Assistant Professor Biochemistry

Central Washington University is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry to join our Chemistry team in Ellensburg, Washington. This campus-based position plays a key role in enhancing the university’s vision and directly impacts student lives.

About Us

We are a team committed to changing students’ lives by supporting and empowering them to fulfill their dreams. Working in higher education offers career growth and variety, with a campus that functions like a mini city—spanning 380 acres and including robust academics, libraries, athletics, dining, recreation centers, housing, health services, and public safety for a population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been recognized as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution (2022-2023) and has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for seven of the past eight years. RentCafe also ranked CWU #13 among the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. for 2025.

Responsibilities

• Teach introductory and advanced chemistry and biochemistry courses for science majors and non-science majors.
• Mentor students and contribute to departmental and programmatic initiatives.
• Engage in scholarship appropriate to the field.
• Provide service to the university, community, and profession.
• Integrate CWU’s vision, mission, and values into a learning environment that fosters student success and institutional excellence.

Requirements

Minimum qualifications (address in cover letter):

• Earned PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, or a related field by the position start date.
• Evidence of ability to be an excellent teacher at all levels.
• Willingness to teach a wide range of courses at all levels and modalities.
• Evidence of ability to conduct independent research involving undergraduate and MS graduate students.
• Teaching, research, service, or other experience that prepares the candidate to contribute to CWU’s commitment to engaging students from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications (address in cover letter):

• University-level teaching experience.
• Postdoctoral research or employment in biochemistry.
• Experience in curriculum development and improvement.
• Potential to obtain external funding.
• Experience working in collaborative environments designed for broad student success.
• Demonstrated interest in promoting institutional excellence in classrooms and academic work environments.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of work, acknowledges and corrects mistakes, and meets deadlines.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions and determines appropriate courses of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing needs and recovers quickly from setbacks.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values individual uniqueness and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered.

Benefits

CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance.
• Retirement and optional savings plans.
• Tuition assistance for you and your dependents.
• Discounts across town.
• Employee assistance program for individualized counseling.
• Wellness incentive program.

Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.

Pay

Annual salary: $65,136 – $78,000 for a full-time, nine-month appointment. Individual placement within the range is based on experience, education, skills, and abilities.

Schedule

• Full-time, tenure-track, nine-month appointment (mid-September through mid-June).
• Additional summer teaching may be available.

CWU operates on the quarter system.