Types of employment
The Department of Biology and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are strongly committed to gender and ethnic diversity; the strategic plans of the University and College reflect this commitment. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Job openings
Faculty/Instructional positions
The Department of Biology at the University of Iowa invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in genetics, beginning in the academic year 2026. We invite applications from candidates addressing fundamental and open questions in genetics that relate to cancer, including (but not limited to): DNA damage, genome stability, DNA replication, genome organization, and transcriptional regulation. We welcome applications from candidates who deploy a variety of approaches and techniques, with a focus on established organismal model systems and/or emerging comparative systems. Candidates must hold a PhD and have postdoctoral training. Successful candidates will have an established record of high-quality research and show strong promise of an externally funded program of research. The faculty member holding this position will be expected to contribute to the instructional mission of the Department of Biology by teaching courses in areas connected to genetics, mentoring students, as well as by fostering a welcoming and respectful academic and work environment.
The Department of Biology is housed in two connected buildings, located in the heart of Iowa City. The department is home to the Carver Center for Genomics, offering in-house DNA sequencing, genomics, transcriptomics, and other services, the Carver Center for Imaging, which houses spinning disc, scanning and multiphoton confocal microscopes, and the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (DSHB), an internationally renowned repository for monoclonal antibodies. Faculty in the Department of Biology work on a wide range of cell systems and model organisms, including C. elegans, Drosophila, Tribolium, Xenopus, mice, yeast, maize, Ceratopteris, and others. The Department of Biology has both PhD and MS programs, and also recruits PhD students from the NIH T32 Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics as well as other interdisciplinary graduate programs. There are extensive opportunities for collaboration with researchers across many other departments on campus, including in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (e.g., Psychological and Brain Sciences, Mathematics, Health and Human Physiology), in the Holden Comprehensive Cener Center, and in the Carver College of Medicine (e.g., Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience and Pharmacology). Additional state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Iowa include MRI, microscopy, Radiation and Free Radical Research Core, and high-throughput genomic analysis facilities.
How to Apply:
To apply, please visit the submission website at https://jobs.uiowa.edu/content/faculty/ and refer to requisition #75655. Materials should be submitted electronically, including a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, research statement, copies of selected scholarly papers, and a teaching statement that addresses the applicant’s interests, experiences, and aspirations in science education, curriculum development, and mentorship, as well as email contact information for three letters of recommendation. Informal inquiries about the position can be directed to tina-tootle@uiowa.edu (Chair of Biology). The review of applicants will begin on November 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
Research positions
No open positions at this time.
Departmental administrative positions
No open positions at this time.
Undergraduate opportunities
Research for academic credit
Biology Honors Program
Perform an independent research project with one of our biology department faculty for academic credit. Write a research proposal and honors thesis and present your research.
Learn more about Honors in Biology
BIOL:3994–Introduction to Research
Register for academic credit to perform independent research with one of our Department of Biology faculty. Credit may also be given for independent work in another University of Iowa department, however a Department of Biology faculty will need to sponsor your enrollment in BIOL:3994.
Research opportunities
The best way to get started in research is to view the research areas of the faculty and then contact them via email to discuss the possibility of conducting research with them. Some undergraduate research jobs may also be posted on Hireahawk.
If you have questions about undergraduate research, contact Dr. Lori Adams at lori-adams@uiowa.edu for more information.
Hireahawk
Look for opportunities to work in a laboratory on campus for pay. Job duties typically involve making solutions, stocking laboratory equipment, washing laboratory glassware, etc. Often these opportunities can lead to undergraduate research experiences.