Job Details

Adjunct Instructor, Coastal Science

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Adjunct Instructor, Coastal Science.

The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Coastal Sciences invites applications from instructors to teach field intensive marine science courses at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The courses will be offered as a part of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's Summer Field Program during the summer intersession, first summer term, and second summer term. This is a non-tenure track, temporary position for the summer only. Upon successful course delivery, additional teaching opportunities may be available in subsequent years.

Instructor Vacancies

We anticipate filling the following instructor vacancies as needed:

• Barrier Island Ecology COA 448/448L three credit hours (2 lecture, 1 lab). Course Description: This field course will familiarize students with concepts of coastal ecology with emphasis on the diversity of plant and animal communities unique to the northern Gulf of Mexico barrier islands. Students will take field excursions to barrier islands during this course. Topics covered include marsh, submerged, and barrier island vegetation, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, mammals, birds and reptiles, intertidal and shallow subtidal communities, and geologic processes of island dynamics.
• Cetacean Behavior - COA 444 three credit hours (3 lecture) Course description: Students will learn tools and techniques used in the systematic observation and documentation of delphinid behavior in the wild. Course includes both classroom lecture and field studies focused primarily on dolphins of the Mississippi Sound.
• Elasmobranch Biology COA 422/522, 422L/522L six credit hours (3 lecture, 3 lab). Course Description: This specialized course will provide students with an overview of elasmobranch (sharks, skates and rays) biology, ecology and taxonomy. Lectures will cover such topics as evolution, anatomy and physiology, sensory systems, behavior and ecology. Students will be introduced to the diversity of elasmobranchs and will learn how to identify species. Special emphasis will be given to the species common to the Gulf of Mexico. Laboratory work will consist of several inshore and offshore collecting trips, as well as dissections.
• Marine Conservation COA 450/550, 450L/550L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab). Course Description: This course will introduce students to conservation biology and ecology with a focus on marine and coastal ecosystems. Topics may include biodiversity, marine ecosystems processes and threats, conservation of habitat and species, and human impacts, solutions, and policy. The course will consist of lectures, field trips, and laboratory exercises designed to provide students with hands-on experience in marine conservation biology.
• Marine Ichthyology COA 421/521, COA 421L/521L, six credit hours (3 lecture, 3 lab). Course Description: This is an intensive marine biological field course, which engages students to collect and identify marine fishes in numerous habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. Students experience a variety of land-based and vessel-based collection techniques, such as seining, cast netting, hook and line fishing, trawling, trolling, dip netting and many others. Students must work effectively alone and in teams and participate in field expeditions to complete the course objectives. Successful students gain an appreciation for taxonomic identities of fishes and the synergism between abiotic and biotic factors that drive marine fish distribution and faunal diversity in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
• Marine Invertebrate Zoology - COA 428/528, 428L/528L, six credit hours (3 lecture/3 lab). Course Description: This course provides an in-depth exploration of marine and estuarine invertebrates found in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent continental shelf of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Lectures emphasize taxonomy, anatomy, phylogenetic relationships, larval development, and ecological function. Fieldwork includes collection and identification of specimens from diverse coastal habitats, giving students hands-on experience with local biodiversity and research techniques.
• Marine Mammals COA 443/543, 443L/543L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab). Course Description: This course is an overview of the biology of marine mammals (cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters and the polar bear), including their classification, evolutionary history, anatomy, physiology, behavior, conservation and management. Course will be online in 2026.
• Marine Sciences I: Oceanography COA 300/300L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab). Course Description: This course provides a multidisciplinary foundation in oceanography, specifically the terminology, principles, processes, relationships and phenomena pertaining to its sub-disciplines: physical, geological, biological and chemical oceanography. The importance of the interaction of biotic and abiotic processes in the ocean will be addressed through exploration of timely issues in ocean science.
• Marine Sciences II: Marine Biology COA 301/301L, five credit hours (3 lecture, 2 lab). Course Description: An ecological approach is taken to understand the biology of marine systems with emphasis on local organisms, their habitats, life cycles and survival strategies.
• Marine Toxicology COA 490/590: Special Topics Marine Toxicology, five credit hours. Course Description: This course will introduce students to the concepts of aquatic toxicology. Lectures will cover history and basic concepts of toxicology with a focus on aquatic issues, modern molecular techniques commonly used in modern toxicology applications, an overview of common xenobiotics, and experimental design. Lab activities will focus on basic toxicological skills, including exposure setup and monitoring, endpoint selection and basic molecular techniques. Course will be online in 2026.
• The Culture of the Coast - COA 490: Special Topics- The Culture of the Coast, five credit hours. Course Description: This course examines how coastal processes and habitats shape human communities along the coast through literature, music, and visual arts. Lectures introduce cultural perspectives on adaptation, resilience, and environmental change in coastal regions. Fieldwork in natural and built settings allows students to connect these concepts through firsthand exploration of local landscapes and cultural sites.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. The course should be developed to include a combination of lectures, labs, and field trips. The focus must be field intensive with experiential learning opportunities through a variety of field trips (typically 2-3 field trips/week). Field trips options include utilization of GCRL research vessels, local or regional land-based trips, and/or other related field trips that provide relevant educational opportunities and are within field budget constraints.
2. Class meets every weekday during the course term. However, due to weather impacts on field activities, flexibility in course and/or field schedule is necessary.
3. Prepare and submit syllabi, grades and other required course documentation in a timely manner.
4. Maintain communication with Summer Field Program staff members, communicate course requirements and expectations to students.
5. Follow the policies and procedures of the University of Southern Mississippi. Performs other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in Biology, Zoology, Coastal Science or related scientific field (*Exceptionally qualified MS degrees will be considered if accompanied by relevant work experience). Thorough knowledge of the course an applicant wishes to teach, including relevant field work and/or research experience. Criminal history and background check clearance. Uphold the mission and values of USM, College of Arts & Sciences, and the School of Ocean Science and Engineering.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to conduct a field course in various habitats along the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
• Ability to teach effectively (outdoors in a field setting, in traditional classroom or laboratory settings, and online) at the university level.
• Ability to adapt to a virtual or hybrid virtual/in-person format with little notice.
• Ability to maintain consistent communication with students and USM staff members, regardless of teaching platform.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior teaching experience in an undergraduate and/or graduate program. Professional experience in the field of Biology, Zoology, Coastal Science or related scientific field.

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