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Assistant Professor Jobs in Carbondale, IL (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Professor information

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$42.5K

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How much do assistant professor jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for assistant professor in Carbondale, IL is $80,007.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $91,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does an Assistant Professor Do?

An assistant professor is an entry-level university teaching position below that of associate professor and full professor. You can find work as an assistant professor in any department at a college or university. Assistant professorships fall into either tenure-track and non-tenure track positions. Regardless of whether you are tenure or non-tenure track, your duties are similar. You conduct research, teach classes, advise students on their studies, and perform numerous administrative functions, such as attending faculty meetings and professional conferences or events.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Assistant Professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Professor, you typically need a doctoral degree in your field, a strong publication record, and experience in teaching or research. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), academic databases, and research tools is often required, along with any relevant certifications for teaching or research ethics. Excellent communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help you engage students, collaborate with colleagues, and manage academic responsibilities. These skills are crucial for fostering student success, advancing research, and contributing meaningfully to the academic community.

What are some common challenges Assistant Professors face during their early years, and how can they address them?

Assistant Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including teaching, research, and service commitments. Balancing the demands of developing a strong research portfolio with effective teaching and departmental service can be challenging, especially when working toward tenure. Building a supportive network of mentors, setting clear priorities, and managing time efficiently are critical strategies for success. Many institutions also offer professional development programs and peer collaboration opportunities to help early-career faculty navigate these challenges.

What is an Assistant Professor?

An Assistant Professor is an entry-level faculty position at a college or university, typically responsible for teaching, conducting research, and participating in academic service. This role is usually tenure-track, meaning the professor may eventually qualify for tenure after a probationary period. Assistant Professors often mentor students, publish scholarly work, and contribute to their department's academic community. Their work helps advance both the institution's educational mission and their own academic careers.

What is the difference between Assistant Professor vs Lecturer?

AspectAssistant ProfessorLecturer
Required CredentialsDoctorate or equivalent in fieldBachelor's or Master's, sometimes doctorate
Work EnvironmentAcademic institutions, research, teachingPrimarily teaching, less research
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, collegesUniversities, colleges, vocational schools
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Assistant Professors typically hold a doctorate and engage in both teaching and research at universities. Lecturers usually focus on teaching, often with less emphasis on research, and may have different credential requirements. While both roles are found in academic settings, Assistant Professors often have more responsibilities related to research and academic advancement.

What are the most commonly searched types of Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL? The most popular types of Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Assistant Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL? For Assistant Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Assistant Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Assistant Professor jobs in Carbondale, IL are:
What cities near Carbondale, IL are hiring for Assistant Professor jobs? Cities near Carbondale, IL with the most Assistant Professor job openings:
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor - Collection Development Librarian

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor - Collection Development Librarian

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, IL • On-site

$5.64K - $8.33K/mo

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Southern Illinois University rating

5.9

Company rating: 5.9 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

485th of 528 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Salary: $5,637.00 - $8,334.00 Monthly
Location : Carbondale, Illinois
Job Type: Faculty
Job Number: 2600095
Department: Library Affairs-SIUC
Opening Date: 05/12/2026
Closing Date: 6/26/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA:: Exempt
Security/Safety Sensitive:: NA
FTE: 1.0
Description
The Collection Development Librarian at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is responsible for the evaluation, development, and management of the Library's collections and licensed resources (all formats) at a Carnegie R1 university of nearly 12,000 students. This position is a full-time, 12-month, on-campus, tenured or tenure-track continuing faculty appointment in an ARL member library. The Collection Development Librarian reports to the Associate Dean of Library Affairs and works closely with the Electronic Resources Librarian, the information services (subject) librarians, and the Dean of Library Affairs.
Due to the newly established $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions requesting consular processing outside of the U.S., Southern Illinois University is unable to provide H-1B sponsorship at this time for any prospective applicant who is outside of the U.S. and requires consular processing.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
This position is represented by SIU Carbondale Faculty Association/IEA-NEA. For more information regarding salary and other details please visit: ;
Examples of Duties
Policy and planning: Develop, evaluate, and maintain the Library's collection policies. Ensure that the Library's collections and expenditures are aligned with the University's mission and goals. Contribute to data-based strategic planning and related activities. Maintain awareness of the scholarly communication landscape, including copyright issues, new technologies, and new business models. Identify emerging opportunities with regard to new information products, new acquisition opportunities, and consortial/collaborative initiatives.
Budget: Oversee a collections budget of nearly $5 million, including endowment funds. Oversee collection expenditures. Prepare expenditure estimates, budget projections, and related reports. Work with the Senior Business Manager to ensure effective budget reporting and interpretation. Manage collection-related endowment funds.
Continuing resources: Coordinate the review and assessment of the Library's Library's continuing resources, including owned, leased, shared, and open resources. Assist the Electronic Resources Librarian with the compilation, maintenance, and interpretation of data related to library collections and systems. Manage the evaluation of new information products and new acquisitions opportunities, including consortial opportunities. Serve as lead negotiator with vendors and publishers. Facilitate the licensing and acquisition of continuing information resources.
Monographic resources: Establish standards and procedures for the selection and deselection of monographs in all formats. Provide training and coordination for the work of the monograph selectors (subject librarians). Serve as lead contact with print monograph vendors. Develop, evaluate, and revise notification/approval plans and other selection mechanisms. Select monographs in assigned subject areas, if necessary. Help evaluate collection space, growth, and future needs for a collection that includes 3.5 million print volumes. Assist with special gift acquisitions.
Library systems: Help maintain selector notifications and related tools within the monographic selection system (GOBI).
Discovery and access: Contribute to discussions of Technical Services workflow, procedures, and Accessibility issues.
Communication, outreach, and leadership: With the Dean and the Associate Dean, ensure that the SIU community is aware of important developments, decisions, and constraints. Serve as a key contact, internally and externally, for issues related to scholarly communication and collection development. Build and maintain effective working relationships with library colleagues, faculty, staff, and patrons. Participate in education and outreach, as appropriate. Represent the Library and the University within consortia and related organizations.
Scholarship and professional development: Engage in scholarly activities appropriate to a tenured or tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or full Professor in Library Affairs. Maintain expertise through formal and informal professional development activities.
University and professional service: Contribute to the Library, the University, and the profession through service appropriate to a tenured or tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or full Professor in Library Affairs.
Other Duties: Support and positively contribute to SIU's mission of student success and retention through actions and responsibilities within this role.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Master's degree accredited by the American Library Association, or foreign equivalent, at the time of appointment.
  • At least 5 years' experience in academic libraries or scholarly communication/publishing environments, including substantial experience in collection development or a closely related area.
  • Knowledge of current issues and trends in scholarly communication and library collection development.
  • Experience using Excel for large-scale data compilation, data cleaning, statistical analysis and presentation.
  • Experience negotiating with publishers or library vendors, or contributing to negotiations in a meaningful way.
  • Experience with budget management.
  • Experience working with an integrated library system.
  • Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills. Proven ability to work in teams and to collaborate effectively across departments or institutions.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving needs in a fast-paced academic environment.
  • Record of scholarly and professional accomplishments appropriate for appointment as a faculty member in Library Affairs at SIU. Potential to meet established criteria for promotion and tenure.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Academic degree or completed research with a substantial data analysis component.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of collection assessment methods, tools, and metrics. Experience with collection analysis using general statistical tools (e.g., SPSS) or specialized collection analysis tools.
  • Experience working with library consortia.
  • Experience leading projects or teams.
  • Successful experience with change management.
  • Record of successful engagement with faculty outside the library.
  • Experience documenting policies and practices.
  • Experience developing training materials.
  • Familiarity with the Ex Libris Alma/Primo integrated library system.
  • Experience with external grant applications and awards, either as PI or in another role.

Supplemental Information
Required Documents: Submit a letter of application, CV, and three references.
Contact: Terri Elliott,
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.
The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about , , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.
University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.
Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program.
SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents, a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni, and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP)
For more information please visit: https://hr.siu.edu/benefits/

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