The faculty of the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences at the University of South Carolina, Columbia campus, invites applications for two 9-month, full-time, tenure-track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 16, 2026. These positions will be based at the Baruch Marine Field Laboratory in Georgetown, SC, with tenure appointments in appropriate academic departments on the main campus in Columbia, SC. Potential tenure homes include the School of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the Department of Geography, depending on the candidate’s primary area of expertise.

The Baruch Institute has been at the forefront of coastal and marine research and education in the southeastern US and beyond since it was established in 1969 through the joint efforts of the University of South Carolina and the Belle W. Baruch Foundation. The core of the Institute consists of the Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, which is located on Hobcaw Barony in Georgetown, SC, within a near-pristine stretch of protected coastline. The Institute is also the state partner for the NOAA-funded North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NI-WB NERR) and hosts the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO). The Institute conducts and supports a broad range of research and educational programs in fulfillment of its mission to improve the management of marine and coastal resources, as well as advance basic science for the well-being of people and their environment.

The Baruch Institute is dedicated to promoting healthy coastal ecosystems through research, education, and outreach. We seek innovative scholars who will leverage the unique setting and resources of the field laboratory and contribute to convergent research addressing critical coastal issues. Notable areas for potential scholarship include but are not limited to estuarine and salt marsh ecology, marine biology, coastal geomorphology, watershed hydrology, and biogeochemistry. Coastal challenges of potential interest include flooding, coastal hazards, fisheries, habitat restoration and resilience, coastal development, water quality, ecosystem health, and conservation. We particularly encourage candidates who embrace collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to address complex coastal problems.

The position requires a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a relevant field by the time of appointment. We seek solutions-oriented researchers committed to field-based research and education, with demonstrated potential to develop a successful and productive research program utilizing the unique coastal field laboratory environment. The most competitive candidates will demonstrate the following qualifications: (1) experience with field-based methodologies, (2) record of peer-reviewed publications, (3) interest in developing field-based student experiences, and (4) commitment to collaborative or convergent research. Candidates will be required to travel occasionally between the field laboratory and main campus for teaching, service, and other collaborative opportunities.

Successful candidates will be encouraged to develop innovative field-based courses that take advantage of the Laboratory's exceptional coastal access and research opportunities. Faculty in these positions will also be expected to contribute to programs on the main campus in Columbia. The specific teaching load and course assignments will depend on the faculty member's tenure home department. We recognize the unique geographic arrangement of these positions and are committed to working with successful candidates to develop teaching schedules that balance field and laboratory research commitments with campus-based teaching responsibilities.

The field laboratory's coastal setting provides exceptional opportunities for cutting-edge research and immersive educational experiences. The Baruch Marine Field Laboratory includes a ~22,000 sq ft laboratory building that has research laboratories, a teaching laboratory and classroom, and office and administrative space, as well as a separate ~3,000 sq ft flow-through seawater laboratory. The Institute also has a fleet of boats and vehicles to facilitate research and educational programs. The Kimbel Living and Learning Center on Hobcaw Barony provides conference facilities and overnight housing for the Institute.

These hires are supported by a broader University of South Carolina Presidential Hiring Initiative, with the potential to connect with colleagues working on complementary environmental challenges across multiple departments and colleges, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships, and expanding research possibilities. These hires will also create synergistic opportunities at the field laboratory, allowing new faculty to support each other in conducting collaborative research, sharing field resources, and building robust research and teaching programs that span the field lab and main campus. The institutional support is designed to position these faculty for accelerated career development and high-impact science.

The University of South Carolina is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

How to Apply

All applicants must apply online at USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/194367. Applications must include: (1) a cover letter that describes their research and teaching interests, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a research statement, (4) a teaching statement, and (5) contact information for at least 3 professional references. We will solicit letters for candidates who are selected for virtual, semifinalist interviews.

Review of applications will begin October 31, 2025, and continue until the positions are filled. For questions about these positions, please contact Dr. Jill Stewart, Director of the Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, at facultyhires@baruch.sc.edu.