Associate Professor/Professor & Associate Dean for Research in the College of Science & Mathematics

Job Title

• Agency
• Tarleton State University
• Department
• College of Science & Mathematics
• Proposed Minimum Salary
• Commensurate
• Job Location
• Stephenville, Texas
• Job Type
• Faculty

About the role

Tarleton State University, a distinguished Doctoral National Comprehensive University, invites applications for the position of Associate Professor/Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Science and Mathematics.

As part of a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth. Join us in advancing knowledge and transforming lives-on campus and beyond.

Tarleton State University continues to grow its impact across Texas, with four distinct campuses located in Stephenville, Fort Worth, RELLIS-Bryan and Waco, along with a robust online community that extends our reach even further.

At the heart of it all is Stephenville, where Tarleton State offers a dynamic environment for faculty and staff. From a lively live music scene and numerous local festivals to rich traditions rooted in the surrounding community, Stephenville provides a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

No matter where you're located-on campus or online-you are part of a mission that transforms lives and makes a difference across the state of Texas and beyond.

Important Immigration Information

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Tarleton State University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Tarleton State University subject to this fee.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

The Associate Dean serves as a senior academic and administrative leader and works with the Dean, department heads, faculty, and University research leadership to advance the College's research mission.

The Associate Dean provides strategic leadership for the growth, quality, visibility, and impact of research and scholarship across COSM.

Primary responsibilities include increasing externally funded research, mentoring faculty in research development and grantsmanship, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening research infrastructure, supporting graduate and undergraduate research, and helping establish and achieve College research priorities.

The Associate Dean will also mentor new and early-career faculty in developing research programs that support successful progress toward tenure and promotion.

The Associate Dean represents COSM in University research initiatives and serves as a liaison with offices supporting sponsored programs, research administration, graduate education, research compliance, and research facilities. The successful candidate will maintain an active scholarly program, contribute to teaching and service, and participate broadly in College leadership and operations. Responsibilities may also include oversight of College research facilities, centers, institutes, shared instrumentation, core facilities, or the Timberlake Field Station, as assigned by the Dean.

This position reports to the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and serves as a member of the College leadership team. The standard work expectation is face-to-face, with the employee physically present on the main campus in Stephenville, Texas. Work Hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM or as work and teaching responsibilities indicate. May be assigned to teach through approved instructional modalities, as determined by the institution based on operational needs. Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).

Responsibilities

50% - Research Leadership and Administration

• Provide strategic leadership for the growth of research, scholarship, innovation, and externally funded activity within COSM.
• Work with College and University leadership to establish research priorities, identify opportunities for strategic growth, and address barriers to faculty research productivity.
• Increase faculty participation and success in competitive external funding through mentoring, proposal development, grant-writing workshops, internal review, and identification of appropriate funding opportunities.
• Mentor early-career and tenure-track faculty in developing sustainable research programs, strengthening scholarly productivity, and progressing toward tenure and promotion.
• Foster interdisciplinary, multi-investigator, and external research collaborations and help develop competitive large-scale proposals and research partnerships.
• Provide strategic leadership for research infrastructure, including research space, laboratories, major instrumentation, shared facilities, core resources, and other research support needs.
• Support development of a strong research culture for doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students and promote their participation in faculty research and externally funded projects.
• Participate in recruitment and retention of research-active faculty and advise on research needs, startup resources, and integration of new faculty into the College research environment.
• Monitor and communicate College research activity and outcomes and provide the Dean with analyses and recommendations related to research priorities and investments.
• Represent COSM in University research initiatives and committees and perform other research-related leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Dean.

30% - Research and Scholarship

• Maintain an active and productive program of research and scholarship consistent with expectations for the candidate's discipline, academic rank, and College and University policies. Responsibilities include pursuing appropriate external funding, disseminating scholarly work, participating in professional activities, and mentoring student researchers.

20% - Teaching and Service

• Teach the equivalent of six semester credit hours during the academic year, or an equivalent assignment as determined by the Dean and appropriate department head. Participate in shared governance and professional service in the department, College, University, and professional organizations.

Required Education and Experience

• Earned Ph.D. or other terminal degree appropriate to a discipline represented within the College of Science and Mathematics or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of successful higher-education teaching, research, and service experience.
• Academic and scholarly record sufficient for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at Tarleton State University.
• Established record of research and scholarly accomplishment.
• Demonstrated experience developing competitive proposals and participating substantively in externally funded research.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, or other researchers.
• Evidence of effective academic or research leadership.
• Experience teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, organizational, and strategic-planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across academic disciplines and administrative units.

Preferred Qualifications

• Qualifications for appointment at the rank of Professor.
• Sustained record of externally funded research as principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
• Experience with major federal, state, foundation, or industry research sponsors.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary, multi-investigator, multi-institutional, or other large-scale research initiatives or proposals.
• Administrative leadership experience at the department, college, center, institute, graduate-program, or university level.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring early-career faculty in research development, grantsmanship, and scholarly productivity.
• Experience with university research administration, sponsored programs, or research compliance.
• Experience developing or managing research laboratories, shared instrumentation, core facilities, field stations, centers, institutes, or other research infrastructure.
• Experience with doctoral education, graduate research, or supervision of doctoral students.
• Experience developing research partnerships with universities, government, industry, foundations, national laboratories, or community organizations.
• Experience using research metrics and institutional data to guide research planning and investment.

*Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience*

Application Procedure

During the application process applicants have one opportunity to enter the requested information, upload documents, and Submit the application. Applicants will not be able to make changes or add additional documents once the application materials have been submitted via the "Submit" action.

Employment applications must include (required)

• Completed online application
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest addressing qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• At least 3 current professional references and their full contact information
• Unofficial transcripts
• Applicants with degrees earned outside the United States must submit transcripts translated into English, along with an official credential evaluation from a recognized service.
• Philosophy Statement related to Teaching and Your personal Research Program - no more than 1500 words.

Additional information

Applications received by Tarleton State University must have all job application data entered. Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. "See resume" is not an acceptable entry in the job application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Anticipated start date Spring, Summer, or Fall 2027.

Official transcripts must be received directly from each degree granting institution prior to a letter of appointment being issued.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.