Distinguished Professor - Marine Science

The College of Science and Engineering and the Center for Marine Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for the position of William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Marine Science. This is a standard nine-month, full-time faculty appointment at the rank of Professor with Tenure, beginning in August 2026.

Candidates who have established outstanding research programs in any area of marine science are encouraged to apply. In addition, the individual will take an active role in departmental teaching and service. The Distinguished Professorship will be housed in one of the following departments in the College: a) Biology & Marine Biology, b) Chemistry & Biochemistry, c) Earth & Ocean Sciences, and d) Physics & Physical Oceanography.

Preference will be given to applicants who have achieved international prominence in their field with an excellent record of publication, extramural funding, graduate mentorship and other scholarly activities, and who are likely to maintain a high level of productivity for another decade or more. The position will be filled at the Full Professor rank; individuals with exceptional records of achievement meeting the expectations of a full professor are encouraged to apply.

No Required Certifications or Licensure

This position will be housed in one of the 4 marine science departments within the College of Science and Engineering depending on the background of the successful candidate. The four eligible departments are: Biology & Marine Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Earth and Ocean Sciences, or Physics & Physical Oceanography.

Excellent support for research is provided in unique departmental facilities on campus as well as resources at the Center for Marine Science ( CMS). Resources include: DNA sequencing facility, mass spectrometry and NMR facilities, nutrient analysis lab, high performance computing cluster, running seawater systems and wet labs, a marine operations facility that includes six shops (dive, oceanographic instrumentation with a 7,000 gallon seawater test tank, machine shop/makerspace, aquaculture, and boat repair), a dock and fleet of research vessels ranging in size from 13 ft. to our newly commissioned 73 ft. vessel to facilitate aquatic research activities. The Marine Biotechnology Center, Algal Resources Collection, and Shellfish Research Hatchery are co-located with CMS and support additional interdisciplinary research opportunities.

CSE departments have an excellent record of faculty development and mentorship and are committed to assisting new faculty to succeed. In the pursuit of excellence, our departments actively foster, encourage, and promote inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

The College of Science and Engineering offers a variety of programs leading to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, as well as Doctor of Philosophy degrees in applied coastal and ocean sciences; pharmaceutical chemistry; integrative, comparative, and marine biology; and psychology degrees. The college also offers combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in information technology/computer science and information systems, computer science/computer science and information systems, and B.S. in mathematics/M.S. in mathematics. To implement its academic programs, the college provides instruction and research opportunities in the natural and behavioral sciences, information technology, data science, computer science, mathematics, pre-engineering, and engineering. The eight academic departments in the college provide courses of study in each of these areas, in addition to interdepartmental programs in information technology, cybersecurity, and digital arts. A 2+2 in engineering; and 3+2 programs in computer science and electrical or computer engineering; and physics and electrical engineering, are also offered in the college. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs in environmental studies, applied statistics, and geographic information science are also available.

CSE students work with distinguished faculty and scientists, use cutting edge technology, and conduct impactful research. Faculty-directed research projects empower CSE students to apply what they learn inside the classroom and laboratory to real-world situations and prepares them for a variety of careers or advanced study.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 20,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Prior to the ocial appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on ocial transcripts and other documentation as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on January 22, 2026, the posting close date. To apply, please complete the online application process available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/37951and attach the following materials as Adobe PDF documents. Note that submission of application without complete requested components will not meet the application requirements.

1) Cover Letter

2) Curriculum Vita

3) Statement of research (3-page maximum)
4) Statement of teaching philosophy (3-page maximum)

5) List of 3 Professional References. References will be requested during a later stage of the applicant screening process.

6) If needed, applicants may upload additional materials in the "Other" category

Please direct questions concerning the search to Dr. Ken Halanych, search committee chair at ( halanychk@uncw.edu). For questions regarding the online application process, contact Christy Langdon ( langdonc@uncw.edu).