Classification:  Academic Year Faculty
Priority Screening Date:  January 20, 2026
Recruitment Status:  Open Until Filled
Appointment Date:  Fall 2026 

The Department of Marine Science at California State University, Monterey Bay invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level to begin in fall 2026. We seek applicants with a demonstrated commitment to teaching, and with training in biological oceanography with interdisciplinary specialization in a variety of areas, including population modeling, remote sensing, biogeochemistry, spatial modeling, or climate modeling. Ideal applicants will have background studying processes driving the distribution, abundance, movements, and population dynamics of marine species in the context of the variability of their abiotic and biotic environment. Applicants who use an array of techniques to answer multidisciplinary questions related to applied fields such as fisheries and climate variability are especially encouraged to apply.

ABOUT CSUMB

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. 

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Teach primarily undergraduate courses (12 units/semester including up to 3 units for mentoring undergraduate and masters student research). Courses will include Introduction to Oceanography (MSCI 270), Biological and Physical Oceanography (MSCI 370), and the senior-level Biological Oceanography Projects (MSCI 472).
• Employ innovative teaching and learning techniques that engage students through the use of technology, hands-on experience, and problem solving.
• Include undergraduate and masters students in research or applied science programs.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and masters students in academics, capstone projects, internships, and post-degree career options.
• Mentor both undergraduate capstone projects and masters student theses.
• Play a collaborative role in integrating their science and policy-relevant scholarship into the ongoing interdisciplinary research and teaching programs of CSUMB.
• Develop professional relationships with the regional community of marine science education/research institutions, federal, state, local marine policy/management agencies, non-profit groups, schools and/or other marine stakeholders.
• Sustain innovative and extramurally-funded research in marine science, leading to publications and professional visibility.
• Contribute to Department, College, and University-wide governance through participation at faculty meetings and through committee work.
• Help implement the goals of the College of Science and the CSUMB Vision (https://csumb.edu/about/vision-statement).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Oceanography, Fisheries, Biology, Marine Science, Marine Ecology, or related field by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated excellence in facilitating learning through teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
• Publication record in field of expertise.
• Capacity to develop a research program focused on the oceanography of Central California marine environments.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability and desire to mentor and teach students from diverse cultural, ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A track record of applying population models, climate models, oceanographic instrumentation, or other state-of-the-art technologies to applied research questions.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate research into undergraduate education.  
• Experience in course and/or curriculum development.
• Success in securing external funding to support research, including undergraduate student research.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
• The person holding this position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order EO 1095, EO 1096, and EO 1097 as a condition of employment. 
• The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083  as a condition of employment. 
• The incumbent is required to maintain confidentiality as outlined in the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California’s Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
• Working in the State of California is a condition of employment.

COMPENSATION:  

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range:  $7,500 to $7,917* mo. ($90,000 to $95,000 annual) 

CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

BENEFITS:

CSUMB offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding health, dental & vision plans; a fee waiver education program; and membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).  For more information, visit: Employee Benefits Summary.  The University Corporation at Monterey Bay also provides access to affordable housing near main campus. The allocation of housing is subject to several factors, including availability, eligibility criteria, and specific program guidelines. For more information, visit: https://csumb.edu/corporation/employee-housing

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application and submit required documents by the priority screening date found at csumb.edu/jobs. Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.

CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for faculty positions.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Human Resources at (831) 582-3389 or humanresources@csumb.edu.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Cal State University, Monterey Bay Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports is available at: https://csumb.edu/security-report/

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.  

CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.