vacancy deadlines for each month going back to 2000.
  • Aug had the second lowest
  • Sept was tied for the second lowest
  • Oct was the fourth lowest
  • Nov was a three way tie for second lowest.
  • Dec was a two-way tie for third most deadlines.
  • Jan was the lowest on record
  • Feb was the lowest on record, with half as many (6) as the next lowest year
  • Mar is currently the lowest on record with 1/3 (3) as many as the next lowest year (11)
  • Apr is currently the lowest on record with 1/5 (1) as many as the next lowest year (5)
  • the 2008-2009 academic year is currently the worst job market since 2000 with 155 vacancies, down 31% from the previous average and 18% from the next lowest year. That's bad.
  • and this does not account for cancellations , right?! CORRECT! ICK!
File:Vacancies 2005-2008-2Da.jpg
  • Why is the 2008-2009 academic year indicated as only 155 vacancies given that this job board alone shows 192 vacancies (not including those vacancies where more than 1 position was advertised)? I wonder if there is some bias associated with the source of the numbers that doesn't accurately reflect the true number of vacancies, making year-to-year comparisons difficult?
  • Italic textI used only jobs posted on the Ecological Society of America's physiological ecology job list because it is the only one that had archived all the old positions. Although this doesn't encompass all openings, it does give you a good idea of the trends, and it is pretty obvious that the job market is one of the worst in memory.Italic text
  • Why does it matter. There are no jobs anyway! Jump ship!
  • Just trying to bring a bit of optimism to all this doom & gloom talk.


2009-02-21 University - University of Missouri I emailed the chair earlier in the week to get an update on my app. for the Eco Mod. position and have not heard back yet. Does anyone else have any information?
2009-02-20 University - Wake Forest Any news on if an offer has been made? I was told a month ago that I'm on their "we'd like to keep your application on file" list, but haven't heard anything since then.
  • offer was made - no info on if it has been accepted or not
2009-02-20 University - University of Missouri In early Jan. I contacted the Chair about whether the Ecological Modeling search was going to go forward. He said that they would know by mid-Jan. Has anyone heard anything since then? Is it time to bug the Chair again?
2009-02-19 University - College of New Jersey Anyone know the specialty of the organismal biologist they hired? I received an email today that they are opening this up for a second position.
  • I was told by the search chair back in Nov that they were looking for an animal organismal biologist. I didn't make the cut as a plant biologist, but I did get that same email today. Good luck to us both!
2009-02-19 University - UMASS NRC Cons Gen I'm curious about the source of the info on this one - my letters were requested, but so far I haven't gotten a rejection email. But then again, my email box was full for a tiny window of time this morning (how neurotic is it to even write this!).
  • Source was inside info, I am not in finalist pool. Not sure if all finalists have been contacted. Then again, if you made the shortlist but not the final list it is likely that a rejection letter won't arrive for a long time. Many schools keep a backup group of people that they can quickly ask if any interviewee drops out. Hold tight and don't show the SC any neuroses.
  • For the aquatic position, I was contacted last week to let me know I made the list, and then got "official" invitation to interview on 2/17 (after Provost approved funding to interview). Not sure if the Conservation Genetics position has the exact same situation/timeframe.
  • OK, thanks for letting me know. I confine my public neurosis to anonymous wiki pages :-) . From reading here, the aquatic committee is just a bit ahead of the conservation genetics group.
2009-02-17 University - FIU - pop gen Anyone know the story here? Seems that they have notified at least 1 person about an interview.
  • As of January 13th no decision had been made. Maybe its time to email Dr. Collins as he is chair of the search committee.
  • I was one of three people interviewed. The last interview was early in the week of Feb 9-13, and the search committee was supposed to rank candidates and send their choice up the ladder by the end of that week. I haven't heard anything more, so I don't know if the offer has been made to someone else or if it's still going through the university system.
2009-02-17 University - Connecticut College Has anyone heard anything since the person declined the offer in January? I still haven't recieved a rejection letter, and am wondering if anyone has heard anything at all?
2009-02-13 University - University of Alaska Southeast Did anyone else receive the above-mentioned rejection email? I applied and did not receive an email from them. I find it very hard to believe that they have made a hire less than 1 month since the application deadline.
  • I got an email from UAS requesting letters from my references the same day the above-mentioned rejection was posted. Either an inside hire or some mistake.
  • It must be a mistake, they are scheduling phone interviews for early March.
2009-02-13 University - Portland State Anyone hear anything post phone interview? I was told they would make a decision on who to invite for campus interviews by the end of last week but I have not heard anything back yet.
  • To the person who posted above that they got a campus interview - was the invitation by phone or email? When did you get the invitation? Is all hope lost?
  • I was invited by phone late last Friday (Feb 6th).
  • All hope was not lost - I got a call last night inviting me to interview. Hmmm, should I read anything into the delayed invitation?
  • To the above lucky person, did you have a phone interview previously?
  • Yes, and as far as I can tell my phone interview was on schedule...
  • I just got an e-mail requesting that I fill out an Affirmative Action form (I did not get a phone interview)! Perhaps PSU should start a trend of attaching an Affirmative Action form to it's rejection letters...
  • Same here. I have a feeling that some administrative assistant at PSU is in the midst of what will be a long day.
  • Same here. But mine was addressed to the applicant for the integrative physiologist position. How tacky and unprofessional.
  • This is starting to annoy me; e.g., UCSD pulled the same thing. Why on earth should we take the time to fill these kinds of things out? If I had an interview, I might feel differently. If they really want a return, the least they could do is send these kinds of forms out BEFORE the interview stage.
  • Word. For me, the coincidence was beautiful. I picked up my rejection letter in the mail, walked back to my office, and opened the AA email for the Int. Phys. position. Clearly a disconnect between HR and the department in both the UCSD and PSU cases. I find it more amusing than annoying, and I'm willing to give these departments the benefit of the doubt and blame it on HR. You stay classy, Portland. And San Diego.
  • Both the letter and the email at PSU came from Biology (HR wasn't involved).
  • Yes, but the departments are likely legally obligated to send these out, and if there's not good communication with HR they may get sent out late. Either party might be guilty.
  • Add Montana pop gen position to the list. AA request went out in the morning, rejection email later that day. But at least you hear something. There are many positions advertised above that have simply vanished from the face of the earth without a whimper.
  • I agree that getting the Affirmative Action form post rejection can feel like salt on the wound but I don't think that should keep you from filling it out. The results of the AA forms legally cannot have any influence on the concurrent search process so really is there any reason to send them out before the rejections? The AA forms are intended to help increase diversity in searches/hires in general which is something i think we can all agree is desperately needed in our field.
  • Actually, I don't give a rats a$$ about helping PSU cover their confused behinds. The problem of lack of diversity in our field will not be helped by filling these lame questionnaires, since their purpose is merely to demonstrate that PSU is not discriminating against women or minorities. In general there seems to be a lot of confusion in the Biol. Department, the conflicting requirements in the ads (LoR's or names and addresses), the AA forms being sent out after rejections, and of course, the fact that at least half of us (including me), were thought to have applied for the Int. Phys. position. I wish the candidates being interviewed all the best, but I hope that these SNAFU's don't presage similar issues with hiring, the salary, and the start up package.
  • If they pay starting faculty $52-54k, I shudder to think what they pay the department secretarial staff. Sounds to me like they try to run a ship on the cheap and all of this confusion in their hiring likely stems from a case of "you get what you pay for".
2009-02-12 University - University of Colorado Denver Has anyone heard anything regarding this search? I inquired in late January and got not much more than an indication that the search was ongoing. But since then I've heard nothing.
2009-02-13 Wiki It would be great if people who HAVE gotten offers this year (even if they are still negotiating) could update the negotiations web link for this wiki. Since we have such a different economic environment this year, it would be helpful to see how this is being reflected (or not reflected) in starting salary and start-up for universities that have kept searches going.
  • I don't feel comfortable updating the negotiations page yet, but I can give you my sense based on several interviews this year and an offer. First, the salary at most state schools are contractually-negotiated, so they are not and should not be lower during a year of economic crisis. Private schools may lower the salary (or not negotiate higher), but this is not my sense. Both types of schools, however, may have problems finding the cash right now to support the same start-ups as in past years. Compared to what recent hires have received, the start-up amounts seem to be the same or up to 50% lower. If you get in the negotiation phase, it should be very obvious what their new cut-off is given the current "economic crisis." Not fair, but that's the reality.
  • I concur with the above. My offer for salary at a research university was typical of that institution, but start-up was ~50% less than normal. I was told that the usual pool of $ for start-up was frozen. Negotiating for more start-up turned out to be useless.
  • No offer yet, but an unsolicited comment during a phone interview from the search chair at a regional state school indicated that NO start-up was available for the position this year, unlike in past years. Ugh.
  • Well, I hope the tenure committees reduce the requirements for tenure by 50% if they are going to reduce startup by 50%. All that these schools are doing is handicapping starting faculty by cutting (or eliminating) startup. It should be all or nothing - either you have money for a new position (including startup) or you don't. This reduction or elimination of startup is reprehensible and diminishes the probability of success for starting faculty, at least for those at research institutions. It's also likely to create animosity among faculty when the playing field is not equal.
  • Logical. And this is what would happen if we were unionized. But unfortunately I fear that many of us fall into the category of willing scabs and would be desperate enough to accept a position at lower pay/start-up but with same or greater expectations.
  • Desperate maybe, but willing- not just yet. I came to the conclusion that it would be a poor decision career-wise to take a position without start-up, and declined the offer. Although it would be a "job", it would be a career limiting/ending decision. While my back-log of papers would be enough to get tenure at University X, if your research isn't progressing, and the resources are not in place to make you successful, then your tenure isn't portable. What good is a tenured job if they don't support you, or your research?
  • Kudos to the previous poster. I admire your position and I would make the same decision if I were offered a "no startup" package. The irony is that if one was so good as to not need startup money, one wouldn't accept a position without startup. If one was so desperate to accept a no-startup position, they are likely to be doomed for tenure consideration. A lose-lose situation for the school and applicant. Analogy: Let's clearcut the forest so we can make a quick buck now but not worry about how we are going to earn a living in 5 years - after the forest has been mowed over.
2009-02-10 General Wiki When finished editing you must save the page. I just saved the page and a whole handful of updates came through. Read the instructions folks!
  • I'm not following your statement. Why would someone else's changes be saved when you saved the page? If they didn't save them, the changes would be lost. The saved changes are tracked by IP address or login id. It sounds to me like you needed to refresh your browser cache. I don't think it has anything to do with other people not saving their changes.
  • Is it possible that we have reached our memory allocation? Would it help to archive some of the older discussions?
  • Sometimes Wikia's cached version doesn't show the latest changes. An easy workaround is to save the page without making any changes. You will then see the most recent version.
2009-02-10 University - Mississippi State Anyone hear anything post phone interview?
2009-02-07 Wiki I would be interested in seeing a tally of how many people from this site applied to each job, made the shortlist, got phone interviews, got campus interviews, and got offers. If nothing else it would give us a better idea of how representative this wiki community is of the general applicant pool. Anybody interested and capable of setting this up?
  • Perhaps an idea for next year, but I vote to keep the current table as is for this year as it would make the table too big.
  • Why not a separate table?
  • better, just put a line in the description area that says: Applicants = 1. the next person who sees it and applied can up the number. This would require no special changing of the current format and make it easier to follow. Same for interviewees, etc. What you think?
  • I have added a line to each school for people to fill in their participation
  • While it is clearly still very early, I think it is interesting that New Mexico State is winning the count so far - definitely would not have been my first guess
  • I think some folks are missing the point of the numbers being provided. The numbers represent the folks on the wiki that have applied, been short-listed, etc. It's not supposed to represent the actual numbers. I propose that if the actual numbers are known that people use the notation, for example, Applied: 4 of 686 so we'll know that 4 wiki participants out of a known total of 686 applied. Likewise, if we know 6 people were short-listed for an interview, it should be indicated as 1 of 6 (indicating that 1 wiki participant is among the 6).
2009-02-04 Offer made - not accepted Given that one applied for a specific position, I am curious what sort of issues were the deal breaker for the folks that were made an offer but did not accept it? This seems particularly relevant given the competitive climate we are all experiencing. Was it salary? Startup? Finding a position for a spouse?
  • A few reasons, all at one place (which I really liked after the interview): Dean gave a weekend to decide, offer not negotiable, salary good but startup terrible, start date could not be changed.... Bottom line was if this person was going to be in charge, I didn't want to be there.
  • I turned down a regional state school (MS only) last year. Believe it or not, it was because I felt I did not "fit" well with them. Don't get me wrong, I did not feel like I was better than them, just that (with a few notable exceptions), I would not have been surrounded by "like-minded" people. I really liked the resources that a university of that size had to offer--it was pretty good (for that size). However, the salary was miserable and they kept touting how cheap it was to live there. When I actually did some research, it was no cheaper there than in cities 2-3 times that size. In addition, the location was too remote from family and my spouse would not have had any opportunities. As I put it to my spouse: it did not meet our specified minimum requirements for acceptance. Creating those requirements has really helped me. Even in this economy, I have no regrets.
2009-02-04 University - Eastern Kentucky Anyone know what the story is with the hiring freeze? The blog page (see above) indicates a hiring freeze; however, my references have been contacted about the Aq.Invert.Zoo. position (see above). Does this mean that the AIZ position missed the freeze? Or that maybe they are going ahead with the search in case the freeze is lifted?
  • Hiring freeze notice was from November 2008 and indicated strategic planning. Perhaps they have moved forward.
  • Sometimes hiring freezes only apply to new faculty lines and not replacement faculty appointments. Maybe this is responsible?
2009-02-03 University - Portland State (enviro science) Anyone know if they are accepting applications electronically?
  • Edited response: they seem to have changed the ad to indicate that they ARE accepting electronic submissions in pdf format (I assume to the search chair?).
2009-02-02 University - Portland State To those getting phone interviews do you actually do theory and experimentation as the ad seemed to indicate that's what the department was looking for?
2009-01-30 University - Endicott College Has anyone heard from them? Human Resources will not relay any info to the Search Chair, nor will they identify who the SC is. I've had a manuscript accepted, and I can't even relay this info.
  • I've heard nothing from them.
2009-01-30 University - San Jose State University Anybody heard from them at all? All I know is they got my application, and then... silence.
2009-01-31 University - Bryant University Anybody heard anything? I've e-mailed them and received no response.
  • Same here. Last I heard was 11/28/08 when I had a paper accepted, and the responded saying " The Search Committee is still reviewing the materials submitted by candidates." No word since.
  • I wrote to the SC last week and got no response.
  • If they are indeed interviewing, as indicated by the post in the upper table, then the SC probably belongs to the "if they're not worth interviewing, than they're not worth the time it takes to write an email" school of thought.
  • FYI, I called the HR department since I had no response from SC to find out if it was still an open search. I was informed by the HR person that she actually met with one of the candidates early that same day. That is all I know. That being said, the SC is just plain rude!
2009-01-31 University - University of New Haven To those who got on-campus interviews -- have you been scheduled yet? I was contacted a week ago about receiving an on-campus interview, but have not heard anything since, and no one has responded to my email. Did the job suddenly get frozen or something?
  • Do you mind telling us what is your area of Marine Biology/Ecology? I was wondering which direction they went? Needless to say I wasn't invited.
  • I am a marine ecologist, and I work with a broad array of systems and techniques. By the way, the interviews are delayed as the university re-evaluates searches due to the current economic situation. Seems par for the course this year.
  • Interviews were finally scheduled, so it looks like the search is proceeding.
2009-02-03 University - Portland State To those getting phone interviews, were you contacted by phone or email?
  • by email
  • Thanks. They must have lost my email address.
  • This sucks. They must have lost mine too. That was my absolute dream job.
  • Maybe us rejects can have our own club. And it will be cooler and more fun, nyah nyah nyah.
  • Don't give up hope just yet, the email I recieved regarding missing letters indicated that we had until Jan 30 to complete the application. They still might be going through applications that have just been completed. That or what #3 above said.
  • As one of the phone interviewees, I am curious to hear why PSU is the dream job for some of you? Besides being in Portland, what makes PSU special?
  • Let's hope the Ecology position pays more than the Environmental Studies one ($52-$54k seems on the real low end of pay scales - especially for Portland).
  • It's the third, still no phone interview, I guess I am out, dam! Why is it a dream job? Quality of life is plenty good reason, not to mention what looks like a really great department. The pay is low for PSU, just look at Chronicles of Higher Education, but money ain't everything.
  • I am pretty certain my application was complete and my inbox does not have invitation for a phone interview??
2009-01-29 University - Portland State To those getting phone interviews, in what sub-field of ecology are you?
  • conservation biology / community ecology
  • community ecology
  • evolutionary ecology
2009-01-28 Wiki - comment from wiki owner the following comment was on the Discussion tab! It was dated January 7, 2009 Suggestion: As this is a very popular page, you are welcome to move this to it's own wiki rather than sharing space here on Scratchpad. If you would like to do this, please request a wiki at requests.wikia.com or email me (angela at wikia.com) for help. Angela@Wikia (talk) 07:26, 7 January 2009 (UTC)....not sure if anyone saw this, but...
  • This page is part of the larger AcademicJobSearch set of pages, so is not recommended that we independently move just this page. This set of pages also includes the "universities to like and fear" as well as many other wiki pages for other academic jobs. Perhaps this suggestion should be relayed on one of the main pages?
2009-01-28 Wiki - recommendation for next year put the surveys after the job posts, maybe even after the commenths.

frankly, comments should be on the discussion page accessed by the discussion tab in the upper right hand of this page anyway!

  • The wiki comments get more responses if they are on the main page, this was a lesson learned from last year.
2009-01-28 Not contacted not rejected? What does it mean if I did not receive an outright rejection, but was not contacted for an interview? Several posts above put me in that category--rejection letters went out, but I did not get one AND they are interviewing, but I have not been contacted. Any ideas?
  • I am in the same boat for a few positions. I think it means that we are on some kind of "backup" list just in case all of the invited candidates totally suck. But how often does that really happen?
  • It happens. And not because other candidates suck: just the opposite. People are offered interviews, accept, interview elsewhere, get offered another position, accept that, and turn down other interviews so as not to waste their time.
2009-01-29 University - New Mexico State To those contacted for references and pdfs, in what sub-field of ecology are you?
  • conservation biology / community ecology
  • community ecology / aquatic ecology
  • community ecology
  • evolutionary/behavioral ecology
  • community ecology/evolutionary ecology
  • evolutionary ecology/population genetics
2009-01-27 Advice - Phone interview advice Hi everyone. Given that we are now seeing a number of jobs at the phone interview stage i think it would be worthwhile putting a list of common questions that were asked and that you asked, together. So, to start:

what questions were asked? what questions did you ask? what questions do you wish you asked? Were you successful in getting an on campus interview

  • Why are you applying for this position
  • tell us about your research
  • do you prefer large or small classes
  • what classes would you like to teach
  • what equipment do you require?
  • what does your wife do? (this one is illegal, isn't it?)
  • would you be happy at a school like this?
  • what facilities do you require?
  • are you willing to team teach
  • are you willing to teach online
  • do you care if our students suck the big one and can't spell their name? (well maybe it wasn't worded quite this way, but this is the spirit of the question!).
  • Why in the hell would you want to come here? (no kidding)
  • Name a situation in the past where you have had to resolve a difficult situation or deal with difficult people at work and how you did it? (gives you an indication of what's ahead for you in the department)
  • What sources of funding do you plan to pursue?
  • Who would you collaborate with in the department?
  • How many grad students do you envision having?
  • How many papers a year do you think it is reasonable to expect a junior faculty member to publish a year?
  • Would you continue to work at your favorite study area or develop local projects (for field folks)?
  • How would you make use of our field station?
  • What do you do with your time besides work?
  • What would you do if you had unequivocal proof that a freshman cheated on the final exam? What would you do if it was a senior? (apparently they had a cheating problem)
  • Who would you collaborate with outside of the university?
  • What types of field work have you done? What are your areas of expertise with regard to field work?
  • Give an example of specific teaching techniques you use in lecture classes.
  • Who do you think are the most important up and coming scientists in X subfield of ecology? In general ecology?

Things I asked:

  • What is your recent history tenuring people?
  • What kinds of support are provided for new tt faculty?
  • What is the tenure review process? Are there departmental guidelines for acceptable progression during the tt?
  • Do faculty in the department work together?
  • What are the students like?
  • How is the department involved in the wider community?
  • How is the institutional animal care and use committee? Obstructionist or helpful?
  • How did you decide to do a search in this area? Are you replacing someone who left or is this a new position?
  • Where do faculty currently get most of their support for research grants?

Don't ask things you can find on the departmental website. Do learn a bunch of things about your interviewer(s), the department, and the college (if its a small one) before you get on the phone. Do come up with at least one specific question about something you read online. Do be prepared to speak into the void with little or no back-and-forth from the person or people on the other end of the line--this was harder to do than I thought it would be. I got a campus interview.

Another set of phone interview questions:

  • What attracted you to this University?
  • How would you attract students to the department?
  • Who would you collaborate with in the dept?
  • What would you want to teach?
  • Have you had experience teaching non-majors?
  • How would you fund your research?
  • How have your past experiences prepared you to be a successful assistant professor? (tough - talk about open-ended! Not sure what they were looking for here...)
2009-01-27 Wiki - advertise wiki Hey folks! based on the above responses I suspect that many of us have either forgotten or there are bunch of folks who don't know about the wiki. We should all spread the word across listservs and with people we know so that there is more activity and better communication! If you post to a listserv, please list it below!
  • envirojobs
2009-01-25 Advice What's the conventional wisdom on contacting a SC with information regarding CV updates? In the past couple of months I've been fortunate enough to get a couple of papers accepted for publication, and another one into the review pipeline. But this isn't reflected on my CV for a number of jobs that I've applied for. I'm thinking it's reasonable to offer this info to SCs, but I wanted to see what others thought. Also, on a related note, assuming it's a good idea to offer such CV updates, when does it become worth it? Does it have to be a major change (e.g. that paper that I submitted to The Best Journal in the World just got accepted for publication), or do even relatively minor changes warrant an update (e.g. manuscripts moving from in prep to in review)?
  • Papers being accepted for publication is a major enough addition to your CV to contact SCs with updates. A manuscript going out for review isn't enough. At least that is my opinion. This seems to be the advice from the Chron forums.
  • First, congrats. Second, inform SCs without delay if you had a paper accepted in any journal! I did this several times so far and they are accustomed to it, and usually interested in the news. I suggest an immediate e-mail to someone (e.g., cmte. chair) followed by a hard copy letter with an enclosed one-page "CV update" listing the article and its new status. This way you're sure it has a chance of making it into your file for someone else to see. I've heard that more than one or two "in preps" are pretty much useless so I don't list more than papers truly about to be submitted. Then after a couple get submitted I would send an e-mail about it.
2009-01-26 University- Montana Evolutionary/Population geneticist

In reference to the announcement that they have selected a short-list of nine candidates, were you contacted by email? I haven't received a rejection letter, nor was I contacted for a phone interview.

  • I received an email last Friday (1/23). The wording of the email suggested to me that this particular rejection letter was being sent only to individuals who were initially shortlisted. If you received a request for letters earlier, it may be that they simply haven't sent out the invitations for interviews yet, but I would guess it would be very soon.
  • I actually went back and scanned my in-box and found the rejection letter. I guess I had missed it because it had the same subject heading as the request for demographic info. How about that rejection letter? I really appreciate that they took the time to write such a complimentary rejection, but I'm not sure it made me feel any better.
2009-01-24 University- Western kentucky anyone else heard from WKU?.
  • I just received a rejection email.
  • I was one of the people contacted in November but have not heard anything since. Guess I didn't make the cut. Oh well. --and yes, I was the one that posted the number of applicants.
  • Apparently, only one interviewee on the wiki. Maybe they called a short list in Nov. Were you the one that posted the number of applicants?
2009-01-23 University- Portland State Letter request referred to above: were you alerted to this via email? I thought reference letters were sent as part of the initial application.
  • I noticed when I applied for this position that there were slightly different application instructions depending on where you got the announcement. Several announcements that were circulated by listserv suggested that letters were not required up front, but the official announcement posted on PSU's HR site specifically requested three letters be sent to the SC. I'm hoping that the request mentioned above only went out to those who didn't send letters up front because they never saw the HR announcement, and that it doesn't suggest anything about a shortlist being made.
  • Entire letter: We are in the process of reviewing your application materials for the Ecologist position at Portland State University. We have received your application, but we are missing one or more of your reference letters. Please make sure that all three of your letters are sent to: Dr. Sarah Eppley, Chair, Ecology Search Committee, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 751, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207 or via email (ecology@pdx.edu or eppley@pdx.edu). To assure that you remain in the candidate pool, make sure that your letters arrive by January 30th.
  • Dang nammit, I thought I was special when I got that message (I was amongst the applicants with the job listing not mentioning letters.) Oh well, guess at least they're keeping organized...
2009-01-27 University- U Vermont Anyone heard anything regarding the Ecosystem Ecologist position?
  • this just in: "The University of Vermont is currently undergoing financial recession and options are being considered on how to deal with a significant budget shortfall. We are not taking any action at this time, but the search is on hold until February 28th when we expect to have a decision as to whether to proceed or not"
2009-01-19 Wiki - Wiki posting Please be sure to use two digit months when updating the wiki "Most Recent News" date (i.e. January = 01, not 1).
  • It doesn't matter
  • Actually it does. If you sort by date and the month is 1 instead of 01, the list does not sort properly. This is why there are detailed instructions that include a two digit month (YYYY-MM-DD)
  • And it would help if people followed the MM-DD order (not DD-MM as some have used).
2009-01-19 University- Boston University Has anyone heard anything regarding the Marine Biology position?
  • I emailed the search chair yesterday, and he said that they made decisions on an interview list last week and were in the process of inviting candidates this week. I didn't get an invite, so that's as much as I know.
  • Rejection emails were sent today, see listing above. 75 applications on shortlist according to the email.
  • Yeah I thought it said short list too. Seems like a really long shortlist. Did everyone get the same spiel about how excellent your application was, how decisions were made in part on match of research area to department, and how they encourage you to apply for jobs in the future as their marine program grows? At the time it felt like an ego boost to receive such a nice rejection letter. But now I bet all applicants got the same thing.
  • Yep, I got that spiel too. Guess I can stop feeling good about it now!
  • I don't see anything suggesting that the 75 applications mentioned were on a shortlist. I believe this was the total number of applications, all of which they considered "highly competitive," and that a standard rejection letter was sent to all applicants that haven't made their interview list (consisting of "several candidates").
  • I didn't save my email, but it definitely had the word "shortlist" in it.
  • You may have gotten a different email, but I'm looking at mine now and there is no mention of a shortlist: "Yours was one of over 75 highly competitive applications that were carefully considered by our search committee." It also makes it clear that on-campus interview candidates have been chosen. I don't think there's anything wrong with all candidates getting a nice rejection letter. Better than not hearing anything, which is what I'm getting from most places.
  • Yes, it is nice. Sometimes the wiki tells you things you don't really want to know though- I might have liked to go on wrongly thinking I was special, but I guess we all have that illusion to start with.
2009-01-18 University - University of Minnesota, Plant Bio Dept Has anyone heard anything past letter requests?
2009-01-14 long waits and hiring freezes Is anyone else confused by the extraordinarily long time being taken by some search committees? University of San Francisco is one good example: application deadline October 15th followed by basically no news for three months now. But there are a number of other schools I've applied to that fit the same pattern. For those of you who have done this before, is this common? I'm concerned that the lack of news is because these departments are struggling to continue searches despite pressure from universities to freeze hiring. I can't think of any other reason for it to take three months to make a first cut. Even schools getting over 500 applicants have managed to move to the interview stage in that time. This whole process really disproves the old adage that "no news is good news."
  • I have regularly applied since 2003. I have applied to 12 vacancies. Of these, one (south alabama) definitely froze, another (U of New Orleans) appears to be frozen, two filled (U of Wash, Baylor). I got a phone interview with one, and an on campus with another. One of these was originally supposed to start in January but had been temporarily delayed by the economy. Recent news sounds like it might have now been frozen as its in TN where the system gave presidents permission to let people go. One (U of Wisc-oshkosh) didn't call me, but is moving forward. And two have not started reviewing applications yet. I have heard nothing from SFASU (texas), Mich tech.

OUt of 12 applications: 2 frozen (UNO, So. GA) 1 suspected frozen (UALR) 1 possibly suspended (Austin Peay) 1 still moving forward (W KY) 2 filled (but very early in the fall, baylor, U of Wash) 2 still taking applications (names left off for privacy, they are above!) 2 no info (mich tech wildlife)

This is VERY unusual as I recall. Usually, UALR cancels search every year. But, I can never remember this many late searches and canceled searches. And, I kept up with what was open since 1998! If I was scheduled to graduate this year, I would read another book as Matt Groening said in his famous comic "how to succeed in graduate school." (http://eebatou.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/school-is-hell-grad-students-c-1978-matt-groening.pdf). Usually, all at least send diversity statements for HR which I fill out IF they sent me a paid envelope. I have only got HR surveys from half the school to which I applied. That suggests that those six are closed: UNO, SGA, UALR, MT, SFASU. Just my feeling!

  • Many schools do not send out notices until the search is complete (sometimes, not even then, unfortunately). If no one here is updating the wiki, you really have no way of knowing whether the search is stalled or ongoing but not officially releasing information.
  • I do think there is something real going on, there is tremendous economic uncertainty at state level and private endowments have been hit just as bad. I agree with everything said above, some positions vanish, never to reappear or to reappear in the next year, and this is an imperfect communication device. My guess is that slow movement may also be indicative of uncertainty as to whether the position actually exists, and interviewing for a postion without firm confirmation is very bad form. Otherwise, there is no reason to move slowly and let good folks get away with offers from other places. Its bad out there, we haven't seen the last of it.
  • Seems longer than last year...but maybe that's just because I feel I have more at stake this year (post-doc ends soon...). Another possibility--you get put into the "limbo" category. This is where you make the 1st cut, but not the 2nd but they don't tell you until they are positive they don't need you. Your name is on some list to call if they don't like any of the folks they invited for campus interviews or if all their chosen candidates turn them down. I get put into this category sometimes. It's very annoying because you know that some candidates have been flat out turned down and others have been invited, but you have no idea why you have not heard anything.
2009-01-13 University- Florida International Has anyone heard any information regarding the Population Geneticist position?
  • I got an email on 1/16 inviting me for an on-campus interview. I don't know how many are being invited or if all invitations have been made.
2009-01-12 University- U Minnesota I recieved an email last week for the Ecology position asking for my permission for members of the department to view my application materials. I interpreted this as permission to open up the computer files to everyone in the department who was interested, beyond just the SC. Anyone else get this? It was an unusual request (I voluntarily sent them an application, I expected all applications to be openly reviewed) I haven't heard anything since.
  • I got this request for the Behavior position. I've not heard from them since.
2009-01-08 Advice- Interviewing with morning sickness Any advice on how to handle morning sickness during a campus interview? Should I warn them in advance that I'm pregnant? Or say nothing and just hope not to spew chunks on the dean?
  • Shit that sucks. Say nothing. It's not their business. Drink ginger ale and get some crystallized ginger to chew on. Get ginger tea. If it's really bad consider getting an anti-nausea presc. from your doc. If anyone asks you don't drink. Obviously I am paranoid, but I feel as if this is your personal life that is not the business of a potential employer -- since women have been discriminated in the past on this issue I wouldn't chance discussing it. I *do* believe that EEB types are less likely to be asses about it, given my experience being preg in grad school, but I just wouldn't take the chance. Congrats, too -- big year!!
  • Definitely, don't tell them and certainly not at this stage. It's not paranoia, it's reality. I'd definitely try to get a couple of the anti-nausea pills, there's one that was made for chemo patients that is supposedly very safe but also very expensive, they were a lifesaver for me. Also, plan for a long day - have your high protein snacks on hand. Good luck!
  • Congratulations! While I agree that there's no need to mention this before or during the interview, there's also no need to be overly concerned. If it's actually bad during the interview (which it might not be that day), just ask to go to the bathroom or even let your interviewer know you're feeling under the weather. That's perfectly normal. I can personally attest to the importance of bringing snacks with you, but you'll have to be creative in finding time to eat them (not that easy). The point is not that you are afraid to tell people or don't want it out in the open, but there's no need to make it an issue when its not obvious. The time for that is after you have an offer and when you're negotiating a delayed start-up date so you can be at home with the baby for a few months. Now, if you were noticeably pregnant it becomes a different ball game-- at which point if they have "issues" with you being pregnant then you probably don't want to be there...
  • I agree with the previous posters that, for the moment, your pregnancy is none of the search committee's buisness. I have two children, but have been fortunate not to have had any morning sickness, so I can't give any particular advice there. However, at some point (either in the interview and by looking things up on the web) I would try to discreetly "feel out" the department's and university's official (and not-so-official) family-friendly (or not so friendly) policies. You definitely don't want to be in a place that would have a problem with you having a young family. That said, there is more advice about this type of issue on the Science and Families forum. Good luck with your interview!
2008-12-22 University- Tulane Does anyone have more info on the three advertised positions? Are they really only interviewing 4 people (2 comp, 2 not) for 3 positions as listed on their website?
  • Two failed searches last year and loss of a faculty member to me implies that they would be doing a fairly broad search. But, stranger things have happened.
  • I heard they were only interviewing two people for the comp position, not sure about the others.
  • I was wondering the same thing, but I just received an email from the chair of the search committee requesting an interview. They'll be running at least 4 more candidates through the month of January.
2008-12-18 job stats update- more data for those who are interested..
Vacancies 2005-2008-2D

Professor Vacancies Advertised on the ESA Physiological Ecology Job Board 2002-2008. It does not account for canceled or failed searches.

  • Hey, Unknown Data Analyst! Thanks for collating these data and sharing them with us. If you've got spare time, could you do a couple 2D plots for those of us who are 3D-challenged? I'd love to see 2008 compared to the average from previous years. Also, do you subtract off those jobs that have been frozen or closed? — Cynic
  • How is this?
  • Awesome, thanks! — Cynic
  • That's really interesting. Thanks.
2008-12-18 University- Adelphi Was the rejection letter by email or snail mail?
2008-12-18 University- Missoula Addressing the Montana question of 12-14: i agree that my understanding is that 100 have been cut. not sure what their interest is exactly - but i can say that at least four of the individuals remaining after the cut are population geneticists.
2008-12-18 University- UCSD Addressing the UCSD question of 12-16: yes, i can confirm that interviews have been scheduled (and two individuals have actually already interviewed).
2008-12-27 University - Bryn Mawr Any news about the position at Bryn Mawr?
  • Position filled
2008-12-17 Advice - Career Plans? - Will you stay or will you go? I have a question (purely out of curiosity). How many of you would be willing to accept a position at a place you consider a "step-down" from what you would like in the hopes of gaining experience and making a pre-tenure move? Two of my former advisers did this--they took jobs at smaller, mostly teaching places and then moved to their current positions at an R1 and a respectable state school. Good idea, bad idea? Again, this is out of curiosity, not because I have any choices at the moment (darn!).
  • "Be careful, it might be a trap!" Make sure you have the financial and temporal resources to stay productive, otherwise you might be stuck for life. You'll be competing against postdocs who have nothing to do but eat, drink, and write papers; meanwhile you're teaching intro bio to 250 undergrads with no TA support. "Yeah he looked good a few years ago, but what's he done lately?" I'm not saying its impossible, but it ain't easy. The cases you cite are an example of survivorship bias: only the few who escaped from Podunk Community College could have served as your advisors, the rest are still grading essay questions. — Cynic
  • (original poster)--Yes, this seems to be the going dogma. However, at the R1 where I received my PhD, since 2005, they have hired ~6-8 ecology types in various departments. One of my committee members (who was on several of the search committees) told me that the ONLY applications they were willing to look at were those from people CURRENTLY in TT positions. Still a small sample size, but clearly the potential for a trend. He did seem to indicate that it really didn't matter where the TT job was, as long as they were currently in one and had a reasonable record of continued research productivity since their postdoc/PhD. Publication continuity seemed to count as much as publication quality. In any case, I'm just soliciting opinions and in no position to make any decisions (YET). I think one would have to make a personal promise/commitment at when accepting the job that this is going to be a temporary position to obtain some teaching experience (or whatever). Having that mindset would allow for continued productivity because you could keep your "eye on the prize" so to speak. In other words, depending on the place, the trap may be more a definitive mindset/choice rather than completely externally imposed.
2008-12-17 University - Arcadia University Any one hear anything from Arcadia?
2008-12-17 University - DePauw University Any word on what is going on with DePauw's search?
  • I was wondering about this too.
  • I've heard nothing. Someone should drop them an email.
2008-12-17 University-New Mexico State The deadline was Nov 15, and I was wondering if anyone has had their references contacted or if anyone has any additional "inside" information... Thanks!
  • I've heard nothing from this school, and neither have my references. I didn't even get an acknowledgment that they received my application materials. Did anyone else get an acknowledgment?
  • I'm in the same boat, applied, no word, no acknowledgment...
  • Glad I'm not alone, I've had no word, and no acknowledgment either (the original poster).
  • They may be waiting for an exemption from a hiring freeze. Still doesn't explain why they won't acknowledge receipt of application material (I e-mailed to ask). Perhaps nobody wants to look at any of the application materials that arrived to that e-mail address until the situation is clear.
2008-12-16 University- UCSD Anybody else get a request for demographic information in an e-mail saying "your application is currently under review"? I thought this was rich, given that my application was clearly weeded out weeks to months ago. Gotta love the HR machine...
  • Yeah, I had the same thought!
  • Ditto
  • Tacky
  • Question -- how exactly do you know the applicants have been narrowed? I do not see interviews scheduled yet on their website. Can we have confirmation from someone invited that yes, in fact the interviews have been scheduled? Thx.
  • I was wondering the same thing, as I also received the request for demographic info, but there is still no hard info about interviews.
  • If you will notice, the Santa Barbara interviews were scheduled Dec 09. Made me think the update was a typo under UCSD. However, I am not in the rumor mill for UCSD in any way....
2008-12-15 University- U Richmond Any news? I don't understand the comment above?? They called to set up a phone interview??
2008-12-15 University- UW Green Bay Has anyone heard anything new regarding this position, have they made an offer to the candidate they interviewed?
  • I just got the letter today saying I was not included in interviews.
  • I've not heard anything from them. What's up with that?
  • I also haven't heard anything. Maybe my letter is still in mail. What type of research did the people who got interviews do? I really hope they had extensive Great Lakes experience!!!
  • one was a fisheries population ecologist
2008-12-14 University- Missoula Hi Missoula top 100, good job. Mind telling us your focus? Animal, plant, etc?
  • I read the email differently. 100 cut, rather than top 100 with letters requested (and thereby emphasizing the awful nature of email). Hoping for the former, sorry. Anyway, plants.
  • I also got a request for letters and also read the email differently, seemed more like they cut 100 than they cut to 100, but who knows. I have an animal focus, molecular ecology/conservation and landscape genetics/evolutionary genetics.
2008-12-12 Being "disciplinary" Speaking as someone that has only published in displinary journals (pertaining to my subfield of ecology), and not (yet) in the Ecology, Ecology Letters, PNAS, American Naturalist, etc. journals of the world, I am wondering if anyone else in a similar situation was successful at getting on a short-list or even (heaven-forbid) a JOB? I realize that this may differ between school-type (I'd never hold my breath for an R1), but with the job market being so competitive, I just wanted to have an idea of what *kind* of publications (not just #) "successful" people (here defined just as getting an interview) have.
  • Yes. I graduated with none of these, but I got both a prestigious postdoc offer and a tenure-track offer at a small regional state university. Had I taken the postdoc, I'ld probably be in an R1 right now. However, I did have a lot of minor publications (notes), earned a few small grants (<$5000), and had teaching experience as an adjunct. So I had a few cards up my sleeve and a pretty good hand. Now, I have a few good articles in primary organismal journals (example: Journal of Mammalogy), and a good pile of grants acquired as a professor. The major key is sending in a complete application packet with all of the stuff they ask for, and more supporting evidence than they need. Its just another game. So don't lose hope! :)
  • On the other hand, I have all that and more, and I can't get them to look at me twice - a number of grants, teaching experience, and publications in journals ranging from Ecology and Quarterly Reviews to CJZ. :-( It seems less about your resume than about and how well you match the person that the SC envisions as the "missing piece" in their department. This can also play in your favor - if you are that "missing piece", you could get a job offer over somebody who has a far larger set of achievements.
  • Dear "on the other hand" from "yes".. :) When you write up your application letter, research statement, and teaching statement each should be tailored for the specific vacancy. You may have a general letter, but change the emphases to fit the position's request. Also, if they specify any qualifications be sure to include how you fit those.
  • From the original poster, thanks for the encouragement. I do have a couple of prestigous fellowships, a decent number of pubs (7; 5 as first author), but I just don't seem to be competitive yet. No one has even contacted my refs! I have spent hours tailoring my applications to each position. Perhaps it is the type of position that I am applying to-- I don't appear to be "general" enough to apply for those jobs looking for "an Ecologist", and the number of jobs in my sub-discipline is small or in a place with no opportunities for my non-academic partner. I have a few more general papers that should come out within this year, so hopefully I can focus on making next year the winning year (despite the recession)!
  • I was (and to a degree still am) in the same boat as the original poster. I had 6 campus/10 phone interviews last year and 1 offer (which I turned down--hind sight is 20/20!), ranging from prestigious SLACs to R1s and everything in between. In my case, I think a lot of it is fit. Senior faculty on searches say that THE #1 most important document is the cover letter--that gets you from the "round file" to a phone interview if you address what they need. Now that I have a "base formula letter" for a variety of schools, I spend anywhere from 2-5 hours researching and modifying the "base" to fit the school. It's time consuming, annoying, draining, and frustrating--but keep at it. My whole academic career, everyone of my mentors has said that landing a job is 90% perseverance, 10% chance. And, keep submitting to good general discipline journals--even if (when) they reject you, I often find that the comments of the reviewers are really helpful for the next revision and make acceptance at the next journal a little more likely.
2008-12-12 "Email vs. phone" Just a silly observation from one who's been on the job search scene a while, but what is up with emailed invitations to interview? I've had 3 invites (luckily) so far and all 3 were via email. One didn't even say 'dear so-and-so', it was just like 'we would like you to come interview'. In previous years I've only ever gotten invites through a call from someone on the search committee. Anyway, it just makes for kind of a weird and sterile first impression.
  • I've had an invite last year and one so far this year (luckily). Both were by email, and the only time I ever talked with anyone on the phone was during a phone interview. I completely agree that being informed of everything by email is both sterile and impersonal.
  • I don't care if good news comes by phone, email, or carrier pigeon! — Cynic
  • Agreed. First contact is really just to assess whether you're interested or not -- I'm going to decide if the dept is impersonal upon meeting them!
2008-12-11 University-UNC Asheville Any word post phone interviews?
2008-11-12 Wiki - Date of most recent news When you add information to a listing, please remember to update the "date of most recent news" column. With so many positions listed, the easiest way to find new information is to sort by the date of most recent new column, but that only works if the date has been updated.
2008-12-12 Campus Interviews-What to wear? I'm curious about what ecologist men wear to campus interviews. Full on suit? Jacket + tie? I have been wearing very nice tie, shirt, pants, shoes combo (sans jacket). I don't currently own a suit. I am a warm person so if I wear a jacket, I just end up taking it off and carrying it around. Suits and jackets also tend to exacerbate my nervous sweating. I've always felt like I was dressed appropriately and never felt "under-dressed" at any of my interviews. I am thinking of purchasing a suit for this round of interviews. Thoughts anyone?
  • I'd suggest that you be yourself and wear something you are comfortable in. Your choice of trying to look nice might be outweighed by your clear uncomfort in a suit. People might remember you more for that than if you skipped the suit. I've worn a tie before and been teased a bit so I stopped with that.|-
  • Really you were teased for wearing a tie? Why? Too formal or too informal? I should re-think my attire if a tie is too formal (see above). I agree about wearing what is comfortable, which is why I have--at least to this point--skipped the suit. The male candidates in Biology (not in Ecology) that have interviewed at my current school have a range of fashions from full suit to shirt with tie to jacket without a tie (which I think is a little tacky). But frankly I when I go to their talks, I concentrate on the science not on what they are wearing. Beyond "looking like a candidate" (i.e., not a slob) it probably matters little.
  • I think people giggle at an ecologist in a suit, but then if it's a Biology Department the skin-in people might think that a suit is appropriate. I use to interview without a tie and then I kicked it up to jacket without a tie (which I don't think is tacky, but what do I know I'm an ecologist).
  • It was good natured teasing and I don't think it made a lick of difference. Ask the SC, see what they think. You wouldn't be the first.
  • I always found it bizarre that a person interviewing for a job in ecology is typically the best dressed person in the room. Not to mention the fact that professional dress for most ecologists almost never involves a jacket and tie, let alone a suit. I knew a guy who swore by wearing a suit to all ecology interviews, but I think that's because it made him feel good about himself. If you feel like an idiot in a suit, the only chance you'll have of not LOOKING like an idiot in a suit is if everyone else is wearing them. Which will almost certainly NOT be the case at your interview.
  • I have worn a suit to past interviews, and I've never felt like anyone had a problem with that, even if nobody else in the room was wearing one. I've always figured it can't hurt to over-dress, but it sure could hurt (even though it shouldn't) if you under-dress.
  • We had a large search at my near-Ivy University last year and I thought that men who didn't wear a jacket and tie looked stuck-up and cocky. I think that overdressing is a sign of humility and respect. One big guy (Chris Farley-ish) even wore a pinstriped suit with a vest, and he came off really well during his talk. Other than for reducing any strong true possibility of having a negative physiological response (e.g., passing out), I think it would be foolish not to wear different snappy but casual suits each day of your interview. In fact, if you're the kind of guy who is questioning whether he needs to wear a suit to an interview, you're probably the kind of guy who really needs to wear a suit to an interview. I don't buy this nonsense about feeling comfortable being important. Having just had a campus interview, once I was looking someone in the face, my clothes were the last thing on my mind (although I was uncomfortable when I had brainspace to consider it). You know what's uncomfortable? Unemployment. Suit up, gentlemen.
  • A common rule of thumb for interview attire (any interview, not just in ecology) is to dress one formal step up from what you would be typically wearing on the job. So if you're interviewing for a job in an office where a jacket and tie is the norm, a suit is a must in an interview. But for an ecology position for which even a jacket and tie would be unlikely in almost any professional setting (classroom, committee meetings, even giving talks at conferences), a suit is definitely not necessary. Of course, another rule of thumb is that you can never overdress. If you feel good in a suit, go for it. But it's not necessary.
2008-12-10 University-UCSB For those that did get invited for the interviews--Do you have a marine focus, as they said they might prefer?
  • Anyone know how many interviews were scheduled?
2008-12-09 University-Case Western Any word post phone interviews?
  • I had a phone interview and I received a rejection email 16 Dec.
2008-12-09 University-E Connecticut State The department chair told me last week that they were not going to look at applications until January. Does anyone know how they are doing interviews if they are still looking over applications?
2008-12-09 University-University of Montana Evolutionary genetics position--Has anyone received any sort of acknowledgement of application receipt? I even wrote to double check that they received my application, but have not heard back. Just want to make sure that others are in the same boat and that my application didn't end up lost in cyberspace.
  • I also applied. No confirmation has been received regarding my submission.
  • Ditto
  • Same here. Applied, heard nothing....
2008-12-04 More stats I updated the deadlines per month.
File:Job vacancy trends ecology.JPG

Job deadlines per month 2005-2008

2008-12-14 Inside Hires? During my last interview, I found out about an internal candidate who interviewed for the same position while talking with the students at University X over lunch. So far I'm 2/2 (An internal candidate for both jobs I have interviewed for). I know it will be a while before I hear back (they are still interviewing candidates), but I was wondering how common this is for people that have interviewed this year? Its difficult to learn about this, especially after all the time lost preparing for each interview.

Has anyone else encountered this? Any thoughts?

  • having been both the inside candidate once and the outside candidate many times, and seen a lot of inside candidates, consider this. If you are the best candidate, and the department is willing to hire a less qualified candidate, do you really want to work there? Not me. When I was the insider, I was the best one that was interviewed, but I obviously don't know what the applicant pool looked like. We all have to eat, so get what you can get any way you can, but, better to land in a good place than to land among a bunch of folks whose academic priorities mixed up!
  • this also got a lot of discussion last year. It stinks, but worse things can happen. Like never going on an interview. Hang in there.
  • Unfortunately, I have encountered this in a very, very depressing way. Last year I interviewed at "Prestigious SLAC Y" in a very small town. The internal candidate's spouse had a TT appt in another department and the internal candidate already had a TT appt at another SLAC in the same small town--so this was not an issue of spousal parity. Internal candidate wanted to move to this new position. I found out after my campus interview that the search committee agreed that I was THE best Teacher AND Researcher--but they chose the internal anyway. Why? Because if they had hired anyone else, the newbie would have walked into a snake pit. Apparently, the internal had so many friends inside the dept and the college, that it would have angered everyone if they did not hire the internal guy. This was really depressing because it would have been a great place for me. But even as I interviewed, I could feel the tension with some folks, just below the surface, nothing to complain about, just a real sense of people trying to protect something. I think the committee members were really upset and wanted to choose me, but they were hog-tied by "public opinion". One of the committee members reportedly said something to the effect of 'If we were going to hire [internal candidate] from the get go, why did we even bother with the search?'. So, it happens. All I can say is that it was still a really good interview, I got to meet some good people and see what a good SLAC might be like. A friend who filled me in on this search and others at this SLAC told me that EVERY search develops favorites/issues early in the process and that there is no such thing as a fair search. They are all biased in one way or another. Live with it and keep applying!
  • I agree that competing with an inside candidate is better than not interviewing at all. Interviewing takes practice, and more is better. On the other hand, if you feel you have enough interview experience, you can always ask when invited for a campus visit if they have an inside candidate. It's a legitimate question.
2008-12-04 Confused? Maybe I missed something here, but I was under the impression that the Job Table was for updates and the Discussion Table was for discussions? Why are updates being posted in the discussion section (see below)? This has the potential to degenerate and undermine the nice organization of this page.
  • Good point. For example, I can't find the Ohio University position discussed below, above. C'mon people, get with the program.
  • I agree that there were several recent posts I didn't think fit the Discussion table and made this site less organized. I now have the feeling that in order to make sure I haven't missed an update on a search, I must read the Jobs table and the Discussion table. Unfortunately, posting update questions in the Discussion table was rewarded because the queries got a lot of replies because people weren't posting updates in the Job Table, even though they had info other people wanted. C'mon people, get with the program.
  • Guilty, although gossip and third hand info probably belongs here and should be flagged as such. Where *is* that program.
2008-12-03 University - McDaniel College I see that they are still scheduling interviews for the Invert Biologist this week. Has any one received a rejection letter yet?
2008-12-03 University - Ohio University Notified via email that the evolution search has been suspended (along with all other faculty searches at OU. Apparently there is a "remote" possibility that the search will be resumed in the near future.
2008-12-03 University - U Pittsburgh Anybody hear anything about the Ecology/Evolution search?
  • apparently had 250 applicants, have winnowed it down to 50 or so. A long short list if you will.
  • have all the 50 applicants on the long short list received a notice? Not even being on a 50 or so short list is depressing.
  • while anything is possible, given my experience on a search committee, I don't think notifying 50 people is very likely to have happened.
2008-12-02 University - U Minnesota Just learned from SC chair that "searches are "paused" but our department head has asked permission to continue the search. We expect to hear within a few weeks, and in the meantime, the search is still open."
  • I'm assuming this is U. wide? there is also an advertised position in plant bio and I was told they were in a "grey area" with regards to a freeze.
  • The ecology and behavior searches are now unpaused and back to active status.
2008-12-02 University - UW-Green Bay Anyone hear anything from UW-Green Bay since they contacted references?
  • As of 2008-11-24, the Search Committee was still reviewing candidate files.
2008-12-02 Advice - Spousal Hires When is the best time to bring up a spousal hire issue? I've always been told not to mention it until you have the job offer in hand. Otherwise faculty may discriminate against candidates with spousal issues (and I've heard cases of this sort of discrimination occuring at top schools).

However, I was recently skimming the discussion boards on chronicle.com and there were several comments from search chairs at smaller schools indicating that they needed time to coordinate a spousal hire and waiting for the job offer may be too late. Is it possible that keeping mum on spousal issues is only useful at top tier research instuitions (with formal spousal hire progams in place) and that you may have a better chance of coordinating a spousal positions at smaller places if you let them know sooner?

  • This topic got lots of discussion last year. Check out the archived discussions under "Advice - dual-career searches". Good luck! — Cynic
2008-12-01 University-Wake Forest University Any status updates for the ecology search?
  • I emailed the chair on 2008-11-25 and was told I did not make the short list of 6 for phone and campus interviews. If you haven't heard yet, it probably means you are in the same boat...
  • strike two!!!
2008-12-01 University'- University of Richmond Anybody hear about the status of the field evolutionary ecologist search?
  • Last I heard was 2008-11-18: "I am writing to thank you for applying for the Field Evolutionary Ecologist position at the University of Richmond. As soon as possible after we begin the review process, we will contact you concerning your candidacy."
  • Ditto here
2008-12-01 University- Lake Forest For the applicants that are having campus interviews scheduled - what kind of ecologist are you?
  • 2008-12-02: community/aquatic ecology
2008-12-02 University- NC State For the applicants that had rec letters requested - what sub discipline of ecology do you do?
  • In general it might be useful if we created some sort of anonymous user profiles that we could link to interviews/rejections/offers etc so that we can all get a better sense of what the schools are looking for and why we are or are not doing well on the market.
  • Evolutionary/behavioral ecology
  • Yes, I second that and thank the person for the above response, very helpful.
  • Plant ecology/molecular ecology
  • Tropical plant community ecology
  • Global change/spatial ecology
  • Landscape, restoration, plant ecology
2008-11-29 TA vs. "Teaching" How useless are TA-ships (even intense/involved ones) as evidence of teaching experience when applying to schools that care about teaching? Is anybody with only TA-ships making the first cut at places like this?
  • TAships don't 'count' as teaching to search committees, but it needs to be reported on your cv as experience, typically just listed in work experience like an RA or summer intern or whatever
  • I only have TA experience but I had a campus interview last year at a relatively prestigious SLAC. So, it must count for something. BTW- job went to internal candidate.
  • I also had an interview last year at a SLAC with only TA experience. The deciding factor in selecting the candidate was topic of research, rather than teaching.
  • I've had two interviews, one offer, at liberal arts schools with "only" TA experience. I got a good piece of advice before writing my teaching statement this year to discuss my responsibilities as a TA instead of simply stating that I've been a TA. TAships are very different at different schools. If you were helping develop, for example, lab curriculum as part of your TAship, state that. If you prepared short lectures, etc., state that. While interviewing for the position I accepted, I was actually told that I had a lot of teaching experience, which surprised me, since I've never taught my own course. However, my teaching statement indicated that I'd TA'd for most of my graduate career and that my teaching style accommodated the type of class I was teaching.
2008-11-23 University- Hofstra When were the rejection letters sent out? Did they mention that a short list had been made, or anything else? I still have not been contacted in any way, so I'll keep my fingers crossed while I continue to wait.
  • Here is the entire email: The BIO department has completed its analysis of the over 50 applications for our current tenure-track position. While there were many very good applications, yours included, we tried to match the department's long term goals and short term needs for teaching, with the application materials. Unfortunately, your application was not selected for our short list.I wish you luck in your continuing search for a faculty position. -- Looks like you made the shortlist. Good luck.
  • I just got rejection email today. Either the short list got shorter, or they sent out the e-mails in batches. Oh well, it was nice thinking I made the short list for a short time. Thanks for answering my question.


2008-12-01 Temple-Ecology Regarding the 11-8-08 posting: have all candidates for interview been contacted and when are the interviews going to begin?
  • They accepted my application on the 13th and did not mention anything about it in their response (they also wrote that all my materials downloaded and opened without difficulty - which I found very nice of them)
  • Interviews are scheduled for late January. My guess is that they are still fleshing out the list, but jumped on some of the early applications.
2008-11-20 Foreign travel expenses I live outside the US, but I'm an American and I'm looking to return. Any opinion out there on the extent to which search committees may or may not consider travel expenses from Europe when deciding who to interview? Seems like a petty thing, but I'm curious if it matters.
  • Any university that blanches at flying a top candidate in from Europe isn't worth working for. Who would want to save an extra $500 and not hire the best candidate, when they will spend close to a million $ for startup and salary as assistant profs? — Cynic
  • Tell that to the administrators who control the budgets. I think it would be worth saying in your cover letter something about helping to defray the costs (unless you're not worried about getting offers).
  • I stand by my previous statement that if a university thinks $500 extra is too much to pay to get the best candidate, they're not playing in the major leagues. I've been on search committees and had multiple trans-Atlantic interviews myself. No one will think twice about it unless it's Podunk Community College we're talking about here. — Cynic
  • Thanks, I figured it might matter very little. I can now move on to worrying about whether the font on my CV is appropriate. Not much to do when you are waiting but worry about dumb things.
  • I have asked faculty (one SLAC, one big research U) the same question, since I was overseas last year - they said absolutely it CAN make a difference, though did not admit to seeing it happen on a search they were involved in.
  • I don't see why it wouldn't make a difference, except at the richest schools. The budget for the search itself is different from the budget for startup, so one might not necessarily correlate with the other. I agree that it's a good idea to offer to help defray the costs of your travel. If they have the money, they can always decline your offer and pay it all.
  • The original poster here...its interesting to hear the responses on something I've wondered about, the take home message is that it depends on the school. For the record, I've been flown to over 5 interviews from outside the US, not always at "rich" schools, but mostly state or private research schools (I have applied to some SLACs, but not many). Thanks for the suggestions, I've included a statement in the past to the effect that I'd help defer costs or that I'd be in the US over certain dates, but at this point there is no way I'm volunteering to pay for even part of interview travel expenses. I have a hard enough time getting reimbursed for costs when I front them the airfare (DON'T DO IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO!). Thanks agian, Cheers.
2008-11-20 Advice - keep at it I was in the job market last year and spent A LOT of time on this wiki. Probably way too much, but it was helpful to get some information on schools that never got back to me (more than half) and to be able to chat with others in the same situation. I ended up getting a position that I am really happy with after two years of really being on the job market and well over 40 applications. What I learned from the process was the need to just keep applying and not get discouraged, but also to make the job search as minor a part of your daily life as possible, because it will drive you nuts and distract you from work that will make you more competitve next year if things don't go well this year. The process sucks and can be really dicouraging, but if you keep kicking the can it can work out for you. I still like to check on the wiki from time to time but I also started a blog about life as a new faculty member. If you think the job market is crazy, wait until you are standing in an empty lab at the begining of a semester wondering how you are going to do everything that needs to get done in the next 4 months. In any case, check out the mindless rantings of someone working their way through their first semester if you want (http://proflikesubstance.blogspot.com/).
2008-11-19 PDF v. Paper Apps. I have seen a variety of job ads regarding the "form" of the application. Some explicitly state what they want: electronic PDF, no electronic apps accepted, either, etc. However, I'd like to hear your thoughts on those job ads that DO NOT specify and only give a mailing address. In some cases, I have submitted a electronic PDF anyway (a little internet sleuthing for the secretaries email). A good or bad idea? Any thoughts?
  • Bad idea. If they only gave a mailing address you should send it to the mailing address. They may just toss pdfs if they didn't ask for them. Search committees are already flooded with applications and looking to eliminate some of them. People who don't follow instructions might be the first cut. Remember it's only been the last 3 or 4 years that some places have asked for pdfs and members of the search committee may have not done a search for longer than that.
  • Follow their directions but then send an electronic application as well even if not requested. Even if they delete the electronic application you are still good to go.
2008-11-19 Last Years No Hire? Looking back at last year's wiki, there are a number of jobs that were posted and it appears as if at least some of the process was completed (e.g., references requested, phone interviews, campus interviews) but then--nothing. No hire? No news? What gives? Just curious about the process. Possibly some of these searches loose funding in the middle of a search? Or the dept. is so dysfunctional that they can't agree on what they want? Any ideas?
  • People get offers and maybe accept them, but don't post that information because 1) they don't really need the wiki anymore and/or 2) anonymity is reduced. A bunch people know who is getting an interview, but very few know who is getting an offer. And frankly when you get that offer you don't want to do anything that you think might cost you the offer (like posting on the wiki). So, a bunch of those jobs from last year were probably filled.
2008-11-18 University - UNC Asheville Can someone answer the question about phone interviews? I am/was fairly invested in this school. Just an explanation would be cool.
  • I have not heard back from them. The cold reality is that if they started phone interviews at least a week ago and you have not been contacted, you probably won't be. What can you do? Keep publishing, keep teaching, and keep applying...
  • brrrrrrrr
  • My guess is many people were invested in this school Asheville is a desirable place to live. I'm out here in the cold with ya.
  • I heard that they got 240 applications - lots of cold to go around.
2008-11-17 University - University of Washington Has anyone been contacted for phone or on-site interviews? My letters were requested some time back and I haven't heard anything (and haven't seen any updates on their page).
  • My letters were requested but I have not heard any more from them. I wrote to an inside contact requesting an update but no reply...
  • I spoke with contacts at UW before applying and they told em that they were really focused on cellular developmental people this year (what are they thinking?). I applied anyways with the secret hope that after being wowed by my cv (jk) they would go ahead and decide to do an extra hire. But given that most schools are canceling searches I don't think that is very likely. This is all to say that we should be happy that they are even considering our applications but we should not get our hopes up.
2008-11-17 Canceled searches U Hawaii, Stony Brook and U South Alabama have all canceled their searches due to the economic crisis. Have more schools canceled that we just don´t know about? Will more schools cancel?
  • I think that the economic crisis will have a somewhat long lasting effect for a few years as professors who may have been on the fence about retiring see their retirement accounts depressed and postpone it. However, its my recollection that people tend to retrain during bad times as well, increasing the need for professors. Who knows? My guess is that this will become a common refrain during this year and that we'll see fewer ads in the future. I really hope I'm wrong.
  • Just heard that Cal State U Stanislaus has canceled their search for a marine biologist due to frozen funds, but since that job is not listed above, I'm guessing that no one here is interested in that one....but, of note, they did not post the cancellation. I found out when I called the search chair for a different reason entirely.
  • The entire Cal State System is now under a hiring freeze.
  • I just received a request from San Francisco State to fill out and return an "equal employment" form. Would they be doing this despite a hiring freeze? Maybe some hires are going forward despite the freeze? Don't know if I should still hold out hope for this position, or put another check in the loss column.
2008-11-18 Missing letters I have had several schools write me saying that they are missing one or multiple rec letters. This is despite the fact that I always ask an extra referee to send a letter just to cover my bases. When I complained to one of my letter writers he showed me the email he sent to the school with the rec letter attached so it appears that in some cases the fault lies with the school and not the letter writer. How many schools have lost letters resulting in dismissed application that aren't aware of? I am extremely grateful that some school do let candidates know when they are missing letters but I am sure that some school just out the incomplete applications.
  • In my experience, if the search committee likes your file, they will let you know about the missing letter(s). No one wants to let a good candidate slip away just because someone flaked out with a letter.
  • I was so relieved to read this comment b/c I too have been having a lot of problems with missing letters this year, which I did not have last year. I have been calling all of the schools and asking the secretary to check to see if my application is complete before the deadline. I thought this was a fool-proof strategy until one school told me it was complete and then 2 weeks later the search chair wrote to say that I was missing a letter - even though just 2 weeks before they'd had all 3 letters!
  • My postdoc advisor says that when they do a faculty search at our university, they never toss an application because it is missing a letter. Even after alerting an applicant, they'll wait a long time (weeks) to receive a missing letter before it becomes a problem.
  • I'll agree with the above posters, they will get after you if they are interested and realize that it isn't necessarily your fault. I've even had interviews at places where my phd advisor had not sent in his letter, which you think they would want, given the fact the guy is a big deal. Basically, if it looks like you fit based upon your CV and application, my guess is they will get after you. If not, the fact that you don't have letters or submit them via pdf or whatever matters very little.
2008-11-16 More stats Despite the economy, it looks like there was some recovery following the election.
File:Job vacancy trends ecology.JPG
2008-11-15 University - Emory Has anyone not heard from them? I'm thinking that they must have a second tier of potential applications, I haven't received the email rejection nor been notified about any cuts.
    • I submitted my app on the due date (31st), received a confirmation email from them, and have heard nothing since. hmm.
2008-12-05 University - University of California, Davis How is it that someone has had their letters requested a month before the deadline? Is the deadline incorrect, did you just submit way ahead of time...?
    • I believe the request for references is automatic, once you submit your application online.
2008-11-12 University - University of North Carolina Asheville Does anyone know whether the short list for UNC Asheville has been finalized? Are the phone interviews the first cut?
2008-11-12 University - Tulane Does anyone know if the interview invites at Tulane were just for the computational position or have interview requests gone out for all 3 positions?
2008-11-12 Wiki - Book keeping Remember to update the 'Date of most recent news' when updating the Wiki.
2008-11-09 General - Economy Tough Times Strain Colleges Rich and Poor (NYT) Anyone have more examples of economic doom and gloom?
2008-11-09 University - College of William and Mary Does anyone know when the application review actually begins? There was not a specific deadline indicated in the job ad.
  • Looks like the search is canceled, they've taken the job ad off the department website
  • 2008-11-24 The conservation biology ad is back up on the department website; wonder if that means they are going ahead with the search?
2008-11-06 University - U. Wisconsin-Green Bay I thought that letters of rec were due with the application, were they contacting references for additional information?
  • I guess that they were following-up on the letters as I did send letters with the app. However, I suspect they are very disorganized as one of my letters had to be resent, even though my recommender had sent it. In addition, the GOSSIP is that this is a dysfunctional dept.
  • This is fairly common. It tends to happen quite a bit. They called references of applicants they were interested in to discuss the letters that were sent and the applicant's qualifications with the references. It gives the department extra screening time and additional information prior to either phone or in-person interviews.
2008-12-15 University - UC San Diego Has anyone heard even a confirmation of receipt of applications?
  • Nope. In fact of 10 jobs I have applied to I have only received two receipts of application. I contacted a friend at UC San Diego and he told me that although he had no specifics, they received around 300 applications.
  • I have not heard a word from UCSD either.
  • I'll third that. I wouldn't necessarily expect to hear from a powerful program at a big uni unless it's for an interview.
  • Heck, I didn't hear anything from two schools at which I *interviewed* for months until I repeatedly asked for information. Even worse I was asked for a startup estimate at one, and after I asked a few questions and voiced some hesitation about a particularly nasty interaction with someone, I never heard from them again. Ever. Being in the dark is the norm, which is why a wiki like this is such a useful tool. I do think the overall lack of information to candidates is inexcusable. We have the internets now. I could go on. Isn't there a rant page somewhere?
    • There is a rant page associated with this wiki here, and also a page to complain about a specific school here.
    • You may also want to look at the main academic search page here
  • They just posted a number of new seminars on their website, I wonder if any of these are job talks link...
  • I've heard through a reliable grapevine that they have invited interviews (I myself did not hear anything, so I didn't post this above with the school info, since it is just gossip)
  • I've heard nothing from them.
  • email of application reciept, affirmative action request, and applications still under review. This kind of info is not usually worthy of an update, but given above comments, thought I'd post it here. Wonder if they are late getting this out, given they may have scheduled interviews already?
2008-11-17 University - Univ Montana Does anyone know if the search for an aquatic ecologist (2009) at UMontana (Missoula) is because last year's search for an aquatic invert ecologist (on the Wiki's archive) was a failed search?
  • I was wondering this too. The same person is running the search. I had a phone interview with them last year, but then never heard back. Did they run campus interviews last year?
  • I don't know, I didn't apply last year... Anyone else have any info?
  • I emailed the chair. It is a re-advertisement because the person hired last year ended up with a better offer. The ad is re-written to be broader and focus more on restoration in stream systems.
2008-11-05 Advice - Contacting Search Chair So its been a while since I was notified I made the fist cut by the search chair. Since then, one of my manuscripts that had been submitted was accepted for publication. I was wondering should I use this as an avenue to open the dialogue with the search chair again, silently hoping that he/she will give me an update where I stand in the search? Does anyone have any advice or suggestions, or should I just hold tight? Thanks.
  • I've heard it is legitimate to do so.
  • More generally, how long after a closing date should one wait to contact a search chair if you have hear nothin. Is a month too soon?
  • I don't think that is too soon, and you should definitely let them know it has been accepted.."just wondering where you are in the search and if I can't provide any more information to help in the decision." I think showing the chair you are interested never hurts and could help in the process. It's perfectly legitimate.
2008-11-10 University - Baylor University Any new news on Environmental Science position at Baylor?
  • I have not heard anything either.
2008-11-03 University - Rider University Its been a month since the short list was made and I was wondering if anyone else has heard from Rider University since? Two of us checking the Wiki have made the first cut, so I figured I would ask.
  • I also received that initial email over a month ago about making the first cut, but have not heard anything since. Maybe worth an email to the chair?
2008-10-29 University - University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Was the rejection letter sent by email or snail mail?
  • Rejection letter by email 10-28-08
2008-10-28 Wiki - Laziness So we know everyone visiting this site is intelligent as we all have PhDs here or are close to finishing, I hope that people can follow the directions and at least put the entries in alphabetical order please!!
  • Talk about laziness, can't you click the sort button for the "University" column?
  • When people want to add updates, it is a pain to find the correct school if they are not in alphabetical order and this will just lead to more confusion as we add more universities. So no, I'm not lazy. It would just be nice to reduce the need to constantly tidy the wiki. This request isn't much different than asking people to pick up after themselves rather than expecting others to do it for them.
  • Furthermore, the anchors at the top of the screen that let you skip to "schools that start with the letter ..." do not work correctly if the entries are not alphabetical.
  • I stand corrected. Apologies.
2008-10-24 Advice - General Hiring My husband has a Tenure Track position and I am currently hired for temp-teaching but the university is potentially offering me a "soft money" full research assistant professor position. Any feedback on accepting soft money jobs??
  • Soft-money positions can be good or bad, depending on your temperament and ability to bring in grant money. Some things to think about: Will the University provide you with the resources you need to be successful (a lab/office/phone, a good office of sponsored projects, access to internal funding, graduate students)? Are you good at writing grants? Will the U. cover your salary when you're between grants (through teaching or research money)? Are there successful colleagues with which you can collaborate to improve your chances of getting funding? Is there any potential for this to turn into a tenure-track position eventually? What other options do you have (continuing teaching, applying elsewhere and living apart from your husband for a while, both of you applying elsewhere and hoping for two positions)? Do you want to stay in research or would a permanent teaching gig suit you? These are all things to think about. (I, BTW, did a research assistant professor position for 4 years and am now in a TT position at a different institution. My husband was able to transfer to my new location, so it can work out.) Good luck!
  • NSF just issued new guidelines with regards to supporting salaries of postdocs and researchers on soft money (including summer salary). It is pretty harsh, I think only 2 months of support. However, you might want to check up to make sure. It was discussed on Ecolog the past month or so.
    • I did notice that EcoLog chitter about the NSF soft money regs... it is what instigated this question (somewhat). Any idea of any major grants that do actually suppport $$ for salaries to the extent that NSF does (did)?
  • I heard that the NSF's 2 month restriction only applies to people with academic year positions, not those with soft money positions. Could the original questioner or someone ask an NSF program director for clarification and report back?
    • From the original poster: I called NSF and talked to their policy office (and in fact, a "policy specialist") and she confirmed what the most recent poster said. She told me that in fact > 2 months is allowed (esp for soft- money position) as long as it is JUSTIFIED in the NSF grants. She did suggest calling the Program Officer for the grant you are interested in applying for to determine their suggestions on reimbursement and how many months would be too many to ask for etc. Anybody else out there have any suggestions about these soft money jobs? Also this is the website for the new NSF guidelines: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf09_1/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2gi
2008-10-23 University - Tulane Were the requested letters for a particular position?
  • Yes, the computational ecology/evolution position. I don't know about the other positions. Thanks for asking that question, and sorry I forgot to specify (I have added this info to the table now as well).
  • I think I applied for the regular ecology position and they also requested letters around the same time.
2008-10-23 Wiki - Survey Are we planning on doing a survey similar to the one that was posted last year? That would give us an idea of how much this site is being used this year vs. last year.
  • Surveys from last year are now added, but someone might want to see what additional questions were asked on the surveymonkey page and add them here.
  • Also look at the questions HERE from last year
2008-10-23 Wiki - Posting Dates Why do so many people keep posting jobs after their deadlines? It hasn't hurt me at all b/c I'm not interested in the jobs that I see people doing this with, but it doesn't seem too helpful for those who may be interested in those jobs. Do people do this so that they can find out about how the search is going, but are too worried about competition to post the ad early enough so that other people who may also be interested could also apply? Last year I felt like this wiki was more of a helpful community and now I feel like it's devolved into something else. Or maybe I'm interpreting these belated posting dates incorrectly?
  • I'm not too interested in speculating on the motives of people at this site. However here are two important points to keep in mind: a) this site was NEVER designed to be the primary clearinghouse for job ads. Rather, the point is to update on the searches. Therefore, if people have not seen the job ads prior to posting on this site, then they are not that interested in finding a job. b) It never hurts to send in a late application. The worst they can do is throw it out. Everything I've heard suggests that if the search isn't too far along (say less than 2 weeks past the deadline? I'm guessing) they are likely to add you to the pile.
2008-09-25 Wiki So what is up out there????
  • I have not seen many real changes up above, how many of us are on here this time? Or, is it just that all of these positions are stalled?

Any news yet????? :)

2008-10-23 Wiki Where are all the listings? Is it too early to be concerned?
  • It might be a tough year with the economy already impacting state budgets for new public university hires.
  • I think this reflects that users aren't yet posting or applying more than that positions aren't opening. There are several ads up at 4 year schools right now. However, there are usually more openings at the BIg schools already posted. They are probably slow this year, but it will pick up. This is not the slowest I've seen by any means! the fall after Katrina had lots of openings that all closed like a house of cards. Now that was a lousy job market! Don't fret!
  • A bunch came out in Science this week. I think some schools are financially strapped (Cal States for example), but others, especially private schools are doing okay. This year so far actually seems better than last year to me.
  • I am still not seeing much out there....I often hear about how difficult the market was in the late 80-s early 90-s. Is it possible that we are going into an era of a saturated market again? My school just had 4 faculty leave (retirement and no tenure)....none are being replaced.
  • Here are the stats so far this year (10-19-2008). I used deadlines rather than post dates to tally these. So for example, in October of 2005 there were around 40 deadlines while in October 2008 there were only around 20 deadlines. if a position did not have a deadline, I used its post date. August was typical, as was September, October was very low. Hopefully, November will rebound.
File:Vacancies 2005-2008.JPG

Vacancies Posted on the ESA Physiological Ecology Jobs Page

File:Vacancies 2005-2008-2.jpg

Vacancies posted on the ESA phys-ecol job board

  • Thanks these are interesting figures.
2008-08-07 Wiki - Post on listservs We need to post on the listservs that the biology wiki is up an running so that new job seekers know it exists. If you are on an appropriate listserv or forum, post a link to this page!
2008-08-01 Wiki - Survey Table for 2008 Are we planning on having a survey similar to last year? I found it useful and interesting. I propose another question to the survey: "What is your area of expertise?" The data then become more relevant for individuals because we know (roughly) how many people are applying for each job. Or, at least we know roughly how many might apply AND use this website--which admittedly would only roughly narrow the numbers.
  • I agree the survey table was interesting. Can someone look at the old page and decide what questions might be appropriate for this year.. Some of the questions added near the end were unnecessary, perhaps we can make it a little shorter than last year.
2008-06-16 Wiki - archive Discussion items from May 15, 2008 and older have been archived on the discussion tab.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.