Assistant or Associate Professor of Chemistry or Natural Science

Purpose

OBU is a distinguished Christian university committed to integrating faith and learning. We strive to provide an education that fosters intellectual growth, spiritual development, and a commitment to service.

About the Role

The Science Division in the James E. Hurley School of Science and Mathematics is dedicated to excellence in undergraduate teaching, mentorship, and scholarship, with a particular focus on hands-on, laboratory- and field-based learning in a Christ-centered, liberal arts context. We are seeking a chemist or natural scientist, depending on divisional need, to join our faculty.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in chemistry or natural science for majors and non-majors, as assigned according to divisional needs and the candidate’s expertise.
• Develop and implement effective student-centered teaching strategies that integrate faith and learning, including laboratory experiences.
• Advise and mentor students in academic planning, professional development, and spiritual formation.
• Engage in scholarship appropriate for a liberal arts environment, including discipline based research, scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or student-mentored research.
• Integrate the Christian faith into classroom and laboratory environments, helping students consider how a Christian worldview informs the study and practice of science, including ethical dimensions of the sciences.
• Participate in University committees, governance, and campus life as assigned.
• Contribute to advising, recruitment, and retention efforts for science programs.
• Uphold and promote the Christian mission and values of the University in all professional activities.
• Assist in student recruitment through campus events, individual visits, and outreach activities.
• Manage or assist with management of the Wood Science laboratories for teaching, research, and outreach purposes, as appropriate to the candidate’s expertise.
• Collaborate with faculty across STEM disciplines to support interdisciplinary learning and projects.
• Assist with purchasing large equipment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability or strong promise to teach effective lectures and laboratories at the undergraduate level in chemistry, natural science, or a closely related field.
• Ability to thoughtfully integrate Christian faith with teaching and professional practice, including discussion of the relationship between Christian ideas and science, and the application of Christian ethics to scientific settings.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with college students in advising, mentoring, and classroom settings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build constructive relationships with students, staff, faculty colleagues, and community partners.
• Organizational and time-management skills sufficient to balance teaching, advising, scholarship, and service responsibilities.
• Commitment to mentoring and supporting students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in chemistry, natural science, biology, or a closely related field.
• Preferred: Ph.D. in chemistry, natural science, biology, or a closely related field.
• Academic preparation that supports teaching across multiple areas of the science curriculum.
• Additional training or experience in laboratory, field-based, or interdisciplinary instruction.
• Experience Required: Strong commitment to integrating Christian faith with academic excellence.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Active involvement in a Christian church and alignment with the university’s statement of faith.

Benefits

OBU Benefits Summary: OBU understands that our employees are our most valuable assets when fulfilling our mission. We strive to offer an extensive array of benefits and opportunities for employees to choose from. Full-time employees benefit from the generous OBU provision of premium contributions for nationwide family-friendly Health and Dental coverages along with free life insurance that includes accidental death and dismemberment equal to an employee’s base salary. OBU provides access to optional employee-paid ancillary benefits like vision, hospitalization, critical illness, accident, additional employee-paid family life insurance coverages, and education benefits at OBU and other institutions of higher education. There is generous paid time off that includes annual granted vacation time, accrued sick leave, six annual holidays, and week-long breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas that include energy conservation days. For all employees working at least half-time, there is an employer matching opportunity for retirement investments in a 403(b)(9) plan administered by Guide Stone. There are numerous other perks and opportunities for OBU employees including FREE family membership to the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center or RAWC, Global outreach university mission trips, cafeteria discounts, and parking privileges to name a few. For more information about the current OBU employee benefits and opportunities, please contact the Human Resources staff at HR@okbu.edu.