Assistant Professor, Science Education

Job Description

The College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno (R1) invites applications for a tenure-track, full-time Assistant Professor in Science Education beginning in July 1, 2026. The Assistant Professor is a 9-month position, with summer teaching opportunities available. We seek a scholar with a research agenda in science education that engages with issues such as the nature of scientific inquiry, epistemology, equity, and the role of science in a democratic society. The faculty will engage in an active, focused research program that results in publications and funded grants and contributes to the profession, university, and community service and outreach. The faculty will teach courses in Science Education and other areas related to teacher preparation, including (but not limited to) Elementary Science Methods, integrated STEM, and general education courses. Teaching responsibilities include advisement of Master’s students in the Elementary and Secondary First-Time Licensure programs and Elementary Education Master’s of Science program with an emphasis in STEM Education. The faculty will advise and mentor doctoral students in STEM Education and Curriculum and Instruction. This position will have the opportunity to work with the Raggio Center in promoting STEM education. Candidates should demonstrate ability to connect research, pedagogy, and teacher development at the undergraduate and graduate level. Additionally, the candidate will play a key role in shaping licensure and graduate programs, aligning them with national standards (NGSS, NRC Framework) and the latest scholarship in science education.

Required Qualifications

• An earned doctorate by July 1, 2026, in Science Education, Elementary Science Education, Learning Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, or a related field.

• At least three years of K-12 teaching experience or equivalent that includes teaching science.

• Demonstrated excellence or potential for excellence in research and grant acquisition.

Preferred Qualifications

• An externally fundable research agenda in science or STEM education.

• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in-person and online.

• Experience or interest in building researcher-practitioner partnerships with schools and communities.

Compensation Grade

Assistant Professor, 9 month

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty (Nine-month). Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.

“I had no idea the values of the faculty retirement plan when I joined UNR. On my first day, I found out I was fully vested in my contributions and the companies 19.25% matching. I have watched my retirement grow over the years, not only in contributions, but with investments. It is hard to put into words how appreciative I am to feel so secure in my future” – Michelle B.

Perks of Working at UNR

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Generous sick leave, long term disability and life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

College Information

If you're passionate about student success, groundbreaking research and creating a positive impact, we invite you to join our outstanding faculty in the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno!

Program Information

The Department of Educator Preparation is part of the College of Education and Human Development. Our mission is to advance teaching, learning, and research to make educational and social systems more equitable through:

• The preparation of reflective, skillful educators informed by research and the communities we serve to address critical needs at the regional, national, and global levels.

• Local, national, and international contributions to knowledge, policy, and practice through original research and scholarship.

• Outreach to and reciprocal and responsible partnerships with students, practitioners, community members, and policymakers to strengthen the well-being of all Nevada citizens.

Contact Information for this position

Search Co-Chair - Ian McGregor,

Search Co-Chair - Teruni Lamberg,

Search Coordinator - Layla Grange,

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at

Attach the following attachments to your application

1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter

3) Contact Information for Three Professional References

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made. Please contact the search chairs, Ian McGregor () or Teruni Lamberg (), with any questions.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno